Posted by Michael Dietz, Senior Group Manager, Connected Car at Hyundai Motor America
Editor's note: Today’s guest blogger is Michael Dietz, Senior Group Manager of Connected Car at Hyundai Motor America.
Cars are the next frontier of connected information, but developing safe technology for drivers is no simple task. At Hyundai, we’re invested in delivering the best possible connected services at all times. With a little help from Google and the Google Maps APIs, our
Blue Link system does just that. Blue Link acts as a copilot and concierge, guiding people to where they want to go, while keeping drivers’ eyes on the road.
Market research showed us that Hyundai drivers want access to reliable, accurate location information, showing a strong preference for
Google Maps. We took these customer requests into account, and in January 2014 began running our Blue Link systems with a destination search engine powered by Google.
Integrating Destination Search powered by Google into Blue Link gives our drivers relevant results, and, most importantly, constantly updated data about the businesses and other locations around them. Before we moved to Google, our customers complained that the location information was stale. For instance, they would search for a restaurant and drive to its address, only to find that it had closed two months ago. Our customers told us they wanted their in-car experience to resemble their smartphone’s, which meant giving them relevant, rich data at their fingertips.
3,000-Mile Test Drive” video series produced by INNOCEAN Worldwide, a cross-country journey highlighting various features of the 2015 Hyundai Sonata.
With the Google Maps APIs, we’ve been able to bring the freshest location data to our Blue Link system — whether using the app on their smartphones, on the Web or in their vehicles. Before they get on the road, drivers can open up the Blue Link mobile app or visit myhyundai.com to search for an address, point of interest or category, then send the destination directly to their car. If they’re already in the car, they can press the Blue Link button and search for a nearby location via voice commands.
Now, more than 400,000 of our vehicles have access to the new service. Since implementing Google technology, we’ve made closer connections with our customers by improving their satisfaction with Blue Link and the Hyundai experience. We’ve also seen more free trial sign-ups and fewer complaints, letting our team focus on bringing new services to our customers.
We’re not about selling a car and then saying goodbye; we’re about building relationships. Making the switch to Google has helped us deliver better connected services, deepen our customers’ engagement with their vehicles, and help keep our drivers safer.
