softwareentwicklung-duisburg

An app for safe and fuel-efficient driving

Kienzle Automotive GmbH

Illustration zeigt zwei Frauen und einen Mann, die an einem Tisch gemeinsam an Laptops arbeiten

Greenzle by Kienlze: Smartphone app for self-coaching for drivers

Goal
Intuitive app to promote safe and fuel-efficient driving with the addition of a self-coaching feature for drivers.

Solution
Kienzle Automotive offers its customers a mobile app that allows drivers to receive feedback on their driving behavior while driving. The app also provides an analysis of historical driving behavior to monitor changes over time. Integrated gamification elements provide incentives to use the app.

Increase stability and acceptance Key factors for the successful implementation of the app

The app is designed to increase acceptance among drivers for its regular use. To this end, it offers a self-coaching option for HSEQ (Health, Safety, Environment, Quality) purposes to improve driving behavior and make truck journeys safer and more fuel-efficient.

The biggest challenge was developing a solution that would be accepted and enjoyed. Only if the app is used regularly and drivers trust the feedback results can it achieve its full potential. To achieve this, it is important to minimize distractions while driving and ensure stable availability even with fluctuating connection quality.

Because journey data cannot usually be retrieved directly from the hardware installed in the vehicle, it is often accessed via web interfaces. This technical challenge also had to be overcome.

Auf der Grafik sieht man drei Smartphonebildschirme, auf denen die Driver Scoring App von prodot gezeigt wird.

Illustration zeigt zwei Personen vor einem Bildschirm sitzend an einem Schreibtisch vor einem Fenster.

Technological implementation
Hosting in Azure for stable app deployment

The app was developed with Flutter, while the backend is based on the vehicle telematics platform hosted by prodot in Azure, which is primarily written in C#. By leveraging the existing pipeline for processing telematics data, we were able to significantly reduce the development effort for the app. Furthermore, the app integrates seamlessly with the overall driver coaching concept developed by Kienzle, which is also integrated into our platform.

To manage connection interruptions during the journey, the live feedback uses Signal-R for data transmission and aggregates events over a longer period of time. This allows even delayed events to be meaningfully integrated into the feedback.

Gamification as an incentive to use
Playful promotion of economical driving

To motivate users to adopt an economical driving style, we used a gamification concept for the app that emphasizes positive incentives. During the design phase, we emphasized the importance of increasing usage time in a playful and voluntary manner. The points system is based on passive use of the app in feedback mode and accumulates in the profile, gradually unlocking different levels. These levels reflect the driver's experience and are designed to allow for faster progress in the first few days, while later levels can only be reached after several weeks. After each trip, drivers have the opportunity to view their driving style in a transparent report and identify potential for optimization.

Auf dem Bild sieht man einen Mann von hinten sitzend an einem Schreibtisch vor einem Bildschirm. Er hat ein Smartphone in der Hand, auf dem die Driver Scoring App von prodot zu sehen ist.

Live feedback and self-coaching
Holistic concept for greater safety and efficiency

The Greenzle by Kienzle app expands the existing concept for safe and fuel-efficient driving. In addition to monthly reports for identifying long-term trends, the app now offers direct feedback for self-coaching during and after the trip to specifically improve driving behavior. To minimize distractions while driving while ensuring maximum feedback transparency, the live and historical feedback are tailored to their respective focuses.

The live feedback provides an immediate, easy-to-understand assessment of current driving behavior. After the trip, a summary is presented with all relevant events and their impact on the feedback. Finally, the historical feedback enables a detailed analysis of driving behavior over the course of a month or year.

Practical use and advantages of the app
Increased efficiency for truck transport

Employee motivation
The app motivates drivers to drive more carefully and with foresight, making the transport of sensitive goods safer.

Cost Savings
Using the app can save between 5% and 15% on fuel costs through improved driving and braking behavior.

Transparency
Consistent recording of driving behavior makes it possible to track its development over the course of a month and year.

For over 10 years, we have been developing successful and profitable solutions for sustainable fleet management in partnership with prodot. The products we have already developed are characterized by high usability and operational stability. Our collaboration with prodot has consistently demonstrated a holistic approach that focuses on the entire system rather than viewing projects in isolation. Prodot as an implementation partner for holistic solutions? We're always happy to partner with them!"

Dr. Ralf Kolb
Senior Advisor, Kienzle Automotive GmbH

Kienzle_Logo_Pure-Orange 3-1

Kienzle Automotive GmbH About the company

For over 75 years, Kienzle has been a leading provider of products and services in the automotive sector. The offerings for its more than 10,000 customers range from the decades-established Kienzle tachographs to complex telematics systems for controlling and optimizing vehicle fleets. This offering is complemented by technologically related system solutions in the marine, taxi, and vehicle electronics sectors.