Modern work in the corporate sector is no longer associated with the office alone. People work at home, in coworking spaces, or in a café with a cup of their favorite coffee. And they often attend important meetings while in their car. It is the car that has every chance to become the next space for comfortably working without being tied to an office.
Working on the move is closer than it seems
Many of us started working from our cars long before the Covid-19 pandemic. A modern car has everything you need to work. This includes high-speed 5G internet, built-in infotainment systems with interactive screens and microphones, as well as a new generation of software such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. However, working in a car often requires synchronization with a smartphone, or, for most people, still means sitting with a laptop on their lap.
Why don’t car manufacturers create better conditions for corporate communication? We’re not talking about meeting rooms in the back seat, but rather about affordable and effective solutions for making Skype, Zoom, Teams, or Google Meet calls that offer the same convenience as our smartphone or laptop. Let’s have a look at what’s happening in the market.
Market situation
It was only in March 2023 that Microsoft integrated Microsoft Teams, a corporate communication app used by 320 million users every month, with Apple CarPlay. This integration allows you to join calls from a car using the Teams app on a smartphone. Teams 3 Android Auto integration is only scheduled for February 2024, and even then, it will cover only basic functions namely taking a call and holding a meeting. Unfortunately, such important features as screen sharing, viewing meeting participants, and synchronizing with calendars are not included.
Working in a car often requires synchronization with a smartphone, or, for most people, still means sitting with a laptop on their lap.
What are carmakers doing?
Carmakers are already losing the digital race to companies like Apple and Google. If automotive companies don’t start changing their business model, in a few years, Apple or Google may start making basic car models. They will focus on software instead of chrome wheels and will have a good chance of winning the car market for generations to come.
Some carmakers have already started working on software that allows drivers and passengers to more effectively use their vehicles as mobile offices. For example, Mercedes-Benz has started working with Webex to integrate Webex for Automobiles into its cars. This integration recognizes voice messages and converts them into text. Another example is the partnership between Ford and Cisco, which resulted in the introduction of the Webex teleconferencing application into Ford AppLink, enabling users to join teleconferences without letting go of the wheel. This is a positive trend and proof of the solutions carmakers can develop to meet users’ needs.
Why car software is better than smartphone apps
Integrated in-car solutions have a number of advantages compared to using mobile devices on the go. First, the latest cars are equipped with microphones and audio systems that capture and transmit sound much better than the personal devices we use in a car. Some manufacturers are already producing cars with speakers that have an active noise cancellation function, which is helpful during teleconferencing. In addition, car microphones allow all passengers to participate in the conversation.
Second, modern cars can maintain a stable internet connection while on the move. A car can provide better connectivity, both when stopped and at speed, than can a smartphone or tablet.
Such undeniable advantages are significant for people who spend a lot of time in online meetings.
As for other work tasks, such as writing emails, a laptop is still better. Writing a long email requires concentration and time to edit. Even if the car has a voice recognition program equipped with AI-based voice recognition, it is still difficult to dictate and edit a message while driving.
In-vehicle security
The issue of security in a mobile office is complex and multi-layered. For example, some mobile office functions can only be used when a car is stationary or when autopilot is on. Such restrictions are a subject of lively debate. Is communicating with other passengers while driving different from participating in an online meeting? If people are constantly communicating in their cars, should we perhaps think about how to make doing so safer rather than simply prohibiting it?
Another important issue is data security. If the car becomes a mobile office, we need it to protect confidential information. Fortunately, we can apply the same tools that we are now using for apps on our phones and laptops to secure data in a mobile office.
The concept of the in-car office is an evolution, not a revolution. We’re just modifying the experience of using existing apps, not introducing something completely new.
All we need to do is integrate the software, just like we did with smartphones.
What will it cost
The main keys to working in a car are physical hardware and software. In terms of hardware, modern cars are already equipped with all the necessary screens, microphones, and speakers. All we need to do is integrate the software, just like we did with smartphones.
Integrating software into vehicles does not have to take years of work with good cooperation with engineers experienced in the automotive industry. The first step is to understand that an in-car office is just another software user scenario.
Therefore, the cost of optimizing a car to function as a mobile office does not have to be exorbitant. A more significant issue is cooperation between carmakers and representatives of the business ecosystem (Microsoft, Zoom, and others).
What does the future hold?
Looking to the near future, autonomous driving could spur development of the in-car office. Soon, as drivers will no longer need to steer and will be able to fully immerse themselves in work tasks. This will force manufacturers to rethink vehicle design and interior ergonomics. Perhaps soon we will have a car-sharing option with a coworking function, allowing us to work together in a car similar to a train carriage.
The in-car office is already a reality. In a year or two, the convenience will improve, and new office functionality will appear.
Whether we will have to pay for additional equipment or buy a subscription to access this new functionality will depend on the partnerships between carmakers and tech giants like Google and Apple. One thing is for sure, people will not stop working and communicating, nor will they stop using digital technologies. Therefore, we should consider their needs and desires to improve working and living conditions at home, in the office, in the car, and everywhere.
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