Invers SmartControl: Fast Fleet Integration and Testing in Sharing

The Siegen-based sharing software specialist Invers has introduced a new fleet integration app designed to facilitate the addition of new vehicles to an existing or new shared mobility fleet. The so-called SmartControl app promises quick and customer-specific installation and configuration of telematics units across all vehicle models, from bikes and kick scooters to mopeds, scooters, and cars, according to the provider. No special prior knowledge or technical know-how is required. At the same time, users can test all relevant functions of the telematics unit all the way to the backend of the operator.

"Vehicles are very complex, so configuring telematics to match the vehicle can be very challenging," says Alexander Kirn, CEO of Invers.

Operators have occasionally reported that, after fleet integration, they needed to adjust or even reconfigure every second vehicle in its configuration. Through the app-supported process of configuration and final testing, the app aims to ensure that every vehicle can be integrated quickly and then functions 100 percent in the field, Kirn advertises.

Precarious Moment: Opening and Closing

Practical experiences from many operators' fleet integration processes have flowed into the development process. The result includes a scan function, which reportedly offers intuitive user guidance, offline setups, guided function tests, and the capability to configure an unlimited number of telematics units in parallel. Essentially, it is important for operators to ensure that all relevant commands run smoothly to the vehicle. This particularly applies to opening and closing as well as deactivating the immobilizer. These functions must be tested and documented by shared mobility providers before deploying a vehicle in the field, outlines the provider.

Moreover, many operators have defined additional data points in individual configurations that are central to their offerings and processes, such as cockpit control lights, vehicle tracking, or detecting tilt angles in mopeds and kick scooters. These customer-specific configurations can also be tested with the tool, ensuring flawless command and data exchange between the vehicle and the backend and being documentable in the installation report.

Mass Installation Function Integrated

When integrating multiple vehicles, users also benefit from a mass installation function. Especially operators of micromobility services often aim to expand their fleets by several hundred vehicles within short timeframes, all of which need to be integrated with the same operator-specific configuration. This can be set as a base configuration in the new application, which is then automatically transferred to all incoming vehicles. This step can also be conducted in offline mode, allowing employees to configure all telematics units before physically installing them into the vehicles.

The scan function significantly enhances the convenience of capturing the master data of individual vehicles and improves data quality significantly, according to promises. The app allows the scanning of the vehicle identification number and license plate, greatly accelerating the process compared to manual input and reducing errors, promotes the specialist. Overall, it is estimated that the time required to configure new vehicles for an existing fleet can be reduced by about 70 percent. The app currently supports the configuration of CloudBoxx and CloudBoxx Mini and is available on the Google Play Store.