Nothing but Green Lights on the Network

With the dealer, at the service station, on the road:
BMW sets the tempo with high-performance information and communications technology, enhancing the driving experience when it comes to innovations.

A system unlike any other in the world now links BMW service partners with the vehicles themselves: The new BMW TeleServices started in September – and has made driving a BMW an even more pleasurable experience ever since. This truly one-of-a-kind technology in the industry comes standard equipped on most BMW models, shortens the stay at the service station and guarantees fast, competent onsite assistance. Vehicle data can be transmitted to BMW Service from virtually any location with cellular reception. TeleServices was launched simultaneously in Germany, France and Austria. Rollout in additional markets is slated for 2008.

The innovation is based on BMW’s internal vehicle maintenance system. Sensors monitor the conditions of sealed components and operating fluids, and determine if service is needed based on these data. Until now, these data were displayed in the cockpit, so that the data stored on the vehicle ignition key could be structured more efficiently for readout by service technicians, but now BMW is taking a major step toward the future: If servicing is needed, the vehicle automatically sends notification to the local BMW dealer via mobile phone. Based on the data received, the service station can optimally prepare in advance for the service appointment and coordinate the timing of the appointment with the customer. As a result, service visits become more efficient; waiting for temporarily unavailable parts is totally eliminated. “The new BMW TeleServices not only relieves BMW drivers from any work, it also help to save time and money. Even in the high-tech sport of Formula 1 racing, communications between driver and pit crew could not function better,” says Ralf Kennerknecht, Automotive Expert at T-Systems, partner of BMW for design, build and operation of the new BMW TeleServices. “Our expertise, combined with our unique overall Group portfolio, together make us an engine of further innovation, and a key partner for the industry.”

Data travel through the VPN tunnel securely

BMWs are extremely popular in Belgium. This is evidenced by the 80 dealerships distributed across the country. It is not only the sports cars which represent the connection between these dealerships and the company headquarters, but also an IT network provided by T-Systems Belgium. This is just as reliable and much faster than the sports cars themselves. An Internet-based network enables the company headquarters to transmit a variety of business documents and services to its dealers. For this purpose, all that is required is a VPN (Virtual Private Network) tunnel from the Belgian BMW headquarters to a centralized firewall. Behind this, is the network for the 80 dealerships, also consisting of software VPNs. The dealers can access the network securely from anywhere in the world, with the firewall offering protection against attacks from the Internet. URL blocking is performed individually via the central Internet access. This makes it possible to determine precisely for each user whether access to the Internet is permitted and which pages are hidden, as required. “The new network provides BMW and their partners with secure data communications,” says Michel Verwaerde, Head of Sales & Services, from T-Systems Belgium. And with regard to speed too, the network meets the BMW standards. It was green lights all the way for the rollout at the 80 dealerships, which was completed in only 40 days.