Drivers of several Škoda models will soon be able to use their car’s infotainment system to access location-based shopping offers. The service will roll out in the Czech Republic, with other markets to follow.
Developed in collaboration with various partners, Skoda says the offers are tailored to the user’s daily routine and the vehicle’s current location or circumstances. Ahead of a required refueling stop, for example, the infotainment system will display nearby petrol stations and the relevant discounts available. Soon, Škoda says, drivers will also be informed of special supermarket, hotel, restaurant and car wash offers as well as deals available from numerous other partners.
Andre Wehner, Škoda chief digital officer, remarked, “We have put maximum focus on customer benefit for our new, location-based services too. We’ve been collaborating with a number of compatible partners from the very outset so that we can provide our customers with a wide range of bespoke, localized offers right from launch – thus guaranteeing the best possible user experience. Using data and combining it with attractive deals allows us to offer yet another valuable digital service to our customers.”
Sebastian Lasek, head of connectivity at Škoda, added, “We have developed our new marketplace for location-based offers independently. It is an impressive testament to the innovative connectivity services we are already capable of offering our customers by making full use of our existing technologies and cleverly combining them.”
Offers can be accepted on the vehicle’s central display and the navigation system then guides the customer to the location. In the meantime, a barcode or QR code is emailed to their smartphone. When giving suggestions, the infotainment system not only considers vehicle data such as fuel levels but also other parameters including GPS coordinates and weather information.
