What does disruption in mobility look like? Is it a comprehensive change of business practices for a more sustainable industry? A new way of powering our vehicles? Or is it combination of both, augmented by the invisible hero – the data that can help us build more sustainable, safer, and more efficient mobility solutions? At Bridgestone, we believe that transformation in mobility is accelerating faster than ever before, and it’s powered by data.
The mobility sector collects, analyses, and uses data to improve the driving experience, increase road safety, and reduce environmental impact.
The extent to which we can collaborate as an industry is currently being defined by the Data Act proposal, a horizontal approach to data sharing from all connected objects, but more guidance is urgently needed in the form of sector-specific regulation. The process of transformation that is underway comes to a grinding halt if real use-case information is hidden and we are not able to develop insights to support new developments.
When data protection versus data sharing is being considered, it’s not a case of ‘either–or’: user’s rights to privacy and control over data is crucial and is given the highest priority when built into a sensible, connected, and accessible data sharing system. It is crucial that legislators support the use of technology that anonymizes data to enable the development of new services and products. For example, through Bridgestone services, fleet drivers share data that are aggregated with that from other sources, enabling optimal routing, mapping of traffic flow and accident warnings. The provision of data is repaid with a useful service to the driver. When we block data sharing, we block the provision of useful services of all kinds.
We also want to emphasize the importance of focusing on data insights rather than the data itself– it's not the data that are valuable, but the insights that they bring. By leveraging these insights, logistics companies will be able to plan low carbon routes to deliver the essentials we need while reducing their emissions. Similarly, city authorities will be able to optimize public transportation routes, enabling more efficient and safer roads.
“To achieve all the benefits of a connected society, we need to look at ways to open up the data sharing ecosystem to ensure fair distribution of the benefits across society and across industries, as well as better competition and consumer choices”
If we’re planning for this transformation, then it is essential that data sharing with third party service providers is explicitly considered and favored within the Data Act. To achieve all the benefits of a connected society, we need to look at ways to open up the data sharing ecosystem to ensure fair distribution of the benefits across society and across industries, as well as better competition and consumer choices.
If we miss this opportunity to build a secure data-sharing environment for the mobility sector, we run the risk of limiting the development of new services that can benefit society, from road safety improvements to environmental protection. In effect, we would cut off the power source to the engine of innovation.
To the rest of the industry, imagine a Data Act that works to fuel innovation rather than stifle it. At Bridgestone, we are calling for all mobility solutions providers to join this conversation, as it will take all of us working together to find the answers.