What’s app - 10 apps from OEMs

Smartphones and tablets are an ever-present part of the daily routine, merging our personal and professional lives. At the heart of these devices are apps — programs designed to make tasks easier. The "appification of the enterprise" is well underway and the fleet sector is no exception.
We examine 10 apps from car manufacturers to see what they offer fleet managers and drivers.

1. BlueMotion CHECK
Which of Volkswagen's sustainable drive technologies is right for your fleet needs? BlueMotion CHECK has been designed to offer the answer. The app automatically calculates fuel consumption and CO2 data for every journey, and compares the results with the figures for electric, plug-in hybrid and CNG-powered vehicles as well as the Turbocharged Direct Injection BlueMotion diesel engine. For fleet managers who must balance the financial and environmental upside and downsides of technologies and vehicles, this is a valuable app. (iOS, Android)

2. Volvo on Call
"Find Your Car", "Check Your Car" and "Lock Your Car" are three of the four key services offered by this elegant app from the Swedish OEM. The fourth, "Driving Journal", is of particular interest to fleet managers and drivers in that it allows you to "Log start/end positions, distance, duration, and fuel consumption." You can then download the data and import it to an Excel file. (iOS, Android, Windows Phone)

3. BMW i Remote
The idea of sustainable mobility is at the heart of the BMWi car, and the accompanying app has been designed to enhance the concept. Not only does it measure the "efficiency" of each journey, it offers tips on how to drive the car more professionally and extend its range. BMW i Remote displays an array of information on the status of the vehicle: location and battery level along with mileage and servicing requirements. As we enter the era of the networked vehicle, BMW i Remote is a sign of the times. (iOS, Android)

4. Vauxhall RoadTrip
For the fleet manager in the UK, Vauxhall RoadTrip is a useful app for calculating the distance and cost of journeys. It will generate reports and then e-mail them as CSV files that you can easily import into Excel. Want to filter reports via vehicle, mileage rates and date ranges? Vauxhall RoadTrip can do it. The app also offers a secure "back up my data" functionality to prevent sleepless night worrying about lost mileage data. Users can also create a library of location and journey favourites. (iOS, Android)

5. myOpel
Accidents can happen and the "Accident Report" function included in the myOpel app allows the driver to capture critical information, including photos , that can then be e-mailed back to base. The emphasis is on practical service and the "Emergency Procedures" guide offers information on jump starting, vehicle towing and changing wheels. Dealer location and service booking requests are built into the app. (iOS, Android)

6. Ford Service
The pragmatic user interface of the Ford Service app enables drivers throughout Europe to access essential information on traffic regulations, parking assistance and filling stations. In case of an accident or breakdown, the Emergency Service functionality helps you, to contact Ford Service Assistance, a rescue service or the police. You can also get first aid tips and easily create an accident report. (iOS and Android)

7. Kia Service
What you see is what you get with this no-frills app from the South Korean OEM. Sales and customer care are at the heart of Kia Service. It displays all dealers around your current location using the integrated Google Maps and drivers can make service appointments as well as test drive reservations. Direct contact to emergency services is built in and the app provides an overview and explanation of the vehicle's warning lights and indicators. (iOS and Android)

8. Link MyPeugeot
To complete the connection between manufacturer and marque, the French carmaker offers Link MyPeugeot, an app that provides drivers with comprehensive information about their vehicle. Real-time maintenance alerts, route saving, dealership location, servicing scheduling and handbook information are among the features. You can also export your mileage to the MyPeugeot website. Link MyPeugeot will also help you find the nearest parking lot and can locate the vehicle if you ever forgot where you left it. (iOS, Android)

9. Tesla Model S
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Motors, is on record as saying that within 30 years the majority of new cars made in the US will be electric. The company's Model S is leading the way. The car has been showered with awards for its innovative design and the related app matches it in form and function. It "talks" to the Model S constantly and displays status updates in real time. Want to start or stop battery charging, or heat or cool the car before driving? Just tap on the app. (iOS, Android)

10. ŠKODA CNG:
Like many OEMs, ŠKODA offers a conventional service app with the usual features — dealerships, assistance, information — but for fleet managers considering alternative powertrains, such as CNG (compressed natural gas), the ŠKODA CNG app is worth noting. With the number of CNG-powered vehicles on Europe's roads predicted to rise to 10 million by 2020, this is a growing market. The location of CNG stations determines route planning for CNG vehicles and the app will export the required data to your navigation device. (iOS, Android, Windows Phone)