When it comes to software development and digital transformation, technology giants like Google and Apple tend to lead the pack. However, one of the fastest transforming industries, the automobile industry, spends roughly €54 billion on R&D, right on an annual basis.
Manufacturers of automobiles need to recognize that they need to alter their manufacturing processes to include software as much as mechanical components. Today, automobiles operate more on code than horsepower, and automakers can't afford to ignore this revolution in technology.
Agility has three main steering forces, which include productivity, value-addition, and enhanced management. Using a flexible strategy, automakers can:
● Trim down the time it takes to market and make it more cost-effective.
● Build items that meet the demands of your consumers.
● Product quality may be improved.
● Be able to deal with complications.
Traditional V-Model Development Methods in the Automotive Industry Waste Time
Software development for automobiles has traditionally been divided into two distinct stages or verticals: the development and testing phases.
● Management of requirements and changes
● Informatization
On the left, requirements analysis, architecture, and software design and development are the emphasis, while on the right is verification and validation of the product at every step of development.
There are two primary verticals in automotive software development: the original V-model and the V-model-based approach.
As a result of its simplicity and ease of use, the V-model has become the industry standard for usage in all phases of software development and verification.
Manufacturers may concurrently build car components from several vendors using this methodology, which uses pre-frozen standards and requirements at the start of the development process.
Even while this method provides a simple user experience, it isn't completely flawless. One of its key limitations is its inefficiency: It might take long to go from the requirements research stage to collecting actual product use feedback.
The operational efficiency of automobile development may be enhanced by using agile approaches, which can assist in shortening the time spent waiting.
Agile software development is characterized by adapting and changing as the project progresses.
To be agile, one must be capable of adapting quickly and efficiently to changes in the world around them. In an ever-changing and unpredictable world, an agile strategy helps firms prosper.
The following are examples of agile methods:
● Scrum is a methodology for agile software development that emphasizes frequent communication, iterative planning, and frequent evaluation of progress.
● Extensive programming is a framework that leads to better quality software.
Included in this list are:
● Interactions that never stop
● Participation of the target audience
● Rapid change reaction Quality work to promote ongoing software improvement
The agile software development process is distinct from previous methodologies because of its emphasis on teamwork.
Communication between cross-functional project teams is critical to the development of solutions. The changing environment necessitates this change.
It's easier to keep track of daily and weekly development cycles with an Agile approach.
New functionality must be integrated and deployed without sacrificing quality or safety, which are both vital to customers in the car industry.
There are several advantages to adopting agile development practices in the automobile industry, including continuous integration and deployment (CI/CD). CI/CD automates the process of integrating software components, which is costly and error-prone when done manually.
A shorter time to market for a product and an increase in product quality with each iteration are two benefits of this approach. Developers of agile software are nimble, agile, and efficient in their work.
Teams may gather early input on how new features will alter the product using agile software implementation in automotive approaches and iterative development.
In order to gradually roll out new features while the product is still under development, automakers rely on customer input to get important insights into what has to be improved or modified.
Continuous Improvement Is Necessary for Agile Development
It's simpler to make judgments and prioritize requests for collaborative outcomes with the assistance of a project manager needed by each agile software developer.
Rather than resist changes, an agile team sees them as an opportunity to enhance the product as a whole rather than a threat.
A project's scope and modifications are monitored by change management, which ensures that the project meets client expectations and maintains a healthy balance between the steady influx of new requests and the outcomes of intermediate development progress.
It is the goal of agile change request management to make projects more responsive and to speed up the execution of changes, therefore reducing the amount of time it takes to get from receiving client input to acting on it.
Face-to-face contact between client and vendor teams becomes more regular with agile methodologies.
Real-Time Software Updates are Made Possible by Agile Software Development and Dynamic OTA Software.
Over-the-air (OTA) upgrades are being used by OEMs to distribute firmware and bring operating systems to the latest version.
Onboard systems in connected cars may provide operational data to the manufacturer, allowing them to quickly address issues and upgrade software.
As an added bonus, the predictive nature of OTA updates may help OEMs save time and money by pointing up potential faults before a product is released, thereby reducing the software development cycle.
Carmakers can also improve product quality and performance with this sort of connection. Agile software development is all about being adaptable and quick to change. This iterative software development process is fundamentally altering the automobile industry. The use of agile in the development lifecycle is already widespread among automobile manufacturers.
A successful example of agile implementation in automotive is Tesla, which refuses to follow protracted development cycles that have long been accepted as the norm. Tesla is more like a software corporation than an automotive manufacturer. In order to continuously improve, it takes input, cultivates new ideas, and fixes issues throughout the development stage.
Scrum and extreme programming helped Tesla construct its infrastructure around the acceptance of changes as they emerge so that new products are continually being brought to market to meet customer needs and expectations.
Automakers may improve quality and productivity by using Agile software development.
In a rapidly changing environment, the more quickly a firm tests and implements new ideas, the closer it comes to success. The automotive industry must respond quickly to emerging trends such as self-driving cars, V2X communications, vehicle-in-the-cloud technologies, fleet management, and enhanced mobility.
Key Takeaways
Agile software development in the Automotive industry simplifies the process of building new features and integrating them into current car designs, making it quicker and more efficient for automakers. Automakers may expect to see greater adoption of agile approaches over time.
Author bio:-
Mark Alfred is the Founder & CEO of 5iQ, cloud-based automotive software for the auto industry. We at 5iQ love sharing and discussing mechanical industry news.
