Ford will expand connected services for customers around the world with the creation of the cloud-based Ford Service Delivery Network, powered by Microsoft Azure. Preparing for the ownership experience of the future, Ford will enable new ways for its customers to interact with their vehicles and stay connected at all times. Ford had earlier dumped Microsoft in favor of QNX to power their in-car platform SYNC 3.
Powered by Microsoft Azure, the Service Delivery Network will provide Ford a global platform to enable over-the-air software updates as well as expanded availability of MyFord and MyLincoln Mobile connected services with features like scheduled remote start, vehicle finder, and vehicle status (fuel or charge level, tire pressure). With customer deployment starting later this year, the service will enable Ford to bring new connected features to market faster and offer flexibility for the future.
This means that Ford can send updates as they become available, ensuring customers will have the latest technology as it becomes available.
Microsoft’s cloud platform offers Ford the scale and commitment to security they need to support their global operations. And the expansive global footprint of Azure data centers provides the backbone to support Ford’s vehicles anywhere they are in the world. The partnership helps Ford unify a multitude of back end platforms, and allows Ford to utilize Microsoft’s deep expertise across critical areas such as application development and data management and analysis.
Through their Azure-powered Service Delivery Network, Ford is bringing the next generation of ownership experiences to the global market to make vehicle ownership simpler and more engaging through connected experiences.
Microsoft is devoted to helping automotive companies use their brand and data to create ongoing relationships with customers. We are powering connected car innovations from the cloud platform, to data analytics capabilities, to the software that lights up all of the consumer experiences. Today’s news is yet another exciting example of what automakers can accomplish by tapping into Microsoft’s enterprise-class cloud platform. We are the technology partner to help the auto industry bring its cars into the mobile-first, cloud-first world.
As consumers shift toward more cloud-based services, the Ford Service Delivery Network architecture is a strategic approach to keep vehicles up-to-date and relevant throughout the vehicle ownership period by making it easy to add or evolve services. Microsoft Azure provides a global common cloud platform that allows Ford to deliver services worldwide and scale quickly to reach its broad customer base.