Like almost every other industry, automotive companies are going digital, using artificial intelligence, networks and big data to improve consumers’ experiences.
As chief product and technology officer at CDK Global, Mahesh Shah is creating a shift in how people use, buy, fix, and replace their cars. CDK, headquartered in Illinois, has offices in 13 U.S. states and one in Waterloo, Ont.
“More and more, we’re connecting what’s happening in the car with what’s happening at the store and your experience with your car,” says the San Francisco-based executive vice- president.
“We’re able to tell what actually fails in vehicles, and what issues you might come across based on demographics and location, then we compare that to behavioural data and personalize the experience for the consumer.”
Beyond personal vehicles, this technical revolution is also changing commercial fleets, trucking, heavy equipment, farming equipment and even recreational vehicles.
Future of the automotive industry
“We call it ACES — autonomous, connected, electric and shared.”
Concordia’s influence
“It offered a combination of academic- and experiential-based learning. The experiential for me personally came from the student clubs and things that were there, like AIESEC, which is a business-oriented association where you work on projects and interact with business organizations.”
Advice for aspiring tech execs
“Even if you’re a finance or business person, you have to learn a little bit about the domain of technology and how it progresses. I would only encourage you to jump into this field if you love technology, but you don’t necessarily have to build the technology to love what it can do for people and for the world.”
Important charitable cause
“I’m on the board of advisors for a non-profit called Brighter Children, with a goal of helping the millions of children around the world who don't receive primary education. My wife sits on the board of an organization for foster children in the county where we live, so we joke that she helps children locally and I help them internationally.”