Mercedes' Vision for On-Road Meetings
Although Mercedes sells its cars to all types of people of various stripes, it is leaning even harder into that ideal image more than ever. Starting with its brand-new CLA, it offers a mobile workspace designed to keep you productive behind the wheel, even if your email signature says you are on the move.
Thanks to a new collaboration with Microsoft, Mercedes models will get a tech upgrade that turns the driver's seat into a mobile office chair, starting with the upcoming CLA. The highlight of the new in-car tech suite is an updated version of Microsoft Teams called Enhanced Meetings for Teams, which will let you join video calls while driving. The car's built-in camera lets other meeting participants see you in real time, so you can dial in and check in with your team without pulling over to open up your laptop.
Though this might seem like a dangerous opportunity waiting to happen, the moment someone shares their screen to show a PowerPoint presentation, Mercedes says it's keeping drivers safe while in meetings on the go. When the camera is on, the car's display automatically disables shared content like slides or spreadsheets, so you won't have to take your eyes off the road. Additionally, if you're not in the mood to be on camera or if you do not want to show your teammates that you're behind the wheel of your Benz, you have the option to turn it off.
The new Teams app also makes managing your workday from the car surprisingly easy. A feature called "Next Meetings" shows your upcoming appointments, while quick-access contacts and an expanded chat function help you keep up with your team. Everything is voice-controlled, so you can write messages or jump into meetings without ever touching your phone or laptop.
The CLA's in-car office features don't stop at Microsoft Teams. Mercedes is also integrating Microsoft Intune, a platform that allows secure access to business apps while keeping your personal data separate. This means you can log into your company accounts from the car, while your IT team handles security behind the scenes, just like they would with your work phone or laptop.
However, what adds the cherry on top is the inclusion of Microsoft 365 Copilot, Microsoft's in-house generative AI assistant, which can be used to summarize your emails, find client details, or help you prep for meetings. Though the GPT-4-based AI assistant is traditionally controlled similarly to ChatGPT or Grok with message prompts, Benz drivers can control Copilot in the car with simple voice commands and prompts. Mercedes says that by working with Microsoft, cars like the CLA can effectively be turned into a "third workspace" alongside the office and home office.
"Through our industry-leading collaboration with Microsoft, we are making it even easier for our customers to stay productive while on the move," said Ola Källenius, Chairman of the Board of Management at Mercedes-Benz Group AG. "By integrating the latest Microsoft workspace tools directly into our new operating system, MB.OS, we've created an intuitive and safe user experience that boosts efficiency and reduces distractions at the same time."
These new features will roll out in the CLA when it goes on sale and will require the selection of the Entertainment Package Plus and a data plan, though availability will depend on the market.
As someone with experience being on both the receiving end and taking phone and video calls on the move, it seems fairly natural at this point that we move on from offering just 5G-powered Wi-Fi connectivity and begin to integrate actual apps into the infotainment systems of our cars.
Personally, I wouldn't use this in my day-to-day work activities; however, as someone who lives in the same area as some big-money Wall Street types, I expect to see some blue-shirted broker or analyst in their Benz close a deal or "provide some color" to someone while sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic in the near future.
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