How Document Digitization Disrupting The Automotive Industry

Samarth Bhardwaj Jun 29, 2021

The automotive industry has steadily enhanced its digital capabilities over the past decade. In fact much advancement has been made in this regard over the past year or so owing to multiple factors such as global uncertainties, price wars and the pandemic. Though digital technologies are being leveraged by industry players for key processes like product designing, procurement, production, supply chain, sales or even marketing, little headway has been made when it comes to document digitization, as cumbersome paper-based processes continue to mar the prospects of automotive as an industry.

However, a few most recent developments, including Mercedes-Benz India digitizing sales and Manchester-based car marketplace Auto Trader Group announcing the complete shift to online car buying, suggest that document digitization at different levels is bringing instrumental transformations across varied verticals that fall under the ambit of the automotive industry.

Manufacturing of automotives in itself is a combination of a number of integral processes, but paramount here is maintaining high-quality standards. When the manufacturing-related documentation processes are digitized, it entails that multiple data from different sources required for the processes can be collated at one point, in accordance with regulatory compliances as well as operational efficiency. While this minimizes the possible human errors, it adds significantly to the operational flexibility.

This is further beneficial with regard to the supply chain and logistics, which in itself is a culmination of cumbersome paper-based processes. While real-time monitoring solutions are being implemented by the automakers, document digitization can bring about complete automation and transparency in the same. Smart document solutions follow the Kanban process with Kaizen at its core, thereby helping deliver effective results in real time. While Kanban is a tool for visualizing a process and identifying bottlenecks, Kaizen refers to the continuous improvement process.

Apart from this, enabling document digitization also helps the customers a great deal as it results in hassle-free upload and edit of documents such as address proof, income proof, driver’s license, and other financial statements. Needless to mention, the documents can be signed using electronic or digital signatures anytime from anywhere. To ease it further, we have introduced an Aadhaar-based Digital Signature wherein customers can sign different documents digitally merely using the Aadhaar number and OTP received on registered mobile number.

Document digitization further comes with proprietary search algorithms for seamless identity and background verification to prevent instances of fraud etc. It also allows those dealing directly with the customers to ensure accuracy and secure collection of personal information. By choosing the right partner for the purpose, as one that adheres to regulatory compliance and security standards across the globe, ensures that the standards for data privacy and security is met with each document transaction through the platform.

In addition to this, document digitization further eases correspondence between buyers and dealers, with the help of Web Forms and Hybrid Signatures. What happens in the case of Hybrid Signature solution is that the necessary documents can be signed by different internal department heads at the dealership using Digital Signatures, a type of which is the aforementioned Aadhaar Signature, and the same document can later be shared with the customer, who can sign it using Electronic Signature.

Hence, there are more ways than one how document digitization is disrupting the various domains of the automotive industry.