MINI Journey Mate
How can we accompany and assist the driver with a virtual companion?
Challenge
MINI offered only an in-car infotainment system for journey planning. However, users needed to be able to plan their journey at the comfort of their home or on the go, before they hit the road with their MINI. Drivers also needed real-time assistance during their travel regarding updated traffic information, finding convenient parking spots and gas stations.
Solution
MINI Journey Mate mobile app acts as a virtual companion and assists the drivers in everything from journey planning to arrival at their final destination. The experience seamlessly flows between the phone and the car throughout the trip.
Step 1 - Before your trip
Plan your journey on your phone in the comfort of your home. Say you’re off to a music festival to meet some friends but you’ve got to buy a couple of things en route, like a tent. No problem – check out the weather, set reminders, see how long it’s likely to take and call ahead to let them know when you’re likely to arrive.
Trip planning
Plan one or several trips at home. Jump into your MINI, connect your smartphone and MINI Journey Mate transfers it straight into the system. All set.
Travel countdown
See how much time you have left until departure. It also shows how much fuel you have, and how far you should be able to travel on that.
Status
Find out how far you’ve driven in your MINI, and compare that to how many times you could have driven round the moon.
Traffic-o-meter
No one likes being stuck in a traffic jam. Check out the traffic around your chosen route – you might want to readjust before you set off.
Weather
Often find yourself dithering over whether you should bring a rain jacket? Check the weather at your current location and at your destination.
Keep and reuse trips
Heading to work or visiting mum? Some trips we make over and over. Keep and reuse journeys you’ve already planned for future use.
Step 2: The adventure begins
Jump into your MINI, connect your smartphone and start up the Navigation system. Everything you planned goes straight into the system. Journey Mate works with you the whole way to make sure you remember everything you meant to do, that you’re up to date on traffic, and that you never have a problem topping up on fuel.
Gas stations
Receive a list of the nearest stations when your range falls below 60km. Pick one and it’s added to your journey en route.
Calendar & Memo
Your exact calendar events and memos will appear on the screen, right after inviting your attention with a little pop-up sound.
Traffic radar
Get the latest online traffic information and see it visualised on a zoomable map, so you can change your route on the go.
Step 3: Your trip ends
Check for the nearest parking spots, track where you last left your MINI, and even continue the remainder of your journey once you’ve left the car.
Mapping the traveller's journey
We created two journeys with distinctly different purposes - business and leisure. We mapped the user needs across before, during and after these car trips. Considering the business requirements and user needs, we created the initial wireframes and how they might change across various moments in the driver's journey. In the meanwhile, the sitemap and the feature list started to take a solid shape.
