In talking with global automotive OEMs and their partners, one question inevitably arises: How can we get back to profitability through software?

For many auto OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers, DevOps has turned into a source of cost, risk, and delay rather than a centerpiece of innovation and a source of new revenue, competitive advantages, and great customer experiences. Why is that?

Assessing the learning curve

All too often the answer is: It’s complicated. First, you need to have full organizational commitment to make a change and embrace DevOps. This is a mindset and a culture sea change. You then actually have to implement it. You have to integrate the tools. The processes. The compute power. The data. The safety and security measures.

There will be a long learning curve for your DevOps team. You’ll have to master the art of cloud-scale development. Learn how to build the optimal model for continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD). How to make the best use of containers, microservices, and virtualization. How to create and deploy new over-the-air (OTA) and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication apps that are safer and greener.

All of the above is true. But it’s also true that the move to modern DevOps for mission-critical embedded software does not have to break the bank, reduce time-to-market, or diminish the morale of the development team. Integrating software development technologies, processes, and partners can be accomplished in a way that also connects auto OEMs to new sources of revenue, quickly — without throwing away what they already have and without a loss of control.

Related:All Things Embedded in Austin This Week

Integrating without compromising

The key is standardizing the DevOps environment with one suite of modular tools specifically built for cloud-native development and multidimensional integration. But how does that happen?

Successful adoption of a cloud-native environment is the critical first step. The cloud model offers the scale, the flexi­bility, and the common packaging of multiple technologies and practices that can deliver immediate efficiencies to em­bedded software development. And many of these technologies and practices are already in use by key partners.

For example, cloud-native CI/CD and DevSecOps models are now widespread within the telco industry, as are container technologies. With containers, DevOps teams can deploy lightweight microservices, which can scale quickly as demand grows, and add new functionality that can be delivered in real time. These and other cloud capabilities have enabled telco enterprises to build and deploy next-generation 5G/6G, OTA updates, and V2X innovations — which, in turn, can complement and stimulate innovation from auto OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers.

Related:5 Techniques to Simulate Embedded Software

Simply put, cloud-native models have the potential to change the way the auto industry works with its partners to de­liver embedded software innovations to the vehicle and the fleet — if auto OEMs can find a way to standardize the DevOps environment.

Which brings us to the next question: How to adopt a single platform that contains integrated tools, technologies, and practices that are accessible to multiple DevOps teams via the cloud?

This has been the singular vision and focus of the Wind River Studio Developer suite. It is a cloud-native, modular, end-to-end lifecycle management platform that enables users to scan, build, debug, test, deploy, and manage de­vices and data, automate processes, and optimize key workflows.

By increasing standardization, automation, and component/code reusability, Studio Developer helps cut develop­ment costs and timeframes. Application engineers from multiple divisions within a company or partner companies can migrate between environments without constantly having to learn new tools and processes. This is increasingly valuable as teams move from one generation or vehicle-type auto platform to the next. Studio Developer also en­ables shift-left testing with simulation to test earlier, at greater scale, and with real-time visibility into conditions and usage patterns in vehicles in the field.

Related:Design-In Spartan 7 FPGA Tile Speeds Embedded Project Development

By providing these capabilities, Studio Developer makes it possible to simplify and accelerate the DevOps process and collaborate with partners, without losing control and without compromising on safety, security, or other key requirements.

The vital link to monetization

When new embedded software innovations can be built, tested, secured, and delivered to vehicles sooner, the oppor­tunities for monetization grow exponentially. And when the innovations of partners in other industries can be com­plemented by additional capabilities, new sources of revenue emerge.
For example, telco companies are already exploring ultra-load-intensive connectivity services for vehicles. Auto man­ufacturers can add value to these innovations and deliver killer new pervasive connectivity services and create new subscription-based services or revenue models.

Each of the five modules of Studio Developer contributes to faster development, testing, and deployment of new in­novations and expands the opportunities for collaboration — and monetization.

Don’t let inertia eat into your profits

The allure of the software-defined vehicle, V2X communication, OTA deployment, and other compelling capabilities has been around for years. What’s holding up the journey to a modern DevOps environment that can transform software innovations into profits?

Clearly, the complexities of moving to an integrated DevOps platform can be daunting for automakers. They don’t have to be.

Accelerate your journey by contacting Wind River. We can offer customized guidance and proven products based on decades of experience, so you can connect DevOps to profits quickly and without compromise. To learn more about DevOps for automotive use cases, visit Wind River at www.windriver.com/studio/developer or www.windriver.com/solutions/automotive.