Ford’s connected vehicle push encompasses its entire vehicle lineup, but has thus far proven to be especially useful in the Ford Pro commercial division of the business, where it has generated considerable profit and helped with customer retention. Back in late 2021, the automaker expanded its software offerings with the VIIZR Service Tool, which is based on Salesforce Field Service and is designed to simplify key commercial activities including scheduling, invoicing, and managing requests, as well as providing a complete solution for managing mobile workforces and providing onsite support. Now, however, Ford has reportedly shut down VIIZR altogether, according to TechCrunch.
When VIIZR was officially announced, it arrived as a standalone company with Ford as its majority owner and Salesforce as a minority investor. The idea behind the outfit was to build digital tools that would enable FoMoCo to reach its goal of generating $45 billion in profit from Ford Pro by 2025, but now, it has ceased to exist – and its 40 employees have been laid off as well.
This decision – according to Ford spokesperson Catherine Hargett – was made in response to low consumer demand, coupled with a desire to focus more on the profitable ventures of telematics, fleet management, and charging productivity software. Prior research indicated that the U.S. market for field service management was estimated to be worth around $3 billion each year, and that figure was expected to double across six years.
Clearly, that hasn’t been the case over the past nearly two years, and facing tremendous competition, Ford ultimately decided to pull the plug on VIIZR, though Salesforce will continue to supply enterprise software to Ford Pro. Moving forward, Ford Pro Fleet Management Software will serve as Ford Pro Intelligence’s flagship product, too.
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Comment
Another expensive failed over reach by Ford brass.