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A design for a maintenance business model of a smart car brought the Metex Prize for Andreas Pattichis

Aalto University graduate Andreas Pattichis was awarded the Metex Prize for his thesis "Telematics in the Second Machine Age: Designing a Novel Business Model for the Repair and Maintenance of the Connected Car."

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"3739","attributes":{"class":"media-image","height":"100px","width":"100px"}}]]In his thesis, Andreas Pattichis proposes a new, subscription-based, business model for the entire car repair and maintenance industries globally.

"In my opinion, the whole automobile industry is in need of some provocation. The industry doesn't currently keep up with the development of technology and all the possibilities that come along," Pattichis states.

In his work the industrial design graduate succeeds in his provocation through the introduction of novel business model thinking, and a platform-based service offering for repair and maintenance service providers.

Through this award, Pattichis wishes to reach a wider audience for his work in order to take one step closer to realising the vision depicted in the thesis - at least partially.

"The thesis is indeed immediately relevant, topical and important as it necessitated a deeper understanding and integration of different disciplinary perspectives in order to gain the necessary synergies between design (e.g., service, UI and UX design), technology (e.g. digital technologies and telematics) and business (e.g. new revenue models) in what is referred to as the “Second Machine Age” (where smart connected devices are transforming competition)," writes Professor of Design Management Peter McGrory in the thesis evaluation.

The Metex Fund promotes Finnish industries and is part of the Technology Industries of Finland Centennial Foundation. It grants yearly two prizes (a 5000 €) for Aalto University graduates for best thesis in design and engineering, one for each department.

The thesis in available online in pdf-format: Andreas Pattichis: Telematics in the Second Machine Age: Designing a Novel Business Model for the Repair and Maintenance of the Connected Car