Losch Digital Lab was created in 2018 as the software subsidiary of Losch Luxembourg, the Volkswagen importer in Luxembourg. Their initial goal was to digitize Losch’s processes and ensure it stays at the forefront of unprecedented transformations in the automotive industry. Today, Losch employs 50 people across their two locations in Luxembourg and Portugal.
Interview with Roman Entinger, Managing Director of Losch Digital Lab.
A brief description of the company and its activities.
Roman Entinger: We have successfully launched a suite of software products for the automotive and mobility industries and are positioning ourselves as a Nearshore Development Partner for Luxembourgish companies and beyond. It is our vision to become the preferred partner at the transition to the future of automotive, mobility and beyond by providing and developing state-of-the-art solutions from the practice to the market.
What are the main areas of activity of the company?
R.E: Losch Digital Lab is a software development and mobility solutions provider.
As a Nearshore Development partner, we offer our talent and expertise to companies with software development needs. Additionally, we develop our own products and offer a set of software solutions for the automotive and mobility industries under the umbrella brand Simdle (Introduction video). This includes Simdle Automotive, a set of fully digital applications dedicated to car dealerships and workshops, and Simdle Mobility, an on-demand mobility software solution for transport authorities and operators with clients all over Europe.
What’s the news about new products/services?
R.E: We have three new projects launching in Germany and one in Spain with our software solution Simdle Mobility.
In Baden-Württemberg, “Südwestdeutsche Landesverkehrs-GmbH” (SWEG) is launching a demand-responsive transport platform for the entire region. The “Bwrider” app offers a wide range of mobility options integrated through our software solution. The project aims at advancing the digitalization of the transport sector and providing an expanded mobility offer for residents.
In Bavaria, we are launching two projects. The first is a public transport taxi available on the app “FRG-Flex”, where local taxi operators will offer on-demand rides when and where there is no bus connection. The goal is to complement existing public transport to increase the possibilities for citizens to move around.
The second project will use our call bus line feature to digitize an existing call bus service, providing more flexibility to the citizens of the district “Dillingen an der Donau”.
Lastly, we will soon launch a corporate mobility project in Spain. The company will use our software to offer on-demand shuttles to transport employees between sites within the company.
Our product Simdle Workshop is currently used within Losch Luxembourg, and we have now decided to open it up for use by other clients across Europe.
What are the ranges of products/services?
R.E: Losch Digital Lab’s software development services range from apps and digital interfaces to websites and e-commerce platforms. Our multidisciplinary team specializes in web and mobile development, product design, security, infrastructure, business intelligence, marketing, sales, and customer support.
Our product portfolio bridges the gap between traditional car ownership and emerging trends in mobility.
Simdle Mobility, our software solution for demand-responsive transport, consists of a passenger app, a driver app, and a dispatching and controlling web interface. It allows cities, transport operators, and companies to manage flexible transport efficiently. With capabilities for dispatching pre-booked and real-time requests automatically, it optimizes pooled transport in multiple use cases, including rural areas, school transportation, corporate mobility, and public transport taxis. This solution is in use in many European countries, transporting thousands of passengers daily.
Simdle Automotive aims to digitize and simplify work processes in dealerships and workshops, regardless of size or brand affiliation. Our most advanced product within this suite is Simdle Workshop, a resource planning and maintenance planning software covering all processes in a workshop, from the first customer contact to handling parts and staff, to invoicing. Simdle Workshop is already used in workshops affiliated with Losch Luxembourg.
What is the state of the market where you are currently active?
R.E: The world of mobility is in constant movement. Today’s consumers seek hassle-free and efficient travel experiences that blend good working and reliable mobility options. At the same time, the current traffic situation is challenging, with significant CO2 emissions from motorized individual transport. Innovative mobility concepts and technologies that prioritize passenger comfort, accessibility and reliability are essential to achieving local and global goals for a mobility turnaround.
At Losch Digital Lab, we are actively shaping the future of mobility by bringing innovative solutions to the market to tackle these challenges.
What can you tell us about market trends?
R.E: We observe a significant shift towards holistic mobility solutions that cater to the evolving needs of transportation. Multimodality is on the rise, with fully integrated systems allowing passengers to use a single app for ticketing, timetable information, and demand-responsive transport. Real-time passenger information for different public transport connections is now a standard expectation, and integrating taxi services into demand-responsive transport projects is proving cost-effective. Mobility hubs are also becoming central, acting as convergence points for various transport modes. Autonomous driving technologies are paving the way for safer and more efficient transport, also in on-demand mobility projects. Companies are increasingly offering 360-degree mobility packages to their employees that encompass every aspect of travel.
These trends collectively point towards a future where mobility is smarter, more integrated, and highly responsive to users’ needs.
What are the most innovative products/services marketed?
R.E: Our most innovative products are designed to be fully integrated with existing systems in the industry. For instance, our on-demand mobility solution can integrate with new innovations, such as autonomous driving technologies.
Innovation also involves considering the entire value chain for customers and providing solutions that make their day-to-day work more efficient. That’s why our fully digital Simdle Automotive products include catalogs of the whole itineraries, and interfaces with accounting software.
What estimations do you have for 2024?
R.E: We estimate that the market will continue to move towards fully integrated and user-friendly technologies. This aligns with our overall product vision to provide more time- and cost-efficient solutions for our customers. Another trend that we are observing is the integration of Artificial Intelligence into software products, AI is, e.g., used to predict mobility demand, which can then be translated into overall mobility planning.