BMW blockchain integration and loyalty program

Key points: 

• BMW plans to integrate blockchain technology into its daily operations and create a blockchain loyalty program for its customers in Thailand.
• Decentralized technology will be integrated into BMW's daily operations, with the goal of automating time-consuming manual processes and simplifying the company's auto finance services.
• Also, the program will use a blockchain-based rewards system to reward BMW Group customers. In the future, car owners will be able to use their rewards to purchase goods and services from BMW and the online ecosystem.
• Bjorn Antonsson, head of BMW Thailand Leasing, hopes that integrating blockchain technology into their day-to-day operations will eliminate manual paperwork and help improve the company's efficiency and transparency.

German automaker BMW plans to integrate blockchain technology into its daily operations and create a blockchain loyalty program for its customers in Thailand. The popular automaker has hired blockchain infrastructure firm Coinweb as its decentralized architecture provider and BNB Chain to process transactions.

The integration of blockchain technology into BMW workflows takes place in two phases. First, the decentralized technology will be integrated into BMW's daily operations, with the goal of automating time-consuming manual processes and simplifying the company's auto finance services.

In the second phase of the project, Coinweb will develop a custom Web3 application for BMW's customer loyalty program. The program will use a blockchain-based rewards system to reward BMW Group customers. A customer's rank and status in the ecosystem are determined by loyalty rewards earned through various promotions.

In the future, car owners will be able to use their rewards to purchase goods and services from BMW and the online ecosystem. Binance’s native BNB chain is used to settle transactions.

Coinweb CEO Toby Gilbert spoke about how customers will be rewarded under the upcoming loyalty program, telling that whenever a customer has a touchpoint with the BMW ecosystem, whether it’s “buying a new car or getting a service,” will be rewarded. He further explained:

“Customers will be rewarded with loyalty points and they will be able to spend within the ecosystem. Our hope is that there will be a future global rollout but currently our partnership is for Thailand.”

Bjorn Antonsson, head of BMW Thailand Leasing, said the company has been actively following the progress of decentralized technology and its various use cases for several years. Antonsson hopes that integrating blockchain technology into their day-to-day operations will eliminate manual paperwork and help improve the company's efficiency and transparency.

Automakers’ interest in decentralized technology is nothing new, with BMW being involved in the technology since 2018. BMW is the first to use blockchain technology to track its cobalt supply and ensure its products are delivered ethically. Besides BMW, another popular German automaker, Mercedes, has been actively using non-fungible tokens and crypto coins as a promotional tools.

Italian automaker Alfa Romeo uses blockchain technology to track car records, while Ferrari's new deal also hints at NFT integration.