DRVR founder David Henderson (centre) with his team members
Belgium-based mobile-first motion insights company Sentiance has just announced the acquisition of Bangkok-headquartered fleet intelligence platform DRVR. The combination of the two firms aims to advance safety-first, privacy-driven solutions to address road safety challenges worldwide. Sentiance has grant plans to expand across Southeast Asia.
In this interview, DRVR’s founder, David Henderson, shares more insights into the deal.
How does Sentiance’s mission align with DRVR’s core values, and what aspects of Sentiance’s approach to road safety resonate most with your team?
Sentiance and DRVR share a mission to save lives by reducing road accidents. Another key aspect we share is a strong focus on privacy. Sentiance has a world-leading solution for ensuring that users’ privacy is protected and respected and that data is used for good.
How do you plan to leverage Sentiance’s on-device processing technology within DRVR’s existing offerings?
DRVR’s staff and customers will join Sentiance. We’re excited by the potential for the AI-based on-device technology Sentiance has developed, which will address key areas of concern to our customers, chiefly price, scalability, and privacy.
What new roles or opportunities do you foresee for your team as part of Sentiance’s regional operations?
The Belgian firm already has a presence in the region, and the DRVR team will help solidify that. We’re excited to work to reduce road accidents in a new sector for us, where Sentiance has been a strong champion. We have seen strong growth in areas like e-commerce and food delivery as critical drivers for our future growth.
Also Read: Sentiance acquires DRVR to strengthen road safety, expand footprint across Asia
With Sentiance’s enhanced technology, what new benefits will DRVR’s current clients experience?
DRVR’s clients will benefit from Sentiance’s advanced AI-powered on-device processing, which enables faster data insights while enhancing privacy and reducing costs. They’ll also gain access to tailored safety solutions, including evidence-based motorcycle safety for the on-demand economy and deeper, AI-driven behavioural insights to help improve driver safety and reduce risk.
These enhancements will empower clients with more actionable, privacy-first insights to support safer driving habits and effective risk management.
Can you provide examples of how DRVR’s solutions might evolve or expand with this acquisition?
Southeast Asia is a major centre for motorcycles and scooters. With our many years of experience in the region, we will continue to develop world-class products and enhance our existing solutions.
How does this acquisition strengthen DRVR’s impact on road safety across Asia? These?
Sentiance’s acquisition of DRVR will strengthen its local presence, enabling companies across the region to gain access to its market-leading technology. Sentiance’s on-device solution is a game changer, as it both secures customers’ privacy and is much more affordable than traditional on-cloud solutions. This will enable the rollout across the region to a wider pool of potential customers.
How will this acquisition help DRVR respond to the specific safety needs of the on-demand economy, particularly with Sentiance’s motorcycle safety solution?
Sentiance Asia will focus strongly on the on-demand economy. Accidents amongst these vulnerable road users can account for up to 60 per cent of total accidents.
Sentiance has strong experience in this area, with leading on-demand economy customers already using the service and rolling out the Sentiance safety solution in the region.
With Sentiance’s AI-driven, driver-focused technology, what advancements do you see for AI’s role in road safety?
AI is at the core of the Sentiance platform to provide detailed scores and help drivers/riders improve safety and save lives. Our roadmap includes some exciting developments in this field.
How does Sentiance’s focus on drivers over vehicles align with DRVR’s future strategies?
It’s true that DRVR focused on fleet management and was vehicle-centric in the past. However, we pivoted to app-based solutions in 2020.
Sentiance focuses on the driver and not the vehicle, so by joining forces, DRVR can help expand Sentiance’s footprint into Asia, reduce human error on the road, and thus help save lives.
Also Read: Charting the roadmap for the era of pervasive AI
Recent studies have shown that even with all the new technologies and safety features developed by OEMs, the number of accidents and fatalities keeps rising, and 94 per cent of accidents are caused by the driver.
What innovations are on the horizon as part of the combined technology roadmap for DRVR and Sentiance?
The combined roadmap will focus on AI model improvements, enhanced on-device processing for faster, privacy-centric insights, advanced motorcycle safety solutions tailored to the on-demand economy, and AI-driven behavioural insights to personalise safety feedback. We’re also scaling risk modelling tools for broader, data-driven safety applications.
Sentiance has a global outlook on reducing road injuries and fatalities. How will DRVR contribute to these efforts beyond Asia?
The DRVR team brings valuable local expertise in the Asian market, which will guide Sentiance’s approach in regions with similar road safety challenges. Sentiance’s innovations, combined with DRVR’s local expertise in Asia, will be adapted for broader global applications.
Additionally, DRVR’s partnerships and data insights will further support safety initiatives and policy advocacy worldwide.
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