InformationWeek: The Business Value of Technology

20 Great Ideas To Steal In 2012

Start The Discussion | Stacey Peterson | September 12, 2012 00:01 AM

Are you playing it too safe, IT leaders? Take these InformationWeek 500 projects along to rev up your next brainstorming session.

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PACCAR App Keeps Truckers On The Road

PACCAR used an ongoing partnership with Seattle University's engineering and business schools to develop a physical prototype of a new mobile tool. It developed the business plan for producing, distributing, and marketing the tool in conjunction with the university's business school.

The tool is aimed at long-haul truckers, who can't easily diagnose every problem with their trucks out on the road. PACCAR, the No. 1 company in the InformationWeek 500 last year, soon will provide a vehicle diagnostic tool on a mobile phone.

When a warning light flashes on a truck's dashboard, instead of taking time off from routes to work on the truck or find a mechanic, the driver can connect the Android-based app to the truck's computer using Bluetooth. The app provides easy-to-understand vehicle health information so the driver can make a fast, informed decision about servicing the vehicle.