Digital Vehicle Wallets Revolutionize Connected Car Payments

Innovation in the payments industry hinges on the ability to put oneself in the end users’ shoes. This principle has guided Sheeva.AI in its mission to transform in-car payments using geolocation technology and artificial intelligence (AI), as stated in Fintech News. 

In a recent interview for the «AI Effect» series, Evgeny Klochikhin, founder and CEO of Sheeva.AI, discussed the company’s pioneering approach. «It’s a new market. We do not have transactions right now inside cars. None of us are familiar with what it would even mean,» Klochikhin explained. «Therefore, when we talk about launching a new category like in-vehicle payments, we have to make it as convenient as our existing payment methods.»

Sheeva.AI’s technology enables drivers to pay for services such as fueling, electric vehicle charging, parking, and curbside pickup directly from their vehicles. By leveraging precise vehicle location data, the company can deliver a personalized and contextualized payment experience in real time. «Location is the best predictor of customer intent,» Klochikhin noted.

The company’s product suite is being deployed globally, with over 2 million fuel pumps, parking spaces, electric vehicle chargers, and other service points mapped into its location-based platform. Recently, Sheeva.AI’s in-vehicle payment technology became available in Citroën vehicles in India, where digital payments are heavily emphasized. «We’re very bullish on the Indian market because the market itself is super focused on digital payments,» said Klochikhin.

Through this collaboration, Indian drivers can now seamlessly pay for fuel without manual intervention or additional QR code scanning. This milestone reflects Sheeva.AI’s ambition to create a unified platform for multiple use cases, from parking to fueling. «We do not want a platform that has only one use case. We want all of it in one account for you, the driver,» Klochikhin emphasized.

To achieve this, Sheeva.AI has developed a B2B API product, a white-labeled vehicle wallet that any automaker can integrate. This approach aims to provide a seamless and branded experience for drivers. «Making it a white label experience just creates a much better homogeneity of you driving your own vehicle and actually transacting within that car,» Klochikhin added.

The adoption of in-car payment solutions is driven by the need for convenience and simplicity. Klochikhin likened the vehicle wallet to an Uber-like experience where payment and service are unified. «What we’re trying to put inside the vehicle wallet is creating this one account which combines both the payment means as well as the service itself. So, it becomes the single experience for you as a driver,» he explained.

Looking ahead, Klochikhin envisions a future where in-car payments extend beyond traditional use cases. By leveraging emerging technologies such as voice recognition and AI-driven interfaces, Sheeva.AI aims to enhance the user experience and streamline in-car transactions. «Without those three components—automakers, service providers, and consumers—nothing will work,» he concluded.

Sheeva.AI is poised to revolutionize the connected car experience, making in-vehicle payments a seamless and integral part of everyday driving.