Innovation and digitalization
constantly drive DEKRA forward
As an expert service provider in the fields of safety, security and sustainability, we are constantly working to be a preferred partner for future technologies and processes, both now and in the future. Innovation and future viability are therefore particularly important to us, and are among our core sustainability principles. We aim to deploy our expertise to provide our partners with the best possible support in meeting the societal challenges and trends of today and tomorrow, including digitalization, connectivity, and climate change. We are continuously developing our services in this context within an increasingly disruptive market environment.
DEKRA’s strategy also includes investing in innovative companies and start-ups. Against this backdrop, DEKRA DIGITAL is promoting the digital transformation and acts as an incubator for new digital ideas, services, and business models. An international team based at four European locations is developing new services in the area of digital security. Together with partners such as start-ups and universities, DEKRA experts are working on digital trends and technologies such as cyber security, future mobility, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, blockchain, and big data. One example is the DEKRA Safety Index, a data-based algorithm for measuring driving behavior neutrally and objectively. It was developed with the goal of reducing the number of traffic accidents and contributing to DEKRA’s Vision Zero of no fatalities or serious injuries on the roads.
Furthermore, we are optimizing our services with regards to resource conservation as well. Examples include the “DEKRA i2i” damage appraisal app, which enables remote appraisals, training concepts that are being developed at DEKRA Akademie using virtual and augmented reality, and “VALTO 360°”, a Software-as-a-Service platform that provides a visual overview of customers’ plant facilities, buildings, assets, and equipment, enabling the simple and efficient management of large-scale material testing and inspection, as well as industrial and building inspections. It eliminates the need for most of the travel associated with conventional services, thus avoiding the associated emissions.
Interoperability between electric vehicles and charging stations
The electrification of vehicles is a strong global trend. An ever-increasing variety of electric cars and charging stations are becoming a common sight in cities around the world. To ensure safe, seamless, and protected charging of electric vehicles, so-called interoperability – i.e. correct communication between vehicle, charging station, and back office – is an increasingly important challenge. In the Dutch city of Arnhem, DEKRA operates the world's most comprehensive laboratory for testing charging infrastructure for electric vehicles. Since 2021, the DEKRA laboratory has been testing interoperability against important standards such as CharIN (CCS), EV Ready, CHAdeMO, OCPP and ISO 15118. Furthermore, as DEKRA also scrutinizes regulatory aspects such as safety, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), and robustness of charging stations, the laboratory is able to perform tests across the entire range of electrical vehicle supply. The test engineers in Arnhem evaluate over 180 aspects of the communication between charging station and electric car. They test different power levels and charging speeds, for example, and check in a controlled area whether the charging stations can withstand extreme weather conditions.
