The Support Team
VISION QUEST Establishing a name for itself with cameras for enthusiasts and security purposes, Waylens has its eye on enhancing drivers’ experiences while backing its growing dealer network. WORDS BY JAMIE SORCHER
Born out of the highly respected MIT Media Lab and just a few years fresh from its Kickstarter campaign, Boston-based Waylens is well on its way to becoming a household name in the 12-volt world. Right now, the company has two automotive cameras in the market—Horizon and Secure360. The company’s mission is to transform the way people enjoy their time behind the wheel. The first product, the Waylens Horizon, is perfect for the enthusiast. It lets drivers capture, edit and share interesting moments and automotive performance data from the road. The Waylens Secure360 gives owners peace of mind. Lots of folks have basic remote start or security for their cars, but this takes things a step further, according to product manager Aaron Thomas. “It’s like a mobile-drone option so you can remote start your car when you’re flying back from SEMA and can get it going at the airport before you even get there,” he said. “The big difference is that with existing products, you can’t actually see your car. You can control it, you can start it, but you can’t actually see it. You wouldn’t be able to get the evidence you might need for an insurance claim if something happened. That’s where our
38 Mobile Electronics December 2018
camera, the Secure360, steps in and that’s where the 4G connection gives you visual confirmation of the world in and around your car.” It’s just the two automotive cameras for now, but one of the biggest challenges for any company with a product launch is making sure consumers want it, dealers embrace it and installers understand it.
Making Automotive Cameras a Primary Security Focus for Today’s Drivers Thomas is charged with driving the product innovation forward as well as supporting it from a technical side. “I take in all the information I can on how the products are working in the wild,” he said. “I look at the design and determine better uses for our current products and come up with new ideas.” He is also in daily contact with the company’s engineers in Shanghai. “We’re developing changes to the app every single day,” Thomas said. “I’ve got a whiteboard in front of me that has six different app versions on it—it’s incredible.” All of the company’s hard work is paying off as Waylens has its product placement at Best Buy, in 12-volt dealers and with distributor networks. “We have
national coverage and are working to get more product in stock to fill all of the back orders,” Thomas said. Equally important to getting products in stores, Thomas said, is partnering with its community of dealers and installers, and ultimately, the consumers they reach. “We need to understand how the installations go, what kinds of customers are walking into the stores, and how we build that around the Best Buy option and our 12-volt specialists and distributors so no one feels left out and no one is excluded from development. We’re creating the opportunity for every type of consumer to use the product. It can fit in every type of vehicle. This isn’t something that should just be upmarket or premium, and it shouldn’t be in the middle ground like it’s something else just to be added on. It should be a primary focus—a security focus for drivers today.”
Video Tutorials and an FAQ/ Troubleshooting Resource Offers Support A major focus along with securing placements in the right retail establishments and manufacturing plenty of product to meet demand is maintaining a strong support system for everyone—and
