Last year, Winnebago launched its highly anticipated smart technology platform, marking the brand’s first custom software development effort. Winnebago Connect proactively monitors and controls all onboard RV (recreational vehicle) systems according to user preferences. The company says it is the only product on the RV market that achieves this integration through a single platform.

“Winnebago Connect is game-changing technology for the RV industry and the community of RV owners,” said Kim Weckert, Vice President of Digital Transformation for Winnebago. “Winnebago Connect transforms how customers can engage with their motorhome and how Winnebago can respond to user needs through intelligent software.”

Futurride first covered the system in January 2023 as part of the reveal of the brand’s eRV2 all-electric, zero-emission prototype at the Florida RV SuperShow in Tampa, FL. The company said it allowed users to monitor and control the vehicle’s electrical and energy management systems using a vehicle display or with an app.

The production version of the technology revealed in August 2024 features a range of customizable capabilities, from programmable lighting and climate control to cabin door locks and water system use. It can notify users via the main dashboard and the Winnebago App if issues arise with any onboard systems, so they can be quickly addressed to maximize outdoor enjoyment time.

“No other platform puts more control in the hands of users, empowering them to travel with greater ease and peace of mind than ever before,” noted Weckert. “It lets new and long-time RVers alike experience the outdoors exactly as they wish.”

A key aspect of the technology is that it works proactively. For example, if the temperature inside the RV exceeds a pre-set parameter, it will open vents to let in fresh air before activating the A/C. It can retract awnings when a sensor detects windy conditions. Owners gain the added conveniences of remote and self-diagnostics, plus over-the-air software updates, to ensure they have the latest tools and resources for better experiences.

 

Help from suppliers

Last month, more details were revealed on the system’s development and the key supplier collaborations that made it happen. IoT (Internet of Things) solution company KORE announced that it had collaborated with Winnebago and Robo on the groundbreaking platform powered by Ericsson Enterprise Wireless Solutions to transform the RV experience through advanced connectivity, intelligent automation, and intuitive design.

“This platform combines the expertise of Winnebago with Robo’s intelligent software and KORE’s connectivity to deliver a fully integrated and scalable solution that meets the evolving needs of our customers,” said Michael Happe, Winnebago President and CEO.

KORE’s managed IoT services provide the global connectivity backbone, ensuring reliable access. Robo delivered the software platform that powers the intuitive user interface and intelligent features. Ericsson contributed high-performance network solutions with dual-carrier Wi-Fi and edge computing.

“Winnebago Connect is more than a product; it is a complete ecosystem that empowers RV owners to travel with confidence and convenience,” said Ron Totton, KORE President and CEO.

Designed to simplify RV ownership and enhance the travel experience, the solution’s smart notifications and GPS tracking features, powered by Robo software, keep RV owners informed about their vehicle’s location and provide real-time alerts to enhance safety and convenience. Remote climate control capabilities allow travelers to adjust their cabin’s temperature from anywhere, ensuring comfort for passengers and pets. Smart energy management optimizes off-grid power usage through intelligent monitoring and automation, enabling extended boondocking adventures. Ericsson’s industry-leading Cradlepoint routers power the always-on connectivity.

 

Inside the program

At AutoTech 2025 held last week in Novi, MI, top executives from the partners demonstrated Winnebago Connect and discussed how global IoT connectivity and edge computing are pushing the industry forward and what the launch signals about the future of connected vehicle ecosystems. To learn more, we caught up with Marc Fecker, the CEO of Robo, a Novi, MI-based 35-person engineering firm that specializes in connected transportation solutions, who also served as the Product Manager for the Winnebago Connect solution, and Steven Loving, Director of Business Development at KORE.

According to Fecker, it took about three years from idea to market for Winnebago Connect, and around 600 production RVs now have the system. He says it’s all about making the customer experience better.

“RVing is hard, it’s complicated, it’s a lot of systems,” he explained. “If you go into a traditional RV today, there’s a big wall of controllers…and you’ve got to monitor them all. You almost have to be a NASA rocket scientist to be able to keep comfortable and manage everything.”

AutoTech was his company’s “coming out party” since it was the first time it had exhibited at a show since it was formed in 2017. He says that Robo is all about connected transportation for meaningful consumer experiences while creating the jobs of the future. Beyond Winnebago, it has partnered with KORE on micromobility, showing a connected e-bike at AutoTech that’s launching in Columbus and Cleveland next year. It has worked with Hyundai Translead on a brake monitoring system for its trailers and with Amazon’s last-mile delivery team, helping get consistent data off vehicles.

Compared to automotive, RVs pose more of an integration challenge due to a larger number of interfaces, which could include serial, hardwired lines, power signaling, NMEA 2K, SAE J-1939, and an emerging RVIA protocol called RV-C.

“We interface with all of that and make it into one system that works,” said Fecker. “It’s hard to do.”

Easing the job and aiding the subscription services is KORE. According to Loving, his company develops leading-edge connectivity solutions linking cellular providers like Verizon and AT&T with Wi-Fi networks, so that the client gets a seamless experience of switching radio frequencies behind the scenes. The Atlanta, GA-based company partners with 400 carriers around the world.

For Winnebago Connect, his company’s cellular-to-cellular switches automatically avoid dead spots on the road, and at RV parks can switch to Wi-Fi networks to stream video content, for example.

 

User benefits

The Winnebago Connect application is unique for the RV world in many ways, according to Fecker. It pulls all function, feature, and connectivity subsystems into an integrated system, with an RV touchscreen and mobile app that users can monitor and control everything from anywhere in the world.

He highlighted the thoughts behind a few of the connectivity-service user benefits.

Developers learned that 60-70% of consumers travel with pets, and they want to keep them safe in the vehicle while they go for a hike or go into town to get food. The Pet Minder solution monitors things like temperature and power and sends phone push notifications if there’s an issue.

In an RV, systems can be drawing power unnecessarily when they’re not being used. For example, tank heating pads inadvertently left on during warmer periods are switched off above 40 degrees. If the vehicle interior needs to be cooled, the system will look at outside temperature and humidity and adjust most efficiently. Maybe it’s better if a vent fan is opened to pull air in or push air out before the air conditioner starts, to get to a temperature using less power. That type of intelligence built into the vehicle software helps consumers extend their boondocking time off the grid not connected to any other power source, said Fecker.

Tracking that boondocking time, related to power and water usage, is better enabled by the system and app. Users can see power coming in and out, but what they really want to know is “how long until I run out” with current inputs and outputs. The same can be said on the water side, but it is tracked based on average use.

Another user benefit is smart energy management related to an RV owner’s vital resources like water, power, and food/medicine. This system monitors refrigerator and freezer temperatures to make sure food and medication like insulin are kept safe, notifying users if issues occur.

 

Updates, fixes, and quality

While the system’s over-the-air software updates provide new features and benefits over time, what might be more revolutionary is the system’s ability to aid physical repair and maintenance.

“When you have to get your [typical] RV serviced or repaired, quite honestly it’s a nightmare,” said Fecker. “You have to find a dealer who will take you in, they’ll look at it, figure out what’s going on, then they’ll send you away for four to five weeks because they’ve got to order parts. Then they have you come back, and they fix the problem. You just lost a summer vacation.”

With Winnebago Connect, technicians “can pull up your vehicle, see any issues that are going on, push a software update if it can be solved that way,” said Fecker. “If not, they know what the part is that needs to be replaced, drop ship that part to the dealer so when you get there, you’re fixed the same day and back on the road. Those are game-changing experiences.”

For Winnebago, the subscription service brings in revenue that helps to cover the “cost of getting data off the vehicle, and it provides a service and experience for a consumer that unlocks a ton.”

The system also helps with manufacturing and quality, enabled by the centralization of data for each vehicle based on the product definition, like BOM and VIN, on the order. Winnebago configures the software for that vehicle, and as it’s being built, the system notifies the installer if something’s not right.

“This is a big deal because normally they build a whole vehicle and they manually test it at the end of the line,” explained Fecker. With the new system, “this all happens automatically; they get a notice right on screen, can fix it then. This ultimately improves quality off the line. So that’s another big deal.”

 

Transforming the industry

While many of the system’s features and functions are aimed at simplifying and easing the experience, Fecker emphasized how the technology is also transforming the industry and how products are built and delivered.

“We used to have no information about where vehicles went [and] how they were used other than talking to consumers or doing surveys,” said Fecker. “Now [we] can see where they go, what features they’re using, when they’re using them, and under what conditions. This now informs the roadmap of future RV products from Winnebago. No other manufacturer in the RV industry has any of that.”

Winnebago Connect, which includes free and paid subscriptions, debuted in the new Winnebago View and Navion 24T floorplans, and it will be integrated into the entire Winnebago lineup over the next few years.

“The technology—same software, same configuration—is going to be deployed on all of the Winnebago vehicles, but it takes time,” said Fecker. “As vehicles are redesigned, it’ll get integrated. We have about four or five other vehicle programs that are in the works right now to roll out in the next year or so.”

KORE, Robo, and Ericsson are excited to work with other companies looking to bring connected products to market, specifically in transportation.

“The technology platform, integrations, apps, and firmware are complete,” said Loving. “The collective team understands that [they] can be applied in a number of different use cases a lot more quickly than three years, probably down to a year or less.”

For companies that “want to create a better experience and are looking to transform their business with a connected product, come see Robo, Kore, and Ericsson,” concluded Fecker. “We’re working together to help change the future of transportation.”