The five-year collaboration between Levi9 and Volkswagen Pon Financial Services is a story of growth, overcoming challenges, and building a solution that has transformed how drivers interact with mobility services. The result of this journey is the Digital Driver Assistant (DDA) – a digital companion designed to enhance customer experience and simplify vehicle and contract management, trusted by 70k users.
Starting in Unusual Circumstances
When the partnership began in 2020, the world was in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. This meant not only new business realities but also a completely different way of working. The very first kick-off and User Story Mapping workshop were conducted entirely online – a first for both partners, and a test of their readiness to embrace digital transformation within their own organizations. At that moment, the pandemic had just begun, and no one knew how long it would last or how deeply it would change our lives. What we did felt highly experimental, a step into the unknown, taken while everyone was still scared and simply trying to adapt.
Despite these challenging conditions, the joint team managed to deliver a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) in just six months, already demonstrating the DDA’s potential to reduce reliance on call centers.
Challenges Along the Way
The project’s evolution was not without its hurdles. One of the first obstacles was data quality – information came from multiple systems and had to be consolidated into a single, reliable source. This required meticulous work to ensure accuracy and consistency. At the same time, the platform had to integrate with numerous third-party providers, a process that demanded both technical resilience and careful coordination across different stakeholders. And as with many long-term projects, there were also changes within the team itself. Despite these shifts, Levi9 managed to maintain continuity of knowledge and a high level of motivation, keeping the project firmly on track.
Far from being setbacks, these challenges ultimately defined the partnership. By working through them together, Levi9 and Volkswagen Pon Financial Services built a relationship grounded in trust, transparency, and adaptability, qualities that have since become the cornerstones of their collaboration.
The Evolution of the Digital Driver Assistant
Over the years, the Digital Driver Assistant has grown far beyond its initial pilot version and has evolved into a truly comprehensive digital platform. What began as a single product is now a suite of seven mobile applications for iOS and Android, all developed from a single codebase to ensure efficiency and consistency. The platform supports multiple languages, making it accessible to users across different markets, and brings together a wide range of features: from damage reporting and service booking to fuel tracking and detailed contract, insurance, and roadside assistance information.
Behind it all lies a serverless, cloud-native architecture built on Lambda, DynamoDB, and RDS, technology choices that give the platform the scalability and long-term resilience needed to keep pace with the demands of both today and tomorrow.
Results and Real-World Impact
After its initial rollout in the Netherlands, DDA has expanded across Europe, supporting more than 70,000 active contracts. It has reduced call center volumes, generated significant cost savings, and, most importantly, delivered a smoother, faster experience for drivers.
Customer feedback confirms that the DDA is fulfilling its promise to simplify and improve everyday interactions.
The Strength of Partnership
This achievement would not have been possible without the dedication and agility of the eight-member Levi9 team, proving that even a small, focused group can deliver projects of European scale.
Sander Brockhus, Product Owner at Volkswagen Pon Financial Services, shared his experience collaborating with Levi9: “I still remember our very first meeting in July 2020, when we sat down with the Serbian team and started with a completely empty board. There was nothing on it, and just look at where we are now! I also remember the goal we set: to launch the app before Christmas. In the end, we made it: within scope, within budget, and on time. It was one of the very first projects to be delivered fully on plan.
From there, we went on to launch five new apps, including the private lease apps. In 2022, we pitched to HQ, and that marked the beginning of a new era with our partner in Germany. Then, in June 2023, we received the green light to build.
So, I would like to say thank you to everyone – the development team who made all of this possible.”
Kristian Iker, Tech Lead at Levi9, shared his perspective on the journey:
“It’s hard to believe that five years have already passed since I became part of this project. From the very beginning, I had the opportunity to grow, learn, and build something together with the team – something that today has become a serious and complex solution.
Over all these years, I’ve met many amazing people and shared countless challenges and successes with them. It’s precisely this collaboration and sense of togetherness that makes me especially proud of everything we’ve built so far.
Looking back, the feeling is the same – pride in the journey we’ve taken and motivation to keep moving forward. I truly believe that new chapters and new challenges await us, which we will turn into success together.”
His words highlight not just the technical achievements, but also the dedication, collaboration, and human effort that have fueled this long-term partnership.
Today, five years on, Levi9 and Volkswagen Financial Services are celebrating a partnership built on trust, transparency, and continuous improvement, with the Digital Driver Assistant standing as the best proof that challenges can spark innovations capable of reshaping an entire industry.
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