A big reason all these companies build "apps" into their products is so they can data mine your activities and market the data. I enjoy many of the benefits of tech, but learned long ago to be vigilant with regards to privacy and personal data. Many people are quite oblivious to these issues when utilizing products/tech. Ford "allows" you to download an app for remote start and for vehicle location and maintenance updates, but of course this gives them wide access to your vehicle's data (connected to 4g networks). Of course you must subscribe and pay data rates to a cell provider as well. The data sharing is on when you purchase, but can be turned off (but how do I know it is off?). I'm considering disconnecting the "shark fin" antenna on my Transit.
All this tech interwoven into critical infrastructure (and not so critical) is also about profit margins--eliminate the workers at a switch with a phone and replace them with tech connectivity. Yes, things can be more efficient, but there are many downfalls to this as well. We will see more of this in the future, and there may be far more harmful results--fuel shortages are child's play compared to what may be possible.
But hey, if it's new it's got to be better, right?