Step into the world of modern fleet management and get unique insights into your fleet vehicles and drivers through telematics solutions. This article will help you get the most out of your fleet and fully understand what telematics systems can do for you.
The telematics industry strives to benefit and make changes to every business it touches, and its efforts are evident. Telematics has grown immensely in recent years, encouraging businesses to implement telematics solutions to improve safety, increase efficiency, and most importantly, reduce costs.
This has seen the demand for innovative technology, prompting more businesses to grow curious about what telematics can be used for and how it can benefit them.
This blog will answer all your questions and give you the information you need to make an informed decision about telematics.
Telematics (also known as fleet telematics) is a system used to collect GPS fleet tracking data along with a range of vehicle-specific information and store it in a database. It integrates both wireless telecommunications and information technology (informatics) to process, deliver actionable data and efficiently convey information over vast networks.
Telematics is often associated with fleet management and vehicle GPS tracking devices. With these fleet systems in mind, telematics can be defined as an onboard communication system where all fleet software can interact with one another and share vital information.
Telematics can also be seen as a new method of integrating all types of data, from vehicle equipment to driver behaviour.
For a telematics system to work, it needs a few items:
Telematics systems function by connecting a GPS fleet tracking device, or other data logging tool, to an asset. The tool collects critical performance data about the asset, like real-time engine diagnostics, vehicle location, and vehicle activity.
After being collected, the device transmits the data to a data centre where it can be analysed, interpreted, and compiled.
Fleet managers can access the uploaded data via the software of the telematics system once it has been uploaded. However, the method of doing so may vary depending on the particular telematics solution.
Telematics is implanted via the vehicle’s on-board diagnostic (OBD) II port, or CAN-BUS port, typically located under the steering wheel.
GPS tracking devices and fleet management telematics are installed in discrete places so they are hard to locate and tamper with. Here are three types of units available and their hiding spots:
Plug in: These are devices that can be easily plugged into any fleet vehicle’s cigarette lighter, like Cartrack’s compact mobile unit. Since these devices have to be plugged-in to function, they could be very easy to spot.
Hardwired: These devices are installed directly into the vehicle and connected to the vehicle’s power supply (battery). Because they are not attached to the OBD port, they can be easily hidden in the vehicle.
Battery operated: These have a battery or solar charger of their own and can operate independently from the vehicle, so they can be easily placed anywhere in the vehicle. These types of devices often have powerful batteries that could last for months at a time.
After installing telematics units, the device collects GPS fleet tracking data and a range of vehicle-specific information where fleet managers can implement smart solutions to achieve, automate and improve the following:
A centralised server receives the information from the units via General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), 4G or 5G mobile data and cellular networks or satellite communication, and displays it through a secure website (usually the telematics system’s platform) accessed through tablets or smartphones.
Vehicle tracking is the most common use of telematics in most industries, especially in trucking and transportation.
This technology is preferred in vehicles because of the notable benefits it offers. The ability to map the exact location of the vehicle, its speed, and its maintenance status, all through the use of GPS systems, combined with onboard diagnostics.
Here’s a list of additional information gained through telematics.
To make good use of this information, the telematics system analyses the data for certain events and patterns and creates reports on specific drivers and fleet vehicles, specifically for the convenience of fleet managers.
from fleet manager to fleet driver
Typically, trucks, trailers and other fleet vehicles are sold without tracking systems installed and are fitted with GPS tracking devices soon after they have been sold. If the vehicles don't come pre-equipped with this technology, many aftermarkets offer GPS and telematics unit installation.
Some car dealerships also partner with telematics providers or vehicle tracking companies, such as Cartrack, to provide a seamless end-user experience and sell vehicles already fitted with Cartrack's tracking units.
You have now gathered a basic understanding of telematics software and decided to implement it into your business, great! To properly use this technological game-changer, here are a few key areas where telematics can boost your business.
1. Safety tracking
Fleet telematics allows you to track vehicle location, speed, seatbelt use, as well as driving behaviour. You receive a digital record of every aspect of your fleet vehicles' operations, which can provide insight into where and what improvements can be made to prevent accidents and improve driver safety.
2. Better payroll management
A telematics solution can help you reduce instances of overtime and timesheet fraud by monitoring your fleet's electronic time logs and allocating resources based on real-time information. You can optimise your drivers' routes so that no driving time is wasted. You'll also know exactly how long and how far a vehicle has driven, making payroll calculations easier.
3. Trailer and asset tracking
Telematics can be used for more than just monitoring vehicles. You can attach a GPS tracking unit to trailers, expensive equipment, and non-motorized assets to prevent them from becoming lost and help find them faster if they are stolen.
You can also create alerts to be sent to you if a trailer or other non-motorized asset is moved without your permission.
4. Insurance risk assessment
With the permission of the owners, telematics can be used by insurance companies to monitor driver behaviour, allowing them to better determine risk factors and adjust insurance premiums accordingly. If additional help is needed in sorting out insurance, Cartrack helps motorists find affordable insurance by viewing the current insurance package used and providing you with 14 quotes with better rates.
The telematics solutions market is projected to reach $62.6 billion by 2025, up from an estimated $29.9 billion in 2020. With this amount of money on the table, it's safe to assume not just the transportation and freight industries reap the benefits of this system. Almost every industry has space in their regime to integrate telematics into their business and some of them use this technology a little bit differently than the rest.
Here’s a look at the industries making the most of telematics today.
Generators: Generator conditions such as fuel level, battery voltage, and coolant temperature are monitored to ensure it is in healthy conditions and can run for longer.
Telematics works to help fleet managers conduct their vehicles, drivers and other fleet employees. With telematics, GPS devices work to track your vehicle, trailers and assets successfully while also gathering vehicle data such as a full trip history of your vehicle and other actionable insights fleet managers can use to improve vehicle and driving conditions.
Other noticeable improvements telematics can make in fleet management are as follows:
With actionable insights from our telematics and fleet data, you can track your drivers’ progress, improve communications and streamline your workflow.
Telematics will automatically verify fuel-card payments whenever they are made by matching fuel sensor data, vehicle location history and fuel-card recipes. Making sure each driver is using their authorised cards at all times.
With our GPS units, you don’t only know the exact location of your assets but also ensure the cargo is accounted for from dispatch to delivery. For extra safety measures, you’ll receive alerts and footage whenever the cargo door is opened and the cargo itself.
From the petrol intake to driving behaviour, telematics gives fleet managers all the information they need regarding their fleet. They also receive real-time alerts used to address maintenance issues immediately before they escalate. This allows you to keep your vehicles operational for longer, saving money on large repair bills, avoiding critical safety violations, and protecting your Compliance, Safety, and Accountability (CSA) scores.
Easily track the progress of your deliveries with automatic job status updates via SMS or email with electronic signature and photo sent, for that little layer of assurance and safe delivery.
Use the Cartrack communication app for easy information transfer from fleet manager to fleet driver. Say goodbye to incorrect customer information, ensuring faster deliveries and happy customers.
Fleet telematics can drastically improve communication between drivers and fleet managers or administrators in a business. Improved communications, combined with accurate vehicle location, can help you accurately estimate arrival times and improve customer satisfaction.
Telematics can assist in uncovering waste areas, such as vehicle idling or fuel leakage, and allow fleet managers to rectify them quickly, improving fuel efficiency in the business and the bottom line. It can also assist management in planning the most efficient route for each driver to save wasted miles.
Accidents are always harmful to businesses and could be worse for drivers' health and safety. Telematics can be used to improve driver behaviour and promote overall road safety. Fleet management software collects telematics data on your team's driving habits and ranks your drivers according to their safety scores. You may then teach your drivers safer driving habits and improve the overall safety of your fleet.
Telematics and fleet management software can calculate distance driven and fuel expenses for different drivers in different jurisdictions automatically. They can also automate calculations for International Fuel Tax Association reports, increasing administrative efficiency, lowering calculation errors, and decreasing your company's chance of being audited.
Businesses are increasingly relying on telematics and fleet management software to assist them in managing their fleets.
Fleet management software, a branch of telematics, is popular among modern companies as a way to manage the vehicles in their possession. Fleet management systems allow them to gain a comprehensive view of the health, profitability, and productivity of their entire fleet.
Many fleet managers use both fleet management systems and telematics to simplify and efficiently compile gathered information.
Fleet management software is a large information database where you can keep track of everything and anything linked to your fleet. These records may include:
The purpose of using both telematics and fleet management technologies is to reduce the administrative processes associated with managing all fleet lifecycle information. This helps make sense of a fleet in terms of operating costs and total cost of ownership, as well as ensure that you are operating legally, complying with regulations, and effectively maintaining assets.
As such, these fleet systems usually have quite comprehensive reporting tools that can set alerts and send emails while perfectly integrating with third-party systems that offer financial solutions like Cartrack’s SARS-compliant logbook feature.
If you’re asking yourself if the use of both telematics and fleet management software is truly needed to optimise your business, the answer is yes. These systems work together to improve fleet efficiency and productivity and provide several benefits that can easily be observed as soon as the technology is integrated into a business.
The benefits include:
By incorporating telematics and fleet management software into business practices, you can reduce investment and operating costs in a variety of areas, including fuel purchasing, leasing, maintenance, accident management, and accounting.
Use Cartrack’s fleet management solutions as well as the telematics technology to have your whole fleet under your control and watchful eye. Be informed about all the comings and goings of your fleet at any time and location.
Contact us on our website and take the first step in achieving fleet efficiency.
Step into the world of modern fleet management and get unique insights into your fleet vehicles and drivers through telematics solutions.