Category: Telematics

Innovational Uses For Telematics Solutions

Posted on by Oak & Bluebird
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Best Uses For Telematics In Modern Businesses

Telematics is wireless communication between devices.

But in terms of auto insurance, it can mean so much more. Drivers with telematic features might be eligible for significant discounts on auto insurance, which is an exciting advancement considering the concept of telematics was born more than a decade ago.

Converting driving information to a premium is easier than ever with today's technology. Insurers gather data from a small in-car tracking device that records miles are driven, acceleration, braking, turns, speed and time of day. Your premium depends on this data, which means if you're a careful driver, you can save big bucks.

Monitoring & Managing Speed 

Managing drivers by using optimization software is a simple means to gain efficient operation of the asset.

"If a driver can no longer break top speeds or jackrabbit start, your repair and maintenance costs go down. It's also essential to help drive and track costs for employees in the field to a job. Pairing Derive optimization with our telematics solution to ensure the speed is capped and reviewing fuel metrics of before and after," said Charlie Mahoney, business development at Derive Systems.

A recalibration is a valuable tool most fleet professionals are not familiar with.

"Think about your smartphone: just as you make adjustments for the way you utilize your phone, your vehicle is no different. Setting fleet-specific thresholds essentially drive the change from the vehicle - not the driver. This means less progressive disciplinary events and helps ensure compliance regardless of your driver turnover," Mahoney added.

Assisting with Industry Specific Needs

It's often said, but for a good reason - not all fleets are the same, even within the same vocation or industry. Being able to monitor needs specific to your industry is invaluable.

"In the instance of waste, capturing the status of bins - whether they're locked, overflowing, etc., is one solution," said Adam Kahn, president of Netradyne. "Also, tracking where trucks are is important, so fleets can keep customers informed."

Fleet Managers have been using telematics to look at trends and make more informed decisions to optimize their fleet.

"Telematics solutions can be used to spot training opportunities for operators. We had a fleet that saw an outlier in the way one truck's crane was used. With further investigation, it was found an operator wasn't using his crane remote efficiently, and they were able to correct this, resulting in easier use for the operator," said Adam Oppermann, product manager for Stellar Industries Inc.

Tracking Weather Conditions 

Another innovative use of a video intelligence solution is using the cameras to get a glance at real-time weather conditions on the road.

"For example, if a driver is out in severe weather, a manager can hit the 'test camera' button on the back end of the system to visually check on the weather they're dealing with, where they may be stuck, etc.," said Jim Angel, vice president of Video Intelligence Solutions for Trimble Transportation.

Ensuring Solo Driver Safety

Truck fleet drivers often work solo and ensuring their safety can be more difficult.

"Trimble's Out-of-Truck notification uses geofencing and vehicle GPS location data to keep workers safe when working alone. When a remote worker arrives at a field site and leaves the truck, a timer starts, and if they don't check back in at the truck before the timer goes off, a loud siren goes off on the vehicle. If needed, the system also sends a distress message through the wireless network to the safety manager, who can then use the vehicle's location to provide detail to additional resources, such as an area manager or emergency response services," said Angel of Trimble Transportation.

A video is a great tool for new drivers.

"After drivers have their training with a trainer in the cab, the video serves as an additional step for training. It is an "onboard coach" for drivers, allowing for real-time communication and collaboration between the driver and fleet manager during the workday," said Kahn of Netradyne.

 

Beyond Traditional Geofencing

Geofencing is a virtual fence that can be created around a physical location, such as a city's border or even a job site.

"Fleet managers who set these up can receive alerts when vehicles or assets cross the invisible geofence border. Some businesses have set up geofences around toll roads, so the back office always knows when a company vehicle pays a toll and can begin the reporting and processing steps immediately. This helps save the business time tracking down the tolls drivers pay and ensure that the business expense is accounted for," said Kevin Aries, head of global product success for Verizon Connect.

Keeping Track of Equipment

Bluetooth-enabled smart sensors can be paired with smart IoT devices to keep track of high-value service vehicles, equipment, and tools throughout a Jobsite or yard.

"Gone are the headaches associated with manual equipment tracking and a difficult recovery process that involves costly law enforcement, legal assistance, and claims professionals. CalAmp iOn Tag service, for example, sends real-time alerts to drivers if a piece of equipment was left behind. This provides an enterprise-wide view of drivers, service vehicles, and related assets. Operations managers can reduce time spent retrieving assets as well as prevent unauthorized use of equipment," said Jeff Clark, senior vice president of Product Management for CalAmp.

From a theft prevention standpoint, one fleet affixed "Powered by BlackBerry Radar" decals on the container doors of each of its trailers that showcase Radar's cargo sensor, GPS locator, and door alert capabilities.

"The idea behind this is the same reason why many people have 'Beware of Dog' and alarm company signs on their lawns - by letting people know that you have a security system, intruders might think twice about targeting you. Matson's deployment marked the first time that a BlackBerry Radar customer has visibly branded their assets in this way to let people know that they use our smart, IoT-based monitoring tool to reduce theft and improve fleet utilization and operational efficiency," noted Christopher Plaat, SVP and GM for BlackBerry Radar.

Best Uses For Telematics In Modern Businesses

Telematics is wireless communication between devices.

But in terms of auto insurance, it can mean so much more. Drivers with telematic features might be eligible for significant discounts on auto insurance, which is an exciting advancement considering the concept of telematics was born more than a decade ago.

Converting driving information to a premium is easier than ever with today's technology. Insurers gather data from a small in-car tracking device that records miles are driven, acceleration, braking, turns, speed and time of day. Your premium depends on this data, which means if you're a careful driver, you can save big bucks.

Monitoring & Managing Speed 

Managing drivers by using optimization software is a simple means to gain efficient operation of the asset.

"If a driver can no longer break top speeds or jackrabbit start, your repair and maintenance costs go down. It's also essential to help drive and track costs for employees in the field to a job. Pairing Derive optimization with our telematics solution to ensure the speed is capped and reviewing fuel metrics of before and after," said Charlie Mahoney, business development at Derive Systems.

A recalibration is a valuable tool most fleet professionals are not familiar with.

"Think about your smartphone: just as you make adjustments for the way you utilize your phone, your vehicle is no different. Setting fleet-specific thresholds essentially drive the change from the vehicle - not the driver. This means less progressive disciplinary events and helps ensure compliance regardless of your driver turnover," Mahoney added.

Assisting with Industry Specific Needs

It's often said, but for a good reason - not all fleets are the same, even within the same vocation or industry. Being able to monitor needs specific to your industry is invaluable.

"In the instance of waste, capturing the status of bins - whether they're locked, overflowing, etc., is one solution," said Adam Kahn, president of Netradyne. "Also, tracking where trucks are is important, so fleets can keep customers informed."

Fleet Managers have been using telematics to look at trends and make more informed decisions to optimize their fleet.

"Telematics solutions can be used to spot training opportunities for operators. We had a fleet that saw an outlier in the way one truck's crane was used. With further investigation, it was found an operator wasn't using his crane remote efficiently, and they were able to correct this, resulting in easier use for the operator," said Adam Oppermann, product manager for Stellar Industries Inc.

Tracking Weather Conditions 

Another innovative use of a video intelligence solution is using the cameras to get a glance at real-time weather conditions on the road.

"For example, if a driver is out in severe weather, a manager can hit the 'test camera' button on the back end of the system to visually check on the weather they're dealing with, where they may be stuck, etc.," said Jim Angel, vice president of Video Intelligence Solutions for Trimble Transportation.

Ensuring Solo Driver Safety

Truck fleet drivers often work solo and ensuring their safety can be more difficult.

"Trimble's Out-of-Truck notification uses geofencing and vehicle GPS location data to keep workers safe when working alone. When a remote worker arrives at a field site and leaves the truck, a timer starts, and if they don't check back in at the truck before the timer goes off, a loud siren goes off on the vehicle. If needed, the system also sends a distress message through the wireless network to the safety manager, who can then use the vehicle's location to provide detail to additional resources, such as an area manager or emergency response services," said Angel of Trimble Transportation.

A video is a great tool for new drivers.

"After drivers have their training with a trainer in the cab, the video serves as an additional step for training. It is an "onboard coach" for drivers, allowing for real-time communication and collaboration between the driver and fleet manager during the workday," said Kahn of Netradyne.

Beyond Traditional Geofencing

Geofencing is a virtual fence that can be created around a physical location, such as a city's border or even a job site.

"Fleet managers who set these up can receive alerts when vehicles or assets cross the invisible geofence border. Some businesses have set up geofences around toll roads, so the back office always knows when a company vehicle pays a toll and can begin the reporting and processing steps immediately. This helps save the business time tracking down the tolls drivers pay and ensure that the business expense is accounted for," said Kevin Aries, head of global product success for Verizon Connect.

Keeping Track of Equipment

Bluetooth-enabled smart sensors can be paired with smart IoT devices to keep track of high-value service vehicles, equipment, and tools throughout a Jobsite or yard.

"Gone are the headaches associated with manual equipment tracking and a difficult recovery process that involves costly law enforcement, legal assistance, and claims professionals. CalAmp iOn Tag service, for example, sends real-time alerts to drivers if a piece of equipment was left behind. This provides an enterprise-wide view of drivers, service vehicles, and related assets. Operations managers can reduce time spent retrieving assets as well as prevent unauthorized use of equipment," said Jeff Clark, senior vice president of Product Management for CalAmp.

From a theft prevention standpoint, one fleet affixed "Powered by BlackBerry Radar" decals on the container doors of each of its trailers that showcase Radar's cargo sensor, GPS locator, and door alert capabilities.

"The idea behind this is the same reason why many people have 'Beware of Dog' and alarm company signs on their lawns - by letting people know that you have a security system, intruders might think twice about targeting you. Matson's deployment marked the first time that a BlackBerry Radar customer has visibly branded their assets in this way to let people know that they use our smart, IoT-based monitoring tool to reduce theft and improve fleet utilization and operational efficiency," noted Christopher Plaat, SVP and GM for BlackBerry Radar.

Help with Performance & Training

Telematics providers can also provide back-end monitoring of driver routes.

"Back-end monitoring enables driver performance to be tracked and monitored so more training can be provided if needed," said Ted Lee, Head of Business Development and Product Innovation for Magellan GPS.

Finding More Areas to Improve

A top priority for many fleet managers is effectively managing the fleet's total cost and increasing savings.

"It can be challenging to identify new opportunities for savings. To help fleet managers easily identify additional areas to improve their operations, Geotab has developed the Fleet Savings Summary Report available as an add-in on the Geotab Marketplace. In this report, users can identify a proper proactive driver management program to maximize their return on investment (ROI) and minimize their cost of ignoring (COI)," said Sherry Calkins, vice president, Strategic Partners for Geotab.

Providing Contextual Input

Integrated video telematics solutions capture events as they occur and provide contextual insights to fleet operators.

"Real-time information not only provides valuable driver behaviour insights but builds a foundation of data analytics and refined automated intelligence. Smart cameras that feed data into cloud-based networks for analysis provide actionable information about speed or stop sign violations, tailgating, land drift, etc., and can help prevent collisions from keeping drivers safe and improving road safety," said Clark of CalAmp.

Pros and cons of telematics

Like any insurance plan, the aforementioned telematics-based plans have pros and cons. For the most part, drivers are happy to adopt safer driving habits in exchange for a discount. The system is a useful tool to teach teens to drive safely, and it provides feedback in real-time when the driver brakes too hard. Additionally, these tracking devices make it easier to locate a stolen vehicle.

That being said, some drivers worry about skyrocketing premiums if they drive recklessly. The system might also impose unavoidable costs based on a person's schedule. For example, someone who has to drive to work at night is more likely to come across fog, which is listed as one of several hazardous conditions that may increase the premium.

Others worry that the device may malfunction, causing drivers to pay out of pocket for any technical errors. Aside from finances, people consider data privacy to be a big con, as a survey showed many older and female drivers are resistant to monitoring.

What is different today?

Currently, telematics is the adopted terminology for all technologies associated with communication for a motor vehicle, from Google's self-driving vehicles to aftermarket location-reporting gadgets. Since the advent of the General Motors OnStar program, there's been an increasing penetration of telematics capabilities and services in automobiles. Estimates put expected penetration by 2017 at more than 70 per cent for car manufacturers' new vehicles. Today's telematics in insurance usually refers to one-way collection of available information from a vehicle. Strictly defined, that's telemetry, a subtle but important difference because telemetry doesn't impose control over a vehicle. The figure above is a simplified diagram of the process available today.

The type of data that devices can collect from or about a vehicle varies by implementation, typically drives cost, and is constrained by regulation and customers' willingness to share. Programs in place use sensors to determine factors as simple as the distance (vehicle-miles travelled) and as sophisticated as camera-based recording. Devices transmit and store the resultant collection for immediate or deferred analysis, meaningful interpretation, and/or visualization.

Many brand-name telematics programs fall into categories: usage-based insurance (UBI), pay-as-you-drive (PAYD), and pay-how-you-drive (PHYD). In the early days, the definitions of those acronyms were imprecise. But as they imply, the factors affecting premiums are generally how much (far), when, how well (behaviour), and where (location) the vehicle is driven.

The opportunity now exists for direct measurement of driver behaviour in place and time. Vehicle electronics capture hundreds of sensor inputs for processing by onboard controllers and reporting to diagnostic ports. Aftermarket device vendors have integrated technologies to allow the collection of such data (revolutions per minute, manifold airflow sensor output, malfunction indicator lights, engine trouble codes, and so forth) and combine it with time, precise GPS position, gravitational forces, and even ambient cabin noise on a second-by-second or higher frequency.

Experts distil and analyze those measurements to identify patterns that indicate poor or dangerous driving habits, such as rapid acceleration or cornering, harsh braking, or excessive speeding (>80 mph). Furthermore, systems can now link the collected telemetry with other sources of data, such as weather, traffic, and road type, to provide context to improve understanding and insights about the driver.

The race is on to interpret the data and prove what the industry has termed "demonstrated predictive potential" of the collected data elements as a direct measurement of behaviour and risk. As mentioned earlier, we're in the early days of the technology. And except for the current carrier leader, which has more than a million UBI policyholders, there isn't yet a single repository with enough data to validate risk rating models based on behaviour measurements.

Telematics Device To Look Out For

 

Smartphone Data Collection

Telematics solutions based on smartphones avoid installation costs while providing reasonable data accuracy, and they can also provide a variety of custom features through apps. These solutions offer a straightforward path to telematics data collection through the smartphone's data transmission capabilities, including cellular data and WiFi.

With the diversity of smartphone makes and models, as well as different sensors, algorithms must be applied to normalize the data that is collected, stored, and analyzed. Once the data is normalized and the other considerations addressed, smartphone telematics solutions can be successfully incorporated into a variety of telematics insurance programs.

Self-powered Data Collection

Devices in this category include the battery-powered Bluetooth®-enabled beacon, which is often mounted on the dashboard or windshield. Deployment costs are minimal, making this a cost-efficient choice for mid-range to mainstream insurance telematics programs. Bluetooth connectivity with devices, however, can be a challenge for some users.

Flexible self-powered options include both devices that communicate directly with servers using their own cellular modules, in addition to devices that tether with the smartphone and use the smartphone's cellular capabilities to get data to the server.

Tethered smartphone connections can increase customer engagement and flexibility. Vehicle identification data is captured and can be harvested later, even when a smartphone is not present in the vehicle. Data transmission can also be performed using smartphone communication and data plan capabilities, which eliminates the need to set up separate communications through the Bluetooth hardware.

Self-powered devices that communicate directly with servers minimize customer interaction; however, there is a tradeoff with a smaller density and duration of data that can be captured and transferred with this option.

OBD Data Collection

The OBD-II interface, which has been a federally mandated feature on all US vehicles since the model year 1996, is one of the earliest technologies for vehicle telematics data collection. The equivalent standard in Europe is called EOBD (European On-Board Diagnostics).

As a long-running, well-established solution in the marketplace, permanently plugged-in OBD devices have a proven track record and high level of acceptance. Driving data is typically transmitted directly over cellular networks for processing. This moderately priced option can be combined with smartphone connectivity to enhance driver engagement.

Black Box Data Collection

As the de facto standard for UBI programs in the UK, black box technology captures and delivers a stream of data from active vehicles using a cellular service for communication. A fixed electronic device-the black box-securely mounted inside the vehicle ensures that accurate trip and collision data is obtained and transmitted to a data centre.

The popularity of this approach is especially high in regions where vehicle theft is rampant, offering a proven, tamper-resistant method for prompt recovery of stolen vehicles. However, these aftermarket devices must be professionally installed in vehicles, leading to higher installation costs.

Oem Embedded Data Collection

Data extracted directly from built-in vehicle sensors eliminate aftermarket installation costs, but a lack of standardization among OEMs has impeded market acceptance. Expect to see innovative programs developed over time to take advantage of these built-in capabilities, which could lead to highly accurate data capture, new ways to monitor driving, and integration with driver-assistance features that could improve safety and reduce crash frequency and severity.

Although this form of data collection for insurance telematics is relatively uncommon today, a TSP equipped to integrate with embedded car systems and make sense of the disparate data will be able to tap into the benefits for both insurers and their customers as the technology matures.

Unexpected Ways Telematics Can Make Your Life Better

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Unexpected Ways Telematics Can Make Your Life Better

Why Telematics makes our lives better

Telematics makes your car safer, keeps you from getting lost, summons roadside assistance at the press of a button, routes you around accidents, auto-dials 000 if you're in the accident, and starts your EV charging at 2 a.m. when rates are cheapest. Those are a few of the features that make up vehicle telematics. But what is telematics? For most users, telematics means navigation, communications, safety, security, and increasingly infotainment.

Basically, telematics is a crash-resistant black box that receives wireless information, information more advanced than broadcast radio, and does something useful with it. Telematics doesn't have to include two-way communication, but most of the good stuff involves going both ways. Usually, there's an embedded cellular modem. Some of the telematics work can be handled by your connected smartphone.

The rise of telematics in the automotive industry has been a huge turning point for fleet efficiency and safety. As it continues to gain momentum, there are a few emerging trends to keep an eye on in the near future.

Data sits at the heart of telematics, but understanding that data and acting on it can be challenging. Expect to see telematics providers present customers with intelligent tools to help weed through raw data.

The unseating of 3G cellular networks is another trend that is likely to see a sharp rise as telematics providers connect to faster 4G, 5G or LTE networks. The switch is bound to trigger device replacements in a number of fleets still using 3G telematics systems over a decade old.

Telematics systems could look to improve integration capabilities with other services or software systems as demand for connected platforms increases. To create a more holistic fleet management system, fleet managers will want a telematics provider that seamlessly integrates with other parts of their business. 

The Benefits Of Vehicle Telematics

All of us. The tech can be used for monitoring complete fleets of vehicles (everything from courier companies to emergency services) and even for tracking stolen cars. Increasingly it's going to be found integrated into 'connected' cars - think a situation where your cars breaks-down, and the AA is automatically alerted and sent data on your car's diagnostics - though the first wave will likely be car insurance firms desperate to offer 'usage-based insurance' policies.

There are a number of ways fleet managers can benefit from integrating a vehicle telematics system into their fleets. Topping the list are:

Visibility

Vehicle tracking gives organizations visibility into the whereabouts of their vehicles by monitoring the movement or location of a vehicle through a GPS system. This is one of the most common applications of vehicle telematics and is particularly useful for companies that need to keep track of a fleet of vehicles. This same feature can also be used to track powered and unpowered assets, like trailers or reefers.

 

Maintenance

Most vehicle telematics systems are plugged directly into a vehicle's diagnostic port. This automatically pulls engine data-like fuel consumption, coolant temperature, or engine load-for fleet management teams to easily access. This is also a great way for fleet managers to set up a regular vehicle maintenance schedule. Vehicle telematics providers can identify vehicle faults so fleet managers can know when to bring a vehicle into the shop.

Safety

Because vehicle telematics systems monitor and collect data on vehicles, they can also be a great way to gain insight into driving habits. Fleet managers can also create training programs or individual coaching sessions based on telematics data, such as harsh braking or acceleration, to help increase driver safety on the road.

Insurance companies are also starting to use telematics information to accurately assess risk factors and modify insurance premiums accordingly.

Cost savings

Telematics can easily reduce fuel costs across a fleet by identifying trends in driver behaviour and route performance insights that can lead to major increases in fuel efficiency. Without visibility into how drivers are performing in their day-to-day, it can be challenging to coach them on fuel efficiency. Certain telematics systems can also connect fleet managers with drivers in real-time via messages so drivers can easily reroute in case of heavy traffic or another unexpected road delay.

Tracking driver behaviour could help you to identify areas of waste and act upon them accordingly, which ultimately helps towards reducing your fuel bill. Also, with the right fleet management solution, you'll be able to plan the most efficient route for each of your drivers at the touch of a button. This helps to reduce any unnecessary mileage. 

Compliance

Because they electronically and automatically track vehicle drive-time, telematics systems can make it easier to maintain ELD compliance. Fleet managers can use telematics systems to track records of duty status and certain providers.

Other Features Of Telematics

The tracking system allows organizations to quickly realize many bottom-line benefits, including increased productivity, improved safety, and reduced costs. Whether you're still considering vehicle tracking or looking to switch from your current provider, it's essential to find a provider that meets all of your feature requirements. Not having the right features means you may be behind the curve and won't be able to compete in the long term. 

Real-Time Location Tracking

Location tracking is at the foundation of fleet management. It's where the phrase "dots-on-a-map" was born. GPS vehicle tracking systems began with a need to know where vehicles and assets were at all times for numerous reasons. Awareness of where your drivers, vehicles, and equipment are at any given moment allows you to respond more rapidly to emergencies. It also enables you to make sure you send the right vehicles, people, and resources to the right places. More simply, the number one reason companies need real-time location tracking is for an anti-theft system. Many businesses see an instant, massive return on investment (ROI) even in one instance of recovering a stolen vehicle or asset. 

However, not all fleet tracking systems are actually "real-time" solutions. Some providers only offer periodic updates of their GPS tracking devices. In short, they only send data every two minutes, three minutes, or even longer. So, if it's vital to your business to have actual real-time data, then you need to ask providers how often their tracking device updates. Finding this out is especially important in cases of anti-theft-seconds matter in scenarios of theft. Some vehicle tracking providers even offer tiered options where they charge more for faster updates, much like a cell phone company charges more the more data you use.

Customizable Alerts

Fleet management customizable alerts are always at the top of the must-have vehicle tracking system features. Receiving real-time notifications regarding driving behaviour to vehicle diagnostics can open opportunities for reducing risk and improving efficiency, which goes right to the bottom line. 

For example, real-time tracking alerts regarding wasted fuel because of poor driving habits or high idle times can reveal areas for improvement. These improvements go right to the bottom line when you can reduce fuel costs by even 5-10%.

Customizable alerts range from: 

    • Odd-Hours Alerts: Alerts when vehicles and assets move during a specified time range, i.e., between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.

 

    • Long Idle Times: Alerts when vehicles are idling for a specified time range, i.e., longer than 10 minutes. You can send an additional message telling the driving to shut the vehicle off that time.

 

    • Speeding Alerts: Alerts when vehicles either travel over a specified speed (i.e., 75 mph) or the posted speed limit of a road. I.e., when they go at least 10 miles per hour (MPH) or more over the posted speed limit.

 

    • Vehicle Maintenance Due: Alerts when specified vehicle maintenance is due or coming due. These alerts can be anything from oil changes to tire rotations to vehicle inspections. 

 

 

Vehicle Maintenance Scheduling

Vehicles are the lifeblood of your operation, so keeping them up and running will always be a top priority. Vehicle tracking systems that can monitor their health will allow you to keep tabs on your vehicles and assets. 

This functionality means spotting new maintenance issues, addressing them immediately, and ensuring that preventive maintenance is scheduled and completed on time. Vehicle downtime can severely impact your business if one or multiple vehicles are out of commission for long periods. 

It's imperative to make sure that vehicles receive the service they need when they need it. Doing this prevents smaller issues becoming catastrophic ones and so that you're not performing repeating maintenance on neglected problems. 

Route Optimization and Scheduling

Today's vehicle tracking systems relieve businesses of the headache and potential mishaps of scheduling drivers' routes with pencil and paper. Before implementing vehicle tracking technology, most companies have issues with overlapping routes, drivers taking a long way, or not sending the closest vehicle to the next job. There can also be significant time wasted communicating with drivers by phone telling them their next stop or updates to their current route.

Vehicle tracking automated dispatch lets drivers know at the beginning of every day where they are going and the route they will take. Vehicle tracking systems arrange routes the most cost-effectively and accompanied by details like customer requests or unique delivery requirements. This feature can streamline communication, increase productivity, and help maintain a high level of customer service by improving arrival times. Most companies using the technology also usually see more revenue to the bottom line because this functionality often translates to their drivers completing more jobs per day.

Route optimization is a natural outgrowth of vehicle tracking systems. It takes into account traffic patterns, accidents, road work, bridge heights, and other factors that impact routes. As a result, you can improve response time, reduce mileage and fuel consumption, fit more jobs into a day, and improve customer service. Real-time data about current conditions gives you the ability to make quick, informed decisions that maintain efficiency and meets customer expectations.

Measuring Vehicle Utilization

Measuring utilization is emerging as a crucial indicator of efficiency and total cost of ownership (TCO) for vehicles. 

Knowing which vehicles and how often they are used - particularly in shared-services operations - is vital in measuring whether you have the right kind and the correct number of vehicles. Fleet tracking systems are the only way to measure this critical metric. Trying to do so with an Excel spreadsheet will likely lead to perpetuating inefficiencies, which could increase budget outlays for vehicles not in use.

Vehicle tracking systems provide comprehensive utilization reports that give you all the necessary data to make informed decisions about your vehicles and assets. It might translate into a need for right-sizing your fleet, or simply improving your vehicle efficiency. 

Which Vehicles Can Telematics Be Used For?

Telematics is a versatile technology, both in the number of functions, it can perform and the range of different vehicles and other assets with which it can be used. It is suitable for use with the following vehicles and assets, among others:

    • Cars: As well as performing important productivity and vehicle maintenance functions for company car and sales fleets, telematics is also used to monitor private mileage and ensure health and safety compliance, an essential part of employers' duty of care.

 

    • Cargo vans/pickup trucks: Used for functions including job dispatch and routing, on-site time reporting, timesheet reporting, proof of delivery solutions, monitoring unauthorized vehicle use and tracking driver behaviour.

 

    • Single axle/tractor units: Here, telematics helps with route optimization and scheduling, driver hour management, fuel management and driver behaviour reporting.

 

    • Buses and coaches: Telematics provides assistance with driver hour management, route optimization and scheduling, fuel management (including engine idling), integration of services (through, for example, time of arrival notifications) and driver behaviour reporting.

 

    • Heavy equipment: In the construction industry, telematics is used for heavy earth-moving equipment. Here it serves to boost job site productivity by tracking equipment utilization, enabling preventative maintenance and reducing fuel burn.

 

    • Specialist vehicles: Telematics is also widely used for a range of specialist vehicles, including dump trucks, tow trucks and cement trucks. Among other benefits, the technology provides a better understanding of vehicle activity through power take-off, where mechanical power is transferred to another piece of equipment (such as the cement mixer on a cement truck, for example).

 

It is this sheer versatility of telematics that has guaranteed it an instrumental (and expanding) role in fleet management for the long term. It is already delivering major improvements to safety, productivity and ultimately profitability, and it is only likely to become more central in the years ahead. Those businesses across the world that integrate telematics systems into their operations can expect to continue to reap significant rewards.

Why Use Telematics?

Posted on by Oak & Bluebird
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Why Use Telematics?

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    What Are The Benefits Of Telematics?

    Telematics is a term that contains two different words - telecommunications and informatics. Broadly defined, it means an integrated use of telecommunications and information technologies to store, receive and transmit information with the use of telecommunications equipment to remote objects through a network.

    It must be noted that this is a vast discipline that may encompass such areas as telecommunications, wireless connectivity, electrical engineering, IT, and road transport.

    With the use of communication equipment, telematics enables us to store, send and receive information to control distant objects, in particular vehicles in motion, owing to the integration of GPS technologies with the capabilities of mobile devices.

    Given the broad spectrum of applications of telematics in the automotive industry, the term is often narrowed down specifically to this sector only. However, we must remember that this term can also be used in relation to all kinds of network-enabled devices.

    New research conducted has shown that the primary reason why a company adopts telematics is 'to locate vehicles'. 

    There is a definite bias towards adopting the technology for larger fleets, with just 17% of those with fewer than ten vehicles using telematics compared to 47% of those with 10-49 and 56% of those with more than 50 cars and vans.

    Telematics remains a hot topic among fleets and, as its cost has fallen in recent years, we have seen quite a dramatic increase in usage. Certainly, we aren't surprised to see around one in three fleets now using it. However, what is more, interesting is that the majority of fleets mentioned the top five reasons for using telematics, showing that there is probably no single reason that businesses start to use the technology. Instead, the driving force behind telematics adoption appears to be a basket of benefits related to safety, cost and efficiency, and it is all these things together than makes telematics such a strong proposition."

     

    Why Companies Are Adopting A Telematics System For Fleets

    Companies that are looking for a viable solution to better manage their fleet are now adopting telematics systems. Telematics solutions offer a range of services that meet workplace health and safety needs and can reduce organizational overheads. More-and-more companies are now looking to adopt telematics to support them in tracking improvements and identifying opportunities for change.

    Let's take a closer look at the improvements that companies can achieve:

      • Increased Safety

     

      • Reduced fuel costs

     

      • Minimize Insurance Costs

     

      • Decreased Maintenance Costs

     

      • Increased Productivity

     

     

    Increased Safety

    Safety is a key priority for fleet managers. With workplace health and safety being an obligation all companies now need to abide by, telematics supports them in meeting their duty of care for lone and remote at-risk employees. Companies must include a plan in case emergency strikes, but more importantly, provide their employees with the peace of mind that they are going home to their loved ones once their work is done.

    In crisis situations, it is important that fleet managers are able to check in on their employees as quickly as possible. This can be easily done through a telematics system that connects an organization's operating systems and will notify the correct contacts when any distress alerts have been activated.

    Telematics also allows organizations to measure and benchmark driver behaviour to ensure that those using their vehicles are doing so safely. They are reducing risks to staff in what is one of the most dangerous workplace environments they are exposed to.

    Finally, lone worker duress devices allow staff working on their own in an at-risk role to discreetly send alerts so that even when in a confrontational situation, they have the ability to call for support without situational escalation.

    Reduced Fuel Costs

    Telematics can significantly reduce fuel costs through a reduction in the overall consumption by your fleet. By tracking your fleets driving behaviour, organizations can identify the key areas that are contributing to inflated costs and inefficiencies. Drivers with aggressive driving styles will on average spend 10.9% more fuel while experienced drivers can use up to 30% less fuel than a conventional driver.

    Companies can also save money through improved fleet routing. Identifying inefficient routes and dispatching of more local vehicles reduces the overall distance and/or time to complete a particular route, improving staff productivity and reducing operational costs.

    Minimize Insurance Costs

    Telematics systems have become increasingly popular for companies that have own non-powered assets and are looking for a means of reducing their insurance costs via self-insuring or improving the likelihood of asset recovery to reduce insurance premiums and excess.

    This can be achieved by:

      • Tracking lower value equipment from theft. This is equipment that may not be cost-effective to cover through insurance; however, in case of theft would result in financial and operational costs that need to be offset or minimized.

     

      • Improve vehicle and asset recovery rates when stolen. Some organizations have leveraged non-powered asset tracking as a form of self-insuring that avoids the costs of insurance premiums whilst improving the speed and likelihood of recovery.

     

     

    Decreased maintenance costs

    Maintenance costs can pile up if there are issues on the road or your fleet isn't being serviced at appropriate intervals. However, these costs can be prevented and reduced through a proactive maintenance approach. Monitoring vehicle usage to remotely identify service intervals and service schedules is one of the ways companies are leveraging telematics to support the proactive maintenance of their fleet - reducing the overall maintenance costs. Monitoring vehicle mileage assists fleet managers by providing real-time information so that they can proactively organize servicing and prevent any build-up of issues that may result in further spending. This can save the company on overall operating costs as vehicles will avoid unexpected breakdowns impacting on operations.

    Regularly maintaining your vehicle with simple tasks like checking tyre pressure once a month can potentially improve your fuel usage by 3% and regular oil changes can also improve fuel efficiency by 1-2%. Other benefits of proactive maintenance include improved safety for your drivers and fleet. 

    Increased Productivity

    Introducing a telematics system to the business will provide important information that fleet managers can monitor. Information like driver behaviour, driver hours and details of routes taken are all recorded meaning that there is a feedback system which allows room for improvement within the company.

    New methods of motivation for workers through gamification are viable solutions; fleet managers have also been adopting. Creating leaderboards for fleet driver performance can encourage safety and aligns personal objectives with company productivity and safety levels. Research has shown that the use of gamification can result in an 84% decrease in fleet accidents and 50% improvement in safe driving behaviours.

    How Does It Actually Work?

    At the early stages of development of this field, telematics data was collected only by telematics equipment and onboard computers (OBDI and OBDII). However, with the growing popularity of mobile phones - especially smartphones - data such as vehicle malfunctions, engine details and fuel efficiency were combined with information obtained from our phones, including primarily GPS location, driving behaviour (braking, accelerating, exceeding speed limits) and mileage.

    Afterwards, all this information collected by various sensors in your phone and in your vehicle is transmitted to the specially designed platforms where it is processed. Additionally, as technology progressed, telematics systems ceased being closed platforms, which enabled their integration with other software and mobile applications. This integration made it viable to combine the data from your phone/vehicle with such information as weather alerts or information from various types of cameras or tachographs. This enabled even deeper and more accurate insight into business operations and driver behaviour.

    The users can browse and export data and generate business-critical information (such as the ten top-scoring drivers or the number of dangerous incidents related to a driver's inappropriate driving behaviour) using a dedicated application. Certain insurers cut their annual premiums by as much as 30% for those drivers who decide to provide their telematics data. That is because those insurance companies can easily determine whose insureds pose the highest risk, and identify the drivers who are likely to cause or will be involved in an accident by monitoring the time of use, speeding and other parameters of driver behaviour.

    Features Of A Telematics System In Cars

    Most telematics systems come with a set of common features that are available with basic subscription packages.

    Automatic Collision Notification

    Drivers with telematics in cars can have the peace of mind of knowing that if they are ever in a crash, help is on the way. The telematics system can automatically detect the collision and summon help. The modem is protected and crash-resistant, so it will work even in the event of a severe accident. The antenna signal is typically stronger than that of a mobile phone, which means the system can reach the call centre in most areas.

    Emergency Assistance

    A telematics system features an SOS button that can be used to get help for an emergency that isn't related to a crash. This is a powerful security measure in case you need medical assistance or witness a crime unfolding. The communication system will allow you to reach the appropriate emergency service personnel for immediate assistance.

    Good Samaritan Assistance

    The SOS button can also help you assist others in need. If you witness an accident or other emergency, you can press the button to send emergency assistance to the scene.

    Roadside Assistance

    You'll never be stranded on the road due to mechanical failure if you use a telematics system. The SOS button can summon help in the event of a flat tire or breakdown or if you run out of fuel. Using GPS technology, assistance can find you quickly.

    Vehicle Diagnostics

    This feature allows you to receive a monthly email report on the condition of your car. You can choose to have diagnostics run at any time and sent to your car dealer. This capability helps to prevent breakdowns and helps dealers and customers save money.

    Additional Telematics Features

     

    Gas Price Finder

    Use a telematics system to help you find great fuel savings. Navigation features will find local gas stations, list the prices and direct you there.

    Local Search

    Telematics can include the same types of apps you may find on your smartphone, like Yelp or Google Local Search. You can use this feature to find local attractions like restaurants, hotels, malls, nightspots and more with reviews at the ready.

    News Alerts

    You may choose to equip your telematics system with a news app that delivers news alerts or weather information. This pairs well with satellite radio options and can be set to automatically use your preferred channel for news broadcasts.

    Media Streaming

    While most vehicles can connect to streaming services using Bluetooth to communicate with a cellphone, in some cases, your telematics system will have an application to stream music from applications like Pandora.

    Text Message Display

    Text message and email display can eliminate the temptation to engage in unsafe behaviours behind the wheel. A telematics system can read incoming texts and emails and offer the option to send a dictated response. Some vehicle manufacturers will allow for a text display in addition to audio, while others don't enable this feature.

    Enhanced Automatic Crash Notification (E-ACN)

    E-ACN systems use data collected from sensors to analyze the extent of damage done to the vehicle and assess the likelihood of severe injury to passengers. This can save lives and further injury by informing passengers of their need to be careful and summoning medical care directly to the scene.

    What Are Vehicle Telematics Benefits & Features

    Posted on by Oak & Bluebird
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    What Are Vehicle Telematics Benefits & Features

    Car telematics serves a number of useful purposes for drivers everywhere. This technology keeps people from getting lost, offers an easy way to receive roadside assistance and collects data that can be used in a few important ways. Telematics combines navigation, safety, security and communication into one convenient piece of technology that fits in a vehicle's dashboard. Automotive telematics systems receive wireless information and transmit it through a crash-resistant box.

    When the everyday driver thinks of telematics in cars, they are probably most familiar with GPS navigation or two-way communication capabilities that can connect them with road assistance. These are definitely the most common uses for commercial vehicle telematics, though there are others.

    Your next car will spy on you and report your driving style to your insurance company. It'll keep track of any risky maneuvers you perform and tell the police if it thinks you're to blame for an accident. And how? It's all about digital telematics.

    Telematics is a method of monitoring a vehicle. By combining a GPS system with on-board diagnostics, it's possible to record - and map - exactly where a car is and how fast it's travelling, and cross-reference that with how a car is behaving internally.

    Add communication over a 3G network and telematics can be used to send both data and communications back and forth between a vehicle and a central management system. Using sensors in cars and a trackside wireless network, Formula One teams have been using telematics for years for telling exactly where opponents are on the racetrack.

    At the fringes, telematics is also a term used to describe 'connected car' features in general, which include live weather, traffic and parking info on the dashboard, apps, voice-activated features (such as featured on the Parrot Asteroid car receiver) and even - gulp - Facebook integration.

    Common Features of a Telematics System in Cars

    Most telematics systems come with a set of common features that are available with basic subscription packages.

    Automatic Collision Notification

    Drivers with telematics in cars can have the peace of mind of knowing that if they are ever in a crash, help is on the way. The telematics system can automatically detect the collision and summon help. The modem is protected and crash-resistant, so it will work even in the event of a severe accident. The antenna signal is typically stronger than that of a mobile phone, which means the system can reach the call centre in most areas.

    Emergency Assistance

    A telematics system features an SOS button that can be used to get help for an emergency that isn't related to a crash. This is a powerful security measure in case you need medical assistance or witness a crime unfolding. The communication system will allow you to reach the appropriate emergency service personnel for immediate assistance.

    Good Samaritan Assistance

    The SOS button can also help you assist others in need. If you witness an accident or other emergency, you can press the button to send emergency assistance to the scene.

    Roadside Assistance

    You'll never be stranded on the road due to mechanical failure if you use a telematics system. The SOS button can summon help in the event of a flat tire or breakdown or if you run out of fuel. Using GPS technology, assistance can find you quickly.

    Vehicle Diagnostics

    This feature allows you to receive a monthly email report on the condition of your car. You can choose to have diagnostics run at any time and sent to your car dealer. This capability helps to prevent breakdowns and helps dealers and customers save money.

    Additional Telematics Features

     

    Gas Price Finder

    Use a telematics system to help you find great fuel savings. Navigation features will find local gas stations, list the prices and direct you there.

    Local Search

    Telematics can include the same types of apps you may find on your smartphone, like Yelp or Google Local Search. You can use this feature to find local attractions like restaurants, hotels, malls, nightspots and more with reviews at the ready.

    News Alerts

    You may choose to equip your telematics system with a news app that delivers news alerts or weather information. This pairs well with satellite radio options and can be set to automatically use your preferred channel for news broadcasts.

    Media Streaming

    While most vehicles can connect to streaming services using Bluetooth to communicate with a cell phone, in some cases, your telematics system will have an application to stream music from applications like Pandora.

    Text Message Display

    Text message and email display can eliminate the temptation to engage in unsafe behaviours behind the wheel. A telematics system can read incoming texts and emails and offer the option to send a dictated response. Some vehicle manufacturers will allow for a text display in addition to audio, while others don't enable this feature.

    Enhanced Automatic Crash Notification (E-ACN)

    E-ACN systems use data collected from sensors to analyze the extent of damage done to the vehicle and assess the likelihood of severe injury to passengers. This can save lives and further injury by informing passengers of their need to be careful and summoning medical care directly to the scene.

    The Origin Telematics

    Telematics technology developed out of the rapid expansion of the internet from the mid-1990s onwards. The greater availability and practicality of telecommunications technologies that arose in tandem with this expansion also produced new forms of remote communication. Over the years, these developed into what we now recognize as modern telematics systems, and these have been particularly widely adopted over the last decade.

    Fleet management programs now enable firms to manage fleets of all sizes - from a handful of vehicles to hundreds - and help deliver major improvements across the board. Telematics has now developed to the point where it goes well beyond mere asset tracking to incorporate vehicle and driver performance as well as maintenance management.

    The growth of telematics technology continues apace. Although the adoption of telematics has already become standard across various industries, the technology itself continues to evolve, and to grow in power and capacities, all the time. The burgeoning driver shortage affecting the transport sector and the continuing challenge of regulatory compliance are likely to have a major bearing on the future of telematics.

    Telematics is also proving crucial in what has become known as the Internet of Things that Move (IoTtM); specifically, in transport and freight. These sectors have been leading adopters of IoT technology, with the data it provides allowing for more efficient routing and scheduling as well as generally better-optimized use of resources. The IoTtM thus encompasses, for example, location tracking and driver and equipment operator monitoring, including engine and driver hours. The main benefits of this include:

      • Reduced fuel costs. With fuel consumption being one of the most pressing costs facing fleets, detecting and reducing excessive fuel use is absolutely crucial to overall efficiency. Telematics does this through more direct route planning, reducing job site bottlenecks and cutting engine idling, while also detecting unauthorized vehicle or equipment use (enabling firms to cut down on resulting fuel usage).

     

      • More cost-effective maintenance. Telematics warns managers of mechanical issues with vehicles and equipment, which allows them to address these problems sooner and thereby reduce the danger of downtime (which is not only inconvenient but can also have serious knock-on effects for other jobs). It also makes scheduling preventative maintenance simpler, which again helps to maximize vehicle and equipment uptime.

     

      • Better communication. Previously, keeping in touch with drivers and operators out in the field could be a complex business. Telematics simplifies communication processes and significantly reduces the need for human operators and drivers to check in and report back, automating much of this process. As well as ensuring that managers have access to the data they need faster, this allows operators to spend more time concentrating directly on the job in hand.

     

      • Enhanced safety. Another crucial consideration (and a central legal responsibility) for firms operating fleets of vehicles and equipment, safety is of paramount importance. Telematics improves safety management by monitoring both driver and operative behaviour and vehicle and equipment performance. It allows anomalies - such as unsafe practices - to be detected and addressed quicker. It also allows for emergency assistance to be directed straight to the site where it is needed, through location tracking.

     

     

    Telematics Devices And Software

    Most commonly, telematics data is collected by a small device installed in the vehicle (or another asset) itself. This collects stores and transmits different types of information relating to the vehicle's performance, condition and usage. There are different types of telematics devices available that offer different functionality and benefits. The most accurate and secure telematics devices are hardwired, these devices offer tamper-proof functionality and a wider range of connectivity to peripheral devices.

    Telematics devices are often connected to other in-cab driver interfaces that enable drivers to receive jobs, capture proof of delivery, complete pre-trip inspections and even get real-time feedback on their driving performance.

    Imagine a highly intelligent computer in your vehicle that is able to report on nearly every detail from speed and idling, to fuel use, low tire pressure, and more. This information can mean saving on maintenance costs by better monitoring vehicles or improving fuel efficiency by learning more about driving habits. All of this describes the universe of telematics, also known as GPS fleet tracking.

    To track assets, information from the vehicle is recorded via a small, telematics device - also called a black box - that plugs into the OBD II or CAN-BUS port. A SIM card and modem in the device enables communication on the cellular network.

    There are several key components of a telematics device:

      • GPS receiver

     

      • Engine interface

     

      • Input/output interface (expander port)

     

      • SIM card

     

      • Accelerometer

     

      • Buzzer

     

     

    What Do We Do With All This Data?

    Telematics data provides a clear picture of a driver's behaviour, which is a strong indication of whether a driver will have an insurance loss or not. When shared with insurance companies, the data can be used to establish car insurance premiums based on actual driver behaviour rather than standardized demographics like age, gender and marital status, and one's driving history.

    In fact, many insurance companies are favouring the use of data from telematics, known as usage-based insurance (UBI), over the traditional factors in determining insurance premiums. That's great news for drivers who could see lower premiums as a result of their positive driving behaviour.

    For drivers who may not realize a reduction in premiums, telematics can indicate where adjustments or improvements need to be made such as driving slower, driving less, or taking corners at a better speed to improve their driving record and possibly lower their insurance rates.

    Better Drivers And Improved Road Safety

    Telematics can also make any car a "connected car" providing safety benefits to drivers such as alerts to dangerous road conditions or accidents ahead, weather hazards or car maintenance requirements. Drivers can be steered away from potential problems with features like lane-change monitoring, rearview cameras and autonomous braking. Telematics could send emergency teams and insurance companies to the aid of a driver who's been in an accident. In essence, telematics technology has the potential to save lives.

    Where Are Telematics Devices Installed?

    You generally install telematics devices in your car's on-board diagnostics port (OBD II Port), which all vehicles that are newer than 1996 have. This port is typically located beneath the steering wheel of the car, making the device easy to install. As soon as the telematics monitor is installed, it will start recording information about your driving habits and passing them on to a connected app or to your insurer.

    What Are the Advantages of Telematics Devices?

    The main advantage of the telematics device is the potential for car insurance savings. Provided you are a good driver, and you can get a hefty discount on your insurance when the device reports your travel history. If you aren't a great driver, the telematics device can help remind you to avoid hard braking, heed the speed limit, and drive safer overall. When you know you are being recorded, you're encouraged to have better driving behaviours.

    How Do I Get a Telematics Device?

    There are several options for getting a telematics device in your car. The first is to buy a car that has one built into the vehicle. Newer cars may have this technology built right in.

    If you don't have a car that already includes this technology, then you can simply purchase a device from a tech store or online and install it yourself. Your insurer may also offer a specific model through a program like Drive Safe & Save or SmartRide. In that case, contact an agent to get a telematics device for your car.

    Telematics devices are just one element of a safe driving plan. You can also make your car more secure by adding aftermarket safety devices, like dashcams or anti-theft devices.

    Is 'Pay As You Drive', Right?

    Wrong. Although the use of telematics is, ahem, accelerating, it's also undergoing a change from being focused on a pay as you drive (PAYD) to pay how you drive (PHYD).

    "We basically monitor and assess the driving behaviour of the vehicle user via on-board technology which enables us to provide a much more accurate rate and a very specific understanding of risk," says Johan van der Merwe, MD of pay-as-you-drive car insurer Coverbox, which also offers free theft tracking.

    "The amount of information we gather from devices installed in customers' vehicles - time and location of journeys, driver behaviour during those journeys, and so on - means that we are in a position to develop much more bespoke insurance products, personalized to specific drivers."

    Telematics also means that well-behaved drivers can be rewarded with lower fees.

    "We all know young drivers who are maniacs behind the wheel, but we also all know young drivers who are incredibly safe and sensible behind the wheel," says van der Merwe. "The current insurance market lumps them all together as being an equally high liability. We can change that."

    The more detailed the information collected, the closer the insurance industry can get to accurately apportioning blame to specific drivers involved in an accident.

    What are telematics and how can it help your fleet

    Posted on by Oak & Bluebird
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    What are telematics and how can it help your fleet

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      Today we'll be explaining what telematics is and how telematics solutions are critical to successfully managing a commercial fleet.

      Telematics is the meeting of several scientific disciplines, mainly telecommunications, or the communication of information across phone lines, cables, and now in the cloud; and computer processing or data synthesis.

      As defined by Gartner, telematics refers to the use of wireless devices and black box technologies to transmit data in real-time back to an organization. Typically the word "telematics" is used in the context of commercial vehicle fleets, where a sensor collects and transmits data on vehicle use, maintenance requirements, and more.

      Put simply, telematics refers to the collection, transmission, and processing of data from real-world machines like trucks and trailers and other assets, and almost always refers to commercial fleet solutions.

      So here's how it works.

      First, data is collected from a vehicle or asset either using an aftermarket sensor or embedded or factory-built solutions. The data collected includes GPS location data, and information about the vehicle's use, like speeding, harsh braking and turning, and vehicle diagnostics.

      With us, this data is then sent directly to the cloud, where it can be processed and translated in real-time, and then viewed in a digestible format on a website or a dashboard.

      By collecting, transmitting, and synthesizing data, telematics solutions give fleet managers access to real-time information about what's happening to their fleet out on the road. These solutions help capture important information about your operations, driver behaviour and safety, and vehicle health.

      We talk about the ways that telematics solutions pay for themselves by allowing businesses to increase operational efficiency by radically improving their visibility into their operations with realtime data, and uncovering new ways to save money and time.

      They also improve customer service by using up-to-the-second information about day-to-day fleet movement in the cloud, so the back office can investigate customer questions without disrupting drivers.

      Telematic solutions also allow businesses to protect their drivers with safety programs and coaching based on real fleet and driver performance information.

      And finally, telematics solutions allow businesses to stay compliant with regulations for logging hours of service, completion of vehicle inspection reports, and more.

      So is your business looking for a vehicle tracking solution that can provide real-time data for your fleet? Samsara brings the technological experience of Google and Apple engineering to GPS fleet-tracking with a telematic solution that provides fleet managers greater visibility into their operations.

      To learn more about telematics solution and how we can help your business reach out to us.

      We spoke to a UK insurer on how they use telematics in the insurance space.

      Telematics is really the use of devices to monitor and see how devices are being used in real life. So that could be a box in a car telling us how the car's been driven, or it could be devices in the home telling us how the home monitoring systems are working. Or it could be a collar on a dog to tell us how much exercise the dog is getting and how much activity it's getting. So use of devices to get data on how something has been used or how much activity's been undertaken.

      The big inroads that telematics has made to date have been in the car insurance space.

      And in the UK that's primarily in the young driver space. So probably 30 to 40% of all new young drivers will buy a product with telematics, with a box or a device that will monitor how they drive.

      But what the device allows is it allows insurers to give feedback to the drivers as to how they're driving, tips and hints on how to drive better. They incentivize them. So they'll give them cashback if they do drive well. And sometimes we might give them a little tap on the shoulder, a phone call to say, "Actually, you were going a bit fast there. Yesterday on such and such a road, do you know what the speed limit is?" And we'll try and encourage people to drive safely.

      Telematics products that have got a level of monitoring attached to it will not be for everyone. And that's fine. So there are some people who don't want it. That's absolutely fine. We make it clear that that's part of our proposition. And for the people who do want it, we just have to be really clear about what benefit they get from the product.

      I actually think there are lots and lots of examples in our life where we trade personal information for some benefit. Barely a day will go past and something will pop up on your mobile phone and it will say, "Do you want to share your location data with this app?" And we all make snap judgements around, "Well, no, I don't want to because actually I've got no value there." Or, "Yes, I will. I can see the benefit in doing that. I'll get some value back."

      And in the same way, we're asking people to share their driving data with us. And then they're making the judgment that, actually, is that good for them? Are they going to get something back? And for the ones that do then, that's great.

      What is telematics?

      As quoted by Teletrac, Telematics is the technology used to monitor a wide range of information relating to an individual vehicle or an entire fleet. Telematics systems gather data including vehicle location, driver behaviour, engine diagnostics and vehicle activity, and visualise this data on software platforms that help fleet operators manage their resources.

      The word 'telematics' is a compound term. It combines 'tele' - a prefix denoting remote communications (the prefix is derived from the Greek for 'far off', or 'at a distance') - and 'informatics', a discipline incorporating the practice of information processing. Hence, this is what telematics is about: transmitting information over long distances. It is used for a variety of commercial and non-commercial purposes, but when this technology is used in fleet management, it is most commonly utilised to manage vehicles or other assets remotely and to provide an overview of a range of information relating to them.

      In recent years, telematics has changed the face of a number of industries, with its driving a major transformation in transport and construction. Businesses across a huge range of sectors have come to adopt telematics, which has helped to improve reliability, boost customer service standards, increase efficiency and enhance the bottom line.

      How Does it Benefit Fleets?

      A combination of the words telecommunications and informatics, it was the joining of these two sciences that resulted in the field of telematics.

      In its broadest sense telematics actually includes the internet itself, since it combines telecommunications (phone lines, cables, etc.) with informatics (such as computer systems). However, the term is now more commonly used to apply to vehicle telematics, where vehicle location information is used in different business applications to ultimately help business owners better manage a fleet-based workforce.

      The technology allows the sending, receiving and storing of information relating to remote objects (in this case, the vehicle) via telecommunication devices that plugs into the OBD II or CAN-BUS port, with a SIM card and onboard modem enabling communication through a mobile network. This smart device, also known as a 'black box' then records and reports on various points of available data. There are many who believe, however, that telematics simply shows GPS vehicle location - this does not begin to cover the breadth of actionable intelligence that telematics provides.

      But, before we get into the details of what telematics can really do, let's quickly look at how it came about in the first place.

      The early days of telematics

      Telematics developed alongside the internet. As computers became smaller and more widespread, the need for an easy way to exchange data grew. This is when telecommunication technology was used to connect computers with each other as well as other devices and thus telematics was born.

      (Quick fact: The actual term 'telematics' was coined back in 1978 by Simon Nora and Alain Minc in their report titled 'L'Informatisation de la société' - which was prepared for the French Prime Minister in response to the development of computer technology and the dawning of the information age).

      Since that time, computer processors have become smaller and more ubiquitous, while telecommunication networks have become widespread and effective in transferring larger amounts of data, regardless of where the computer is located. Whether it's on a truck driving through the remotest parts of the Nullabor or a delivery van in Sydney CBD, telematics can transfer near real-time data to central offices to help business owners better manage their fleet.

      How does a telematics system work?

      At the core of a telematics system is a vehicle tracking device. It collects GPS data as well as a huge range of vehicle-specific data from the vehicle's ODBII port and transmits it via either GPRS (General Packet Radio Service), 4G mobile data or satellite communication to a centralised server that then interprets the data and enables it's displayed to end-users.

      There is a multitude of data collected by the telematics device, which when decoded, can provide in-depth vehicle information such as location, speed, idling time, harsh acceleration or braking (measured by an internal accelerometer), fuel consumption, vehicle faults and much more.

      All this data is then layered over a map in our fleet management software in near real-time and can be viewed via secure websites and apps optimised for smartphones and tablets.

      So what can telematics really do?

      Today there is practically no limit to the different applications for telematics. The world is becoming more connected every day as more devices are networked into the internet of things (IoT) and new ways to use location-based information are being developed constantly.

      Yet still there is an ongoing misconception by many that vehicle telematics just shows GPS vehicle location - a simple dot on the map as it were. This doesn't even scratch the surface.

      With this telematics data, you can then determine when a driver is speeding, check the idling status of each vehicle in your fleet and send near real-time alerts to drivers to show them the fastest, most efficient routes to take. Further to this, you can also monitor fuel consumption, individual driving behaviour, time spent at (and outside of) specific locations and whether your vehicles require urgent maintenance.

      The use of telematics is growing in Australia and worldwide. According to a study, "the number of fleet management systems in active use in Australia and New Zealand is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 16.4 percent from almost 0.8 million units at the end of 2017 to nearly 1.7 million by 2022." 1

      Find the right solution for your business with our Fleet Management Services

      Simply having telematics, however, is not enough. Not all telematics solutions are created equal and in order for you to make the most out of the intelligence available, you need to find one that's right for your business.

      How to make the most of telematics

      Adopting a telematics solution is crucial for truly efficient and effective fleet management and there are a number of significant advantages that implementing an intelligent telematics solution will bring to your business.

      For starters, who wouldn't want a complete picture of their entire fleet at their fingertips, via intuitive and easy-to-use dashboards delivered through a mobile app?

      Here are six fundamental ways telematics-adopting companies are enhancing the potential of their fleets:

        1. Decreased fuel costs: Tracking driver behaviour could help you to identify areas of waste and act upon them accordingly, which ultimately helps towards reducing your fuel bill. Also, with the right fleet management solution, you'll be able to plan the most efficient route for each of your drivers at the touch of a button. This helps to reduce any unnecessary mileage.

       

        1. Improved safety: Because feedback on driving style and behaviours are continuous, fleet managers are in the best position to coach drivers about their bad habits (speeding, late or harsh braking) and also acknowledge those who perform well. Whilst your drivers are likely to have good intentions and don't set out to jeopardise the safety of other road users, they are only human and can easily slip into bad habits. With a telematics solution, you can closely monitor these bad habits and produce reports, or league tables, which highlight your drivers' behaviour and help to implement new safety targets.

       

        1. Boosted productivity: With near real-time GPS data, your drivers can lessen traffic delays, as well as giving you the ability to quickly and easily attribute any new or additional site visits to the nearest vehicle and instruct them on the most efficient route to get there.

       

        1. Better payroll management: By tracking the precise time a vehicle starts at the beginning of the day to the moment it shuts down at the end, a fleet tracking solution provides an accurate, automated record of how long an employee worked and where. By automating payroll, business owners not only help ensure their employees are paid accurately for the hours they have worked, but they can also take back the time currently spent manually matching up timesheets and job tickets.

       

        1. Reduce unauthorised use: One-way fleet owners could lower the risk of accidents is to verify that your fleet vehicles are only on the road when they need to be, during business hours. However, are you certain none of your vehicles are used in a driver's own time without consent? With a telematics solution, you can monitor when a vehicle is used out of hours as well as having the option to geofence certain areas so that your vehicles are where you expect them to be at all times.

       

        1. Lower maintenance costs: Fleet telematics can be set-up to deliver alerts based on mileage, engine use or time. Couple this with information on driving behaviour and you can monitor the wear and tear on your company vehicles in order to plan and carry out preventative maintenance. Furthermore, a comprehensive solution can alert you of diagnostic trouble codes such as engine warning lights, removing the need to rely on the driver to report faults and enabling you to resolve the issue quickly, reducing ongoing damage.

       

       

      Find the right telematics solution for your business

      So, how do you know which solution is right for you and your business?

      There are many telematics service providers out there but few are flexible enough to offer the right mix of features to ensure you receive the maximum benefits of tracking your fleet. The best of the bunch will give you simple usability, easy-to-understand technology and financial clarity from start to finish. What's more, GPS tracking systems are only becoming better at integrating with your existing business applications so it's the perfect time to consider one for your business.

      OK provides solutions to help solve all of your biggest fleet management challenges. If you want to explore this or you have more questions regarding telematics, why not schedule a short demonstration?

      How modern asset tracking can make your job site more efficient

      Posted on by Oak & Bluebird

      How modern asset tracking can make your job site more efficient

      Asset tracking is the practice of managing, tracking and reporting on physical assets such as vehicles, trailers, shipping containers and construction equipment.

      Traditionally, businesses have relied on manual methods to keep track of their high-value assets, including walking around premises to locate assets when needed and manually logging into Excel spreadsheets. With an Internet of Things (IoT) enabled asset tracking and fleet management system, you can streamline this time-consuming process and make asset and fleet management significantly easier and more effective.

      The latest technology allows for a range of tracking hardware and software to be integrated with your assets, feeding information through to a centralised platform that you can view anywhere on any device via the internet for real-time reporting and analysis.

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      Why is asset tracking so valuable on work sites?

      Data, data, data! IoT's ability to capture an incredible volume of data from your assets unlocks a range of workplace efficiencies.

      Tracking and collecting data provides you with the information needed to monitor asset utilisation and output in order to improve your productivity. With accurate data, including location data, predictive insights and real-time alerts for specific triggers, management can make decisions based on facts rather than opinions, gut feel, or rough estimates - taking assumptions out of the equation.

      What data should you be looking at?

      IoT asset tracking can reveal an extraordinary amount of information about your business, but which data points are most important to your business and what data should you be tracking? 

      Below, we cover the 3 key areas of fleet and asset data you should be capturing to improve your business' efficiency and productivity on any job site.

      1. Cost and productivity

      Understanding the financials is critical to managing assets effectively and achieving the best return on your capital investment. For example, accurate data gives you insights into what asset-related costs your business can reduce or remove.

      Areas to focus on may include:

      2. Safety and compliance

      Used correctly, an asset tracking and fleet management solution can reduce the risk of accidents, which makes job sites and being on the road much safer for everyone.

      The following metrics can help ensure you're meeting your compliance obligations and are following the correct safety procedures:

      • Number of unsafe driving incidents
      • Real-time fatigue and distraction monitoring
      • Measure of safe driving practices
      • Monitor use of safety procedures
      • Monitoring asset health and maintenance requirements
      • Training drivers and their performance over time
      • Pre-start checklist and maintenance report completion

      3. Performance and utilisation

      Understanding asset performance helps identify inefficiencies, which help with long-term planning and decision-making regarding asset purchases. A focus on output and utilisation can help you understand your current capacity and if you have the right size fleet to produce the required output without retaining un-utilised assets.

      Areas of interest might be:

      • Asset utilisation 
      • Productive time vs idle time
      • Reasons for underperformance
      • Finding the assets that are underperforming and identifying the reason why

      Why is tracking so important?

      To put it simply, asset tracking collects data, and data is good for business. With more visibility over the performance and utilisation of your assets, you can make data-driven decisions that help improve asset utilisation, reduce costs and increase output on your job sites.

      Additionally, a robust asset tracking and fleet management solution can help you eliminate lost or stolen assets, saving time searching for them and processing insurance claims, and ensure that you are meeting your safety and compliance and Chain of Responsibility requirements through integrated checklists, operator safety monitoring and asset health monitoring.

      Not sure where to get started?

      Does your business have room to improve on the way it manages its assets? Among many other benefits, asset tracking has the potential to increase the efficiency of your job site significantly.

      Contact our team below to learn more about Connect and our asset tracking solutions.

      How asset tracking gives valuable insights into asset utilisation

      Posted on by Oak & Bluebird

      How asset tracking gives valuable insights into asset utilisation

      Better utilisation of assets is often described as the key to a more efficient operation. This is because it's a very useful metric that can help managers figure out how to improve their business' bottom line by making better use of their company's assets.

      There are several well-used measures of financial return in the business world, including Return on Investment (ROI), Return on Equity (ROE) and Return on Assets (ROA). A fourth one, Return on Capital (ROC), is one to watch closely, however.

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      As defined by Investopedia, this is a calculation used to assess a company's efficiency at allocating the capital under its control to formal investments. "The return on invested capital ratio gives a sense of how well a company is using its money to generate returns."

      ROC is defined as:

      After-tax operating profit / Invested capital

      (Invested capital = Debt capital + equity capital - cash)

      Understanding this return on your capital investments regarding equipment and machinery should be factored into your bottom line and considered in any significant decision making.

      The downsides of not tracking asset utilisation

      Without tracking asset utilisation in your business, you'll have little or no visibility on what value your assets provide. You won't have data on the productive output of assets, idle time or downtime that your assets experience. This means you'll have a limited understanding of the return on your capital investments, or when you'll make your money back on them. Without these insights, you'll be uninformed about your actual bottom line and how to take steps to improve your overall profit. 

      Without a robust asset tracking solution, your business may:

      • Have too many underutilised assets
      • Not have enough assets to keep up with demand and maximise revenue
      • Experience lots of idle time or downtime
      • Have little to no visibility on ROI
      Get access to our free eBook on The Future of Work

      How to achieve maximum utilisation with asset tracking

      Assets are essential to every business. Therefore, it's worth investing in them and ensuring they provide an adequate return for your business. Asset tracking allows you to view which pieces of equipment are being used - as well as when and how often - across geographic locations.

      This data enables management to make better-informed decisions, including whether to rent or sell an asset, see if its under-utilised or if owned assets from other locations can be deployed more productively. This can aid you in right-sizing your fleet of assets, either shrinking or growing the number of assets, or swapping these for different models, to get as close to 100% utilisation as possible.

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      Knowing where your assets are also increases their security by significantly lowering the risk of theft or asset loss and improving recovery rates if they are taken. Real-time reporting also ensures that essential maintenance is carried out on time to extend an asset's life and reduce expected downtime.

      Asset tracking also helps identify underperforming assets using precise metrics on how often and how long a piece of equipment runs on a particular day or over a certain period. This provides the opportunity to improve productivity or consider purchasing or designing better equipment.

      Your asset turnover ratio (aka asset utilisation ratio) shows how much revenue your business generates for every dollar invested in total assets. The higher the asset turnover ratio, the more efficient you are at generating revenue from your assets.

      You can calculate this by dividing your total assets by your total revenue.

       Asset Turnover Ratio = Total Revenue / Total Assets

      For example, if your business has revenues of $100,000 and total assets of $50,000, the asset utilisation ratio will be 2:1. $100,000 / $50,000 = 2 (or 2:1).

      That means your operations generate $2 in revenue for every $1 you have invested in assets. Using this information, you can create a benchmark to measure against in subsequent years or use it to compare against benchmarks in your industry.

      How asset tracking can help manage complex construction sites

      Posted on by Oak & Bluebird

      How asset tracking can help manage complex construction sites

      Asset tracking is a GPS-based technology that allows businesses to manage and track their assets in real-time, then store the data in a centralised, cloud-based database so it can be mined for analytics and insights. This can help businesses streamline a wide range of critical activities, including managing vendors, controlling inventory, scheduling maintenance, fulfilling orders, sending requests and distributing work orders via mobile apps.

      How is asset tracking used in construction?

      Being able to manage a large fleet of assets with ease can be extremely useful in the construction industry, where many managers and project coordinators are often on-site and away from their offices. This can minimise unnecessary delays, which is a critical factor when working with large machinery that's expensive to run and maintain and fixed project deadlines.

      The data-driven management of assets such as premises, machinery, vehicles and other equipment can create leaner operations within your business. This is because it gives you the insights you need to right-size your fleet, increase utilisation and head off any inefficiencies throughout your business. By introducing data-driven efficiencies, the use of valuable resources is minimised, which creates greater value for customers while eliminating waste.

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      Reducing Theft

      Despite the size of some of the machinery used within the industry, construction sites aren't immune to theft. Research from Allianz Insurance into plant theft, for example, found that construction sites are increasingly targeted by criminals, including organised gangs. The results suggest plant theft is rising year-on-year, with 428 instances reported to Allianz in 2013, 665 in 2017 and 730 by the end of 2018.

      A survey conducted by the Chartered Institute of Building involving senior-level construction workers found that as many as 21% of respondents said they experience theft every week. This widespread loss of assets adds up to $4.3 billion dollars every year, including $298M worth of construction assets, $440M worth of small plant and equipment and $708M worth of vehicles.

      Tracking assets add an extra layer of security and significantly increases the chance of recovering a stolen asset. Geofencing and mobile alerts even let you know when assets leave their assigned site so that you can take immediate action.

      Increasing asset visibility

      Large construction companies frequently have expensive equipment moving from site to site, and asset tracking provides greater visibility of that movement. When you know exactly where your assets are and what they're doing, you're in a better place to maximise their utility and ensure they're providing an adequate return on investment.

      Additionally, the right asset management software also allows managers to deploy and allocate equipment to the right site when needed, together with support for purchase order requisitions and logistics. These systems allow access for multiple users, which means on-site project managers can issue machinery repairs and request equipment to be collected when it's no longer needed - significantly streamlining the process.

      Improving site safety

      Sadly, many construction site workers are killed or injured every year in the course of their work, as reported by Safe Work Australia. In the 5 years from 2009-2013, 182 fatalities and 63,230 serious injuries were reported across the construction industry in Australia. . Safe Work Australia also notes that the most frequent causes of accidental death and injury are a result of slips, trips and falls, vehicle accidents, body stressing, and being hit by moving or falling objects.

      Asset tracking helps prioritise safety and ensures you meet safety compliance and industry regulations. Modern asset tracking solutions include smart safety and compliance features like driver safety monitoring, vehicle health monitoring, in-built digitised checklists and safety checks, and reminders for maintenance. 

      Using these tools along with insightful equipment management also ensures assets receive correct and timely maintenance, which helps prevent many accidents. Data can also track the causes of accidents and provide insights into why they may have occurred, so managers can take action to avoid them in future.

      Real-time insights into tools and equipment lifecycle and costs

      Inaccurate information can lead to shutdowns, slower turnarounds, outages and other delays. The cost of completing a project can quickly escalate with inefficient planning, poor decision making and straying from construction contracts. This can easily impact the reputation of your construction company. With asset tracking and data-based management, it's easier to keep costs and deadlines on track and address minor problems as they occur, before they become major ones.

      Greater asset utilisation, cost reduction and maximising tax rebates are just a few of the many other reasons why your business needs asset tracking. Data-driven management and insights keep you competitive in the industry, and staying connected to your assets ensures the most efficient and effective management. These all combine to boost your bottom line.

      Maximising fuel tax rebates

      Construction companies operating a fleet of vehicles, machinery, plant and industrial equipment are entitled to claim Fuel Tax Credits for the fuel they use. However, many businesses lack the evidence required to claim their full entitlement at the higher FTC rates.

      The standard rate for FTC is 16.5 cents per litre, but with accurate evidence for your claim, you can increase this rate to 42.3 cents per litre for use by all vehicles on private use as well as for auxiliary use.

      You can claim this higher rate when:

      • Vehicles are using fuel on construction and mining sites, shipping ports, worksites, loading docks. These locations all count as private road use and entitle you to the higher FTC rate. 
      • Using fuel to power auxiliary equipment on heavy vehicles, including crane trucks operating the crane function, the mixing barrel of concrete trucks, or the use of computers and other elevation mechanics on vehicles.

      Asset tracking solutions can provide you with the accurate data you need to calculate and substantiate your claim, helping you reduce your operating costs and maximise your tax return. Learn more about maximising your Fuel Tax Credit rebate with asset tracking here.

      Want to access the benefits of asset tracking?

      There are many variables and challenges in the construction industry. Fortunately, the right asset tracking solution can transform your business for the better. With the purpose-built technology on hand, it's never been easier to manage your construction sites. Connect is ready to help you transform your service and asset utilisation.

      Learn more about our Asset Tracking, contact us today.

      How accurate vehicle tracking data will maximise your Fuel Tax Credit rebate

      Posted on by Oak & Bluebird

      How accurate vehicle tracking data will maximise your Fuel Tax Credit rebate

      If your business operates a large fleet of vehicles, machinery, plant and industrial equipment, you'll be well aware of the high cost of the fuel needed to power these assets. You may also know that eligible Australian businesses can claim tax credits for the fuel they use to run their operations.

      However, did you realise that, in many cases, businesses are only claiming the standard rate for fuel tax credits? If this is happening in your business, the good news is that - with a full understanding of how fuel tax credits work, combined with tracking data - your business can maximise its credit claim and legitimately gain bigger tax benefits.

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      What are Fuel Tax Credits and how do they work?

      Fuel Tax Credits (FTC) provide credit to Australian companies for taxes they've paid on fuel when used in machinery, plant equipment and other vehicles. They can be claimed for eligible fuel purchases used in your business, with the credit amount depending on the type of fuel, when it is used and for what activity.

      While the calculations may appear confusing at first, new asset tracking solutions that collect data in real-time help make the process significantly easier. These work by placing sensors on vehicles to track their location and activity, providing the data needed to accurately claim the maximum Fuel Tax Credits that you're eligible for.

      How do I calculate Fuel Tax Credits?

      There are a few steps in calculating your Fuel Tax Credits. The first is understanding how much fuel you've used, then working out the eligible quantity of fuel to claim credits on. The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has a calculator that can help you work this out.

      Next, you must check which rates apply for your fuel, determined by when you acquired the fuel. To then calculate the amount of fuel tax credits in dollars, multiply the eligible amount by the correct rate and divide the result by 100.

      What's the difference between private and public roads?

      Businesses can claim a higher tax credit on private roads, as public roads have road user charges to partially cover construction and maintenance, which do not apply to private roads. Accurate reporting of whether your fuel is used on a public or private road can make a difference to your total claimable fuel tax credits.

      Classifications of private roads include the following:

      • Truck stops
      • Vehicle depots
      • Farms
      • Mining sites
      • Quarries
      • Logging sites
      • Construction sites
      • Loading docks
      • Council refuse sites
      • Other roads on private property

      By correctly identifying the amount of fuel used on private roads, you're able to claim an additional 25.8 cents on every eligible litre of fuel your business uses. This means you can claim 16.5 cents per litre while on public roads and up to 42.3 cents on private roads.

      This private road rate of 42.3 cents can also be used for fuel used to power the auxiliary functions of equipment on heavy vehicles, even when the auxiliary usage takes place on a public road. This includes crane trucks operating the crane function, the mixing barrel of a concrete truck or the use of winches, computers and other elevation mechanics on vehicles. The ATO has more information about auxiliary equipment usage here.

      Get access to our free eBook on The Future of Work

      How Connect can maximise your tax rebates

      Our asset tracking solution, Connect, helps you track the movement of any assets that use fuel. This gives you the detailed information you need to accurately calculate and maximise your fuel tax credits.

      1. GPS-verified data

      Connect's GPS tracking devices allow you to capture accurate on-road and off-road travel, fuel consumption, mileage and auxiliary equipment usage. This means you can easily distinguish between public and private road usage for accurate claiming of the maximum fuel tax credits available to your business.

      Importantly, six months' worth of accurate and consistent data also provides acceptable evidence for retrospective fuel credit claims to be made if you've under-claimed fuel tax credits in the previous four years.

      2. Easy reporting

      With real-time GPS tracking, Connect automatically takes detailed data and converts it into simple reporting for accurate fuel tax credit calculations. These insights also provide greater visibility on the fuel usage within your business and significantly reduce admin time and costs. They also offer opportunities to increase fleet efficiency and productivity.

      Reports are securely stored and backed up in real-time, so you have the latest data immediately you need it.

      3. Eliminate estimates and guesswork

      With accurate GPS data, your FTC rebates aren't reliant on guesswork and estimates that could be reducing your claim. With accurate, verifiable data, your business can ensure rebates are maximised and also access previously unclaimed or under-claimed fuel tax credits from the previous four years.

      4. Reduce tax risk

      By submitting accurate data, you can be more confident in your tax credit claims. You can sleep easier knowing your business is reducing the risk of over-claiming and incurring penalties and interest charges. This is because accurate data and fuel use records are verified and securely stored for evidence of your claims.

      Start claiming your FTCs today

      Tax time shouldn't be something to dread. We see it as an opportunity to legitimately claim back what you might have overpaid in fuel taxes over the years. It's never been easier using Connect; it allows you to claim the maximum fuel tax credits with confidence and ease.

      Do you want to maximise your business's fuel tax credits? Talk to our team today to learn more about simplifying your fuel tax credit claims process and maximising your rebate.

      5 Reasons Your Fleet should be using Dash Cams

      Posted on by Oak & Bluebird

      5 Reasons Your Fleet should be using Dash Cams

      Dash cam technology is helping fleet managers all over Australia run safer and more efficient vehicle fleets. That's because they are fast becoming an essential tool for improving driver safety, providing feedback on driver behaviour, and providing video evidence after an incident.

      When paired with fleet management software, dash cams can provide valuable insights on the fleet's overall performance and help you make data-driven decisions. They can also help you ensure you are compliant with all your health & safety and Chain of Responsibility (CoR) requirements.

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      Dash cams are simple to set up and often only require a connection to the vehicle's power supply. When paired with an asset tracking or telematics system, dash cam data is instantly accessible to view. Monitor live data on speed, braking information, tyre pressure and other vital vehicle information, along with insights from your onboard dash cams.

      Cameras can be road- or driver-facing, but many modern options do both. If they have artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) embedded in the solution, these cameras can identify hazards in real-time and help drivers react more quickly. This can significantly reduce preventable accidents.

      AI-powered dash cams use facial recognition and eye-mapping to identify high-risk factors such as driver fatigue, mobile use and other distractions.

      The use of dash cams in fleets is increasing exponentially, as fleet managers turn to technology to help them keep their drivers safe and protect valuable assets. While some drivers might not appreciate this degree of monitoring, dash cams can provide evidence against false claims - often to the driver's benefit - and makes the road safer for everyone.

      It's not just businesses that are taking notice either. Research from Allianz Australia revealed that 20% of all Aussie drivers now record their car trips with this technology, with usage set to increase.

      5 key benefits of using dash cams

      1. Protection against false claims.

      Dash cams are a critical tool for protecting your company and drivers from false claims. Fleet managers can use video from dash cams as solid, irrefutable evidence to either support or dismiss claims made in the event of an accident. This can resolve driving disputes a lot quicker and provide greater peace of mind for drivers and fleet managers.

      2. Encourages and reinforces safe driving behaviour.

      AI technology built into modern dash cams can predict unsafe behaviour and alert drivers and managers. This includes behaviours such as taking their eyes off the road for an extended time. The moment it detects a specific unsafe behaviour, it alerts drivers to self-correct. This helps to identify and eliminate poor driver habits, contributing to a safer workplace culture.

      3. Insurance savings.

      Dash cams connected to fleet management software can save on insurance costs. It's now common for insurance providers to provide discounts or other insurance premium reductions for fleets which have dash cams installed. The evidence they provide can also help speed up the insurance claims process. Using dash cams also demonstrates to your drivers you're serious about their safety.

      4. Safety training and support.

      Near misses, or accidents caught on camera, provide examples for driver safety education, while real-time driving feedback encourages drivers to make better choices on the road. Additionally, having a record of the number of unsafe driving alerts attributed to each driver can promote a healthy competition and movement towards an internal culture of excellence when it comes to safety. This provides ongoing training and support to your fleet drivers.

      5. Fleet security.

      Dash cams and fleet management software are excellent preventive security tools that help reduce break-ins, vandalism, and asset loss. Many dash cams activate when the vehicle is started and, if there's unauthorised access, the cameras can identify the offender and help locate and recover your vehicle.