Telematics For Fleets : Improve Your Fleet’s Efficiency
Posted on 11/11/2024 ArrayTelematics For Fleets : Improve Your Fleet's Efficiency
What is fleet Telematics?
In this guide, we will explore the various applications, benefits and limitations of telematics in a fleet management and logistics context- and whether vehicle tracking is right for your fleet.
Fleet Management Systems work through the use of telematics.
Put simply, telematics refers to vehicle tracking, which works through data being transmitted from a vehicle to a server.
Telematics track GPS location, as well as information such as vehicle speed, acceleration, distance covered, idling time and harsh braking.
The word telematics is a combination of telecommunications (long distance communication) and informatics (the science of processing data).
What are the benefits of fleet telematic systems?
Fleet telematics systems can greatly reduce fleet operating costs:
Fuel Cost Reduction and Fleet Efficiency 👇
Fleet management allow systems allow you to monitor driver idling, acceleration and speed, in order to minimise fuel costs.
Fleet Route Optimisation 👇
Track the routes taken by drivers and ensure they are using the most efficient and least fuel consuming routes.
Anticipate Maintenance Needs 👇
Accurate knowledge of vehicle journeys means the maintenance needs can be met to avoid costly surprise bills.
Improve Safety for Drivers 👇
Real time fleet tracking has a psychological effect on a driver’s behaviour. If they know they’re being watched, they are much less likely to drive irresponsibly.
Through fleet monitoring tools, safe practices for drivers can be encouraged through tracking their driver behaviour.
This in turn leads to incident reduction and so reduces costs. For example, a 70% reduction in speeding was found by EDS Couriers using the Parksafe On Demand platform.
Fleet Management Systems Cut Insurance Costs 👇
GPS data can be used to provide evidence in the event of a claim.
Implementing Video Telematics means footage can be instantly accessed to demonstrate driver behaviour and monitor events in real time.
Video telematics can also be used to provide proof of delivery.
Fleet Telematics can be used for Stolen Vehicle Recovery 👇
Through GPS tracking and live alerts, installing a fleet management system can provide instant awareness and data when a vehicle is stolen. This has been found to have huge impacts on stolen vehicle recovery rates.
What are the drawbacks of fleet tracking systems?
The common issues faced when implementing fleet telematics, and how to handle them:
Frustrated Drivers👇
Being monitored can often frustrate drivers, especially those with a lot of experience.
To help with this, they should be educated on the benefits for your company, and how fleet telematics can improve their safety.
Privacy Concerns 👇
When implementing a fleet management system, drivers may have privacy concerns. To help with this, it’s important you ensure they are aware how the data being gathered is used.
Time Off the Road👇
Installing fleet tracking systems can mean initial time off the road. You should consider when the most appropriate time to roll out your system is.
High Set Up Costs 👇
Of course, up-front costs are often high- especially with a large fleet- so it’s important you budget for this.
Is installing a telematics system correct for your business?
The return on investment (ROI) for fleet management systems suggests that they are a great choice for most fleets.
The Parksafe On Demand platform has seen 17 % in claim cost reductions. EDS Couriers saw savings in excess of £50k.
Given the long term potential to save, investing in fleet management systems is worthwhile.
However, if your business has limited cash available, perhaps investment should be put on hold until it can be afforded.
It is also worth considering the key impacts of fleet management tools- namely reduction in speeding, claims costs, and fuel saving. If your business has minimal spending/wastage in these areas, then perhaps the value of fleet tracking is limited.
If you feel your business falls into this category, do not invest unnecessarily. Instead, monitor spending in these areas, and remember fleet management tools like Parksafe On Demand are the best solution if they do become an issue.
The Best Fleet Telematics System: Parksafe On Demand
Our recommended Fleet Management System is the Parksafe On Demand platform, which we mentioned earlier in this blog.
This system provides fleet managers with an all-in-one, easy to use telematics suite. It provides the facilities to track an entire fleet, 24/7, through the On Demand portal.
Installing live DVRS in these vehicles allows video telematics to be instantly accessed; allowing live, HD viewing of every vehicle in the fleet.
Because incident footage can be accessed as and when it occurs, fleet managers are able to respond and adapt, minimising downtime and speeding up insurance claim processes.
The platform also comes with vehicle health tracking.
Drivers can log their daily checks, and any faults or issues with the vehicle through this app, and access up-to-date journey information. This allows for planning and preparation to stay on top of vehicle maintenance, in order to minimise costs.
Parksafe On Demand comes with dedicated 24/7 support from our in-house team.
Interested in this system? Contact us to see how it can benefit your business, today.
