Like many different technologies that helped humanity leap into a new world of communication and production, telematics was also a product born in the battlefield between nations. The Cold War was less of a brute showcase of soldiers and more a race toward innovation in weaponry and technological innovation. Telematics mainly consists of 3 different yet codependent technologies, Machine to Machine communication, the Internet, and GPS. It wasn’t until the 90s that telematics became a prominent and useful force with the introduction of GPS technologies into consumer markets.
Telematics mean the gathering of data through different sensors, GPS, internet, and many others and then storing it or instantly sharing it after being processed. It can indicate a lot of statuses and factors like average speeds over a time limit, frequency of braking, turning speed, fuel consumption per set time, determining if the car is in motion or not, and most importantly, the car location.
The applications of telematics are endless, especially in this day and age where accurate fleet management is crucial; it’s become an industry of its own with its own development and innovation. If you’re considering using telematics for your fleet business, we’ll do our best to provide you with the best questions that you should always have their answers before signing anything.
What are the Different Types of Devices Used?
Telematics have different devices for each use, and they can vary greatly in regard to features. On Board Diagnostics is a port that allows diagnostic devices to be plugged connected to your vehicle that can illustrate different metrics and states. You can expect to easily get information about the vehicle speed, motor RPM, fuel capacity and usage, engine performance, and a lot of other critical vehicular data.
They’re commonly used because they’re accurate, efficient, compact, and can easily be plugged or removed. Their processors need minimal powers to operate and have different modules to connect to the internet and transmit the data collected to a fleet management software.
Another popular device of choice is using smartphones. This is more common with major fleet businesses and ridesharing applications, since it’s more convenient than installing a diagnostic tool. Technology and innovation in communication and data analysis allowed smartphones to accurately and efficiently gather data.
You can obtain the same data obtained from on board diagnostics devices using smartphones, it may be a bit less accurate but it’s accurate enough to help you efficiently manage.
Can I afford It?
The question of whether you can afford using telematics or switching providers is a very important one. Just like any technological field, progress and innovation enabled it to be more available to consumers and businesses.
The question of pricing is usually not standardized, packages are customized most of the time to fit fleet size, the features you’re looking for, and the time window available of launch. These can all be questions about telematics that are essential because their answer will help you plan ahead.
Every vendor has a different pricing plan, it’s up to you to find the one that truly accommodates your needs without breaking the bank, especially if you’re a small business or a startup. Always keep in mind that telematics is an investment, it can get you ROI.
How are Maintenance and Growth Supported?
The effort put into maintenance will depend on many factors. The device you’re using can require frequent maintenance if it’s hardwired or almost none at all if it’s a smartphone. If you’re using a cloud system to deploy telematics and store information you shouldn’t worry about it much since the telematics that owns the software and servers will do most of the work.
Your fleet size should never be expected to remain the same unless you’re doing something wrong. Your business grows in terms of its needs; fleet size can remain the same for a little while, but that doesn’t mean that you don’t want to upgrade some features to accommodate new challenges.
When you’re picking a provider or switching from one, pay extra attention about the long-term convenience and scalability the provider offers.
Telematics is the core of fleet growth since information is power. Data analysis made it possible to understand the market from a new perspective and pick a niche to service for maximum profit. Real-time updates and data collection are being effectively used to boost productivity and ensure drivers’ safety by taking advantage of technologies like GPS and cloud processing.
Whomever the provider you go with, take your time and ask the right questions to ensure that you get yourself a lucrative deal.