Vehicle
& Equipment Tracking - Making it Work
Tom
O'Connor, Managing Director, DigiCore Ltd writes: A
major challenge for all fleet operators, whatever industry sector they
operate in, is how to manage drivers, vehicles and other mobile assets
when they are ‘out on the road’ and effectively out of sight.
Telematics-based vehicle tracking and fleet management solutions, that
utilise GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite technology, give vehicle
and equipment operators control over their assets and employees, in
a way never thought possible only a few years ago. Maximum optimisation
isn't the impossible dream that it once was, and businesses can now
see at a glance exactly where their assets are and co-ordinate and protect
them far more effectively.
Making it Work for You
Despite what some might tell you, vehicle tracking technology cannot
be all things to all people, and installing a system won't immediately
solve all transport-related problems or optimise a vehicle operation
overnight. Promises of data on every aspect of your fleet won't help
you either unless there is an effective means to transfer this into
knowledge.
Not many companies in the telematics field are making money today -
a major proportion of service providers go bust within the first few
years of business. The field is overdue a shakeout and we will definitely
see some consolidation in this sector. Make sure when you are selecting
a supplier that it has a good track record, an excellent reputation
and, not least, a sound balance sheet.
Choosing a vehicle tracking system takes careful consideration. It is
about businesses knowing what they really want, not just now, but also
in the future. Focusing on what realistically can be achieved is essential,
but businesses need to understand that their requirements will change,
so any telematics solutions has to possess the flexibility to evolve
and adapt to these changing needs.
Furthermore,
no two businesses possess the same needs, so it is critical to select
a solution that can be tailored to specific requirements. For example,
protecting vehicles and assets against theft requires different functionality
than a work flow management and job scheduling solution, but a vehicle
tracking system needs to possess the flexibility to handle both should
this be needed. It is worth considering the benefits of selecting a
partner that can develop a bespoke tracking solution rather than procuring
an off-the-shelf device that may lack sufficient adaptability and expandability.
To best utilise a vehicle tracking solution, there needs to be substantial
levels of commitment from both the telematics service provider and the
fleet operator itself. This doesn't just mean financially, companies
need to also set aside some resource to develop and manage the process.
A company also needs to communicate openly with all its stakeholders
- whether this is directors, employees, drivers, customers or suppliers
- to ensure everyone understands the reasoning for the solution and
the potential benefits.
Vehicle tracking and telematics systems can fundamentally change the
way companies do business, and if it doesn't then the solution is not
working. What is needed is clearer thinking to define what will add
value to a business and how companies can work smarter using the knowledge
that this technology offers.
Reaping the Benefits
There are many opportunities to increase the efficiency, productivity
and control of your fleet operation through the development and implementation
of a flexible, cost-effective vehicle tracking solution. Vehicle and
asset tracking really is limited by imagination, and companies can achieve
a host of business and operational benefits through increased productivity,
reduced costs, enhanced customer service, superior security and better
informed decision-making.
These
benefits stem from the ability to better manage a vehicle fleet through
improved visibility and control. Ultimately, businesses can enhance
their fleet operations by controlling costs and utilising available
resources to maximise profitability and reduce overheads.
Vehicle tracking systems can also be integrated with existing technology
to enable an integrated fleet management solution. For example, integrating
vehicle tracking with routeing and scheduling software can provide real-time
control over vehicles so fleet operations can adapt to unexpected changes
in the work-flow. If delivery requirements are altered or a vehicle
breaks downs on a job, it is possible to immediately identify location
and status details of mobile assets to rectify the situation and the
work schedule accordingly.
This added control, can provide almost immediate financial rewards such
as improved fuel management through reduced mileage and journey times
(the average for most fleet operators adopting vehicle tracking is a
saving of between 10 and 20 percent), and lower overtime claims as a
result of automating the capture of working times data. In addition,
operators can also benefit from reduced insurance premiums because of
the added security a tracking system can provide.
But it is not all about cost savings. There are a range of other benefits
that can enable effective fleet management and contribute to the overall
optimisation of the supply chain. Businesses can enhance their service
from knowing where vehicles are and relaying this information to customers.
Furthermore, better routing, satellite navigation and improved driver
communications can all help ensure that strict service deadlines are
met.
There is also legislative compliance and duty of care to consider. Existing
and proposed legislation, such as congestion and road charging, Working
Time Directive and corporate manslaughter are all making vehicle tracking
an increasingly attractive proposition, as companies increasingly come
under pressure to better manage their fleet operations.
All
employers owe their employees duty of care, particularly if people frequently
work alone. A vehicle tracking package helps to fulfil this duty by
monitoring the whereabouts and safety of drivers.
Operating green fleet operations is another area where vehicle tracking
can provide measurable benefits. With businesses under increasing pressure
to minimise the impact of their vehicle fleets on the environment, this
added control can contribute to substantial reductions in emissions
through fuel efficiency and optimisation. Reduced mileage through improved
routeing and scheduling can have a massive impact, but companies can
also monitor driving behaviour to increase efficiency or use historical
data to support future purchasing decisions.
Vehicle tracking is already changing the way businesses operate, enabling
them to work smarter with the knowledge it provides. However, companies
differ hugely in what they want and need, so it is important when choosing
a vehicle tracking and fleet management solution to know what is required
from the outset.
Vehicle and Asset Security
Depending which figures you believe, vehicle-related crime accounts
for between 20 and 25 per cent of all recorded criminal activity within
the UK each year. Telematics-based vehicle tracking and fleet management
solutions offer an alternative security technique that can complement
more traditional products such as alarms, immobilisers and specialist
locks.
There is a range of statistics in the public domain that reveal the
extent of vehicle crime within the UK, and the scale of the threat to
car, van and commercial vehicle fleet operators.
Despite a 51 per cent fall since 1997, The British Crime Survey, conducted
by the National Audit Office, estimated there were still 1,731,000 vehicle
crimes during 2005-2006. Furthermore, other Home Office research highlights
the increasing number of thefts which involve the theft of keys in burgularies,
negating the effect of many modern anti-theft devices.
Elsewhere, the most recent Government research on van crime - The Nature
and Extent of Light Commercial Vehicle Theft - revealed that more than
47,000 light commercial vehicles (LCVs) were stolen over a 12 month
period worth £152 million, equating to approximately one LCV being
stolen for every 50 on the road. Furthermore, the report estimated that
only 41 per cent of stolen LCVs were ever recovered.
In simple terms, telematics-based tracking provides fleet operators
with the ability to monitor and locate stolen vehicles in real-time.
However, the technology is continually evolving to offer new innovations
that not only enhance the security benefits to mobile assets and employees,
but also increase the cost effectiveness of the solution.
The introduction of GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) has stimulated
the growth of vehicle tracking by increasing the ability to transfer
large amounts of data at lower costs compared to GSM technology previously
used. As a result, the required communication costs have greatly reduced,
whilst the "always on" functionality of GPRS better supports
effective real-time tracking.
In addition, the ability to receive information from a wide-range of
vehicle sensors and other devices - such panic alarms, door sensors,
motion detectors and remote immobilisers - has provided fleet operators
with the ability to develop bespoke tracking solution that offers the
best fit to their security needs.
Panic alarms, in the form of an in-vehicle switch or a portable handheld
device, enable mobile workers to warn office-based personnel of a potential
problem or incident in the field, and if necessary request assistance
or support. These types of alerts enable businesses to better respond
to external situations that threaten the welfare of both assets and
employees.
Door sensors and motion detectors warn operators and drivers of potential
interference and threat to a vehicle or equipment, and such alerts provide
the opportunity to take preventative action to thwart an attempted threat.
Remote immobilisers meanwhile can enable a fleet operator to prevent
the ignition of a vehicle after it has been stolen.
The usability of tracking systems has also progressed so businesses
can take a flexible approach to vehicle tracking that incorporates a
range of communication technology. Not only can information be accessed
via or directed to Internet-or software-based operating systems, but
also mobile phones or PDAs. Moreover, these systems provide advanced
security functions such as geofencing capability, which enables alerts
of unauthorised movement inside or outside pre-defined areas.
The effectiveness of the technology has now been recognised within the
insurance industry and vehicle and equipment operators can now save
as much as £400 per vehicle per year.
Fleet operators should also consider the true price of vehicle theft
on their business, not only including increased insurance premium and
asset replacement expenditure, but also associated costs such as higher
asset and employee down-time, reduced productivity, increased administration
and potentially loss of business.
Protecting
mobile assets and employees when they are on the road and effectively
out of sight is a major challenge for any fleet operator. Vehicle in
the field are seldom parked in secure locations and are often at risk
of opportunist or pre-meditated theft. Vehicle tracking provides the
opportunity for businesses to safeguard mobile assets, and minimise
the threat of vehicle crime to their business and operational performance.
About DigiCore
DigiCore Ltd (http://www.digicore.co.uk)
is part of the DigiCore Holdings group, a global company with 21 years
experience developing and implementing end-to-end vehicle tracking and
fleet management solutions. DigiCore's advanced C-track technology is
fitted to more than 230,000 vehicles operating in 31 countries across
4 continents.
DigiCore works in partnership with its customers to develop solutions
that deliver measurable business and operational benefits by providing
total visibility and control of mobile assets and mobile work forces.
DigiCore utilises a range of vehicle location, fleet management, satellite
navigation and security tools, to provide commercial vehicle, van and
car fleet operators with scaleable solutions that offer flexibility,
reliability and functionality.