Category: GPS Tracking Benefits

cityworks, mapping, zenduit, zendumaps, gofleet, government, fleet

A Beginners Guide To Cityworks And Its Benefits

Posted on | by Alexis | Leave a Comment on A Beginners Guide To Cityworks And Its Benefits

In the latest integration of systems that improve workflow and increase transparency among its stakeholders, ZenduIT has merged processes with Cityworks technology to create a veritable mapping superpower, aimed at engaging not only city workers, but regular citizens as well. By leveraging geographical information systems (GIS), Cityworks uses data to connect previously siloed city systems and ultimately build safer, smarter and more resilient communities.

 

What is Cityworks?

 

A geographic information system creates, analyzes, maps and manages all kinds of data; it connects data to a map, integrating “where things are” with descriptive information, such as “what things are like there”. It helps us understand patterns, relationships and the context within a geographical location. GIS creates fertile ground for mapping and analysis that can be used in virtually every industry, improving communication, efficiency, management and optimal decision making. 

 

Cityworks helps you fully use your GIS data and improve operational efficiency. This leading web-based GIS asset management system tracks, manages, scores and analyzes the assets that comprise your infrastructure. Designed to help city-run agencies streamline their workflows, track data and improve communication, Cityworks helps local governments and utility agencies get work done.

 

Scheduling work activities

 

Cityworks provides a detailed foundation of asset management. Cityworks allows you to combine assets based on key factors such as age, type and location. These groups can be used to create and schedule various maintenance activities.

 

Mapping Tools

 

Because Cityworks is built exclusively on GIS, you can easily map open service requests, or work orders of varying types. These tools empower and encourage you and your staff to use asset data and create an integral part of the work management process.

 

Mobile Data

 

We live and work in a mobile-centric environment. Your data should be portable as well. Cityworks has a number of tools to help your crew access and update valuable content on site and on the go.

 

Work Orders

 

You can track work that has been performed on an asset at any time throughout its entire lifecycle with Cityworks. Users can search for work orders and view them on the GIS map. Track active or overdue work orders and monitor work, regardless of whether it’s associated with a specific project, contractor or task.

 

Improve Communication

 

Once you can track asset data and work history, you can better share this information with staff, cross-functional departments, and public citizens. Cityworks users have created solutions to improve communications across a number of tasks, including repairs, inspections, emergencies, permits and resident requests or inquiries. 

 

How Cityworks can benefit your city

 

Fostering goodwill

 

Often, information silos and archaic systems prevent a city’s infrastructure from working efficiently. ZenduIT works synergistically with Cityworks to improve communication between a city and its constituents. Imagine having a work management tool that creates digital public maps where citizens can report issues in real-time. 

 

ZenduIT’s mapping interface, ZenduMaps, allows the public to do exactly that. No more long, laborious 3-1-1 calls. Whether there’s a spotted pothole or burst pipe, users can simply click on the digital map and feed that data to the proper department. When they’re shared, intelligent monitoring tools foster goodwill between a city’s inhabitants and the infrastructure that’s there to support them.

 

Automated processes and applications

 

Connecting technology offers better tools to communicate with the residents within a city. For example, Cityworks can streamline the process of tracking property stabilization by making data and inspection status easily accessible and transparent across departments. This system of record keeps both residents and city employees in the loop and fosters efficient workflows.

 

Similarly, ZenduMaps can create a public map, whereby residents can report issues or render complaints in real-time, either on the site or using their mobile devices. Issues are submitted to the proper city department, and the tool can now allocate work to the proper crew, or feed into a third party work order management system such as Cityworks. Consider the applications for not only road work, but waste management and winter maintenance. Most cities currently operate under a “search and fix” process, but with strong citizen engagement and specific GIS data, the continuous course of mapping and fixing can create proactive, predictive patterns for future work, patrolling and route optimization.

 

Cityworks and ZenduMaps work together to drive public engagement; that component of citizen involvement helps create a dynamic and transparent workflow, where everything from reporting issues to taxes can be managed interchangeably, with input from the people who are most impacted.

 

Work management tools save time and generate efficiencies. When they’re connected, these same tools can also create goodwill within a community and improve some of the city processes currently in place. Together with ZenduMaps, Cityworks will help you build safe, resilient and smarter communities.

Weigh Station Bypass, drivewyze, gofleet, transportation

Bypass Basics: Your Guide To Introducing A Weigh Station Bypass Program To Your Fleet

Posted on | by Victoria Gole | Leave a Comment on Bypass Basics: Your Guide To Introducing A Weigh Station Bypass Program To Your Fleet

Time is of the essence for fleets and a lot of time is wasted in weigh station line ups. For some fleets, the hidden costs of waiting in long lines can add up to thousands of dollars each year in idling or longer than expected route completions. As a result, bypass programs are becoming increasingly popular, and new software-based bypass programs offer easy over-the-air installation and fast ROI.

 

Real Expectations From Using Transponder-Less Bypass Services

As previously mentioned, the cost savings is one of the main reasons fleets are looking into implementing a bypass program. However, it’s important to note that there are several other benefits as well:

  • Fast ROI so the monthly solution is paid off when one or two bypasses happen each month
  • Streamlined workflows in relation to driver delivery times and expectations
  • Increased driver retention as carriers address delays and on-the-road stress
  • Smaller carbon footprints as idling is reduced

 

How Bypass Programs Work

Bypass programs maximize existing tech stacks. Meaning the program uses already in place cellular networks and in-cab hardware, like the GO9 device to boost route completion performance. By using the GPS location of vehicles, cellular networks and strategically placed motion scales in highways, the bypass system will automatically screen the details of the fleet in relation to the weigh station requirements and whether the weigh station (regardless of if it is a fixed or mobile inspection site) is participating in the bypass program. Before the truck reaches the station, the bypass program transmits for the vehicle’s US Department of Transportation (USDOT) number, which is used to locate the fleet’s ISS (Inspection Selection System) score in the federal system. The software then employs imaging, sensor information, and authoritative data sources to give law enforcement a detailed snapshot of that vehicle and its carrier.  . If digitally approved, the driver will be prompted through their already in-use GPS device to bypass the weigh station, or pull in.

A great ISS score will typically result in more bypasses; a truck with an outstanding score could receive bypasses up to98% of the time.

If you want to learn more about how you can leverage telematics and connected networks already in place check out: Maximizing Your Existing Tech Stack

 

What Is Required By The Carrier

The ease of a bypass program is heightened as the solution works over the air and requires no additional hardware. As previously mentioned, the program leverages data from already existing GPS tracking devices that carriers are already using for ELD compliance and fleet management purposes. All of which means the software is already integrated into your GO9 device and simply flipping a switch on the back end will activate the software over-the-air.

 

Where To Begin

In April 2020, GoFleet partnered with Drivewyze, North America’s largest weigh station bypass network. With the program being available at over 840 vehicle inspection sites across 45 US states and 2 Canadian provinces, it is a game changer for long haul transportation carriers.

To start a free trial of Drivewyze PreClear weigh station bypass for your fleet, contact us today! With over-the-air implementation, the ability to test the bypass program to measure your own results is faster than most solutions. Meaning you can start to improve efficiency and save faster!

Questions To Ask Before Buying ELD Solutions

Posted on | by Anna | Leave a Comment on Questions To Ask Before Buying ELD Solutions

As the deadline to be ELD compliant is looming closer (or as already passed), it’s important that every fleet manager researches what electronic logging device will work best for them. As many fleets could still be operating without such devices, it’s only a matter of time before drivers are asked to show hours of service without using paperlogs. Prior to discussing the important questions that fleet managers should ask when buying ELD solutions, it’s important to understand how buying the right (or wrong) device could affect your fleet and why you need to be ELD compliant. 

 

What Is The ELD Mandate?

 

The ELD Mandate is a regulation which focuses on the amount of travelling a commercial motor vehicle operator has and can complete. Specifically, it focuses on limiting the amount of driving to a pre-set and pre-determined ‘safe duration’ to ensure that drivers are not overworking themselves to complete more deliveries or routes. This stems from the concern that more driving incidents, accidents or poor judgement calls typically happen when drivers behind the wheel are tired because they have not had enough rest on the clock or between shifts. In order to complete this, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators (CCMTA) began to move towards electronic devices (ELDs). ELDs are devices which record the driving time and hours-of-service (HOS) of a driver via telematics and IoT innovation. This is possible as the device typically has a plug-and-play feature which allows it to be installed into nearly any vehicle to immediately start to monitor the engine and whether it is running. However, as every fleet is different, it’s important to perform your own research in regards to your specific fleet size and location with up-to-date information to ensure that you are compliant at all times. 

What Are The Deadlines? 

 

In America, most fleets were required to make the switch in December 2017. However, American transport companies that were utilizing automatic onboard recording devices (AOBRDs) prior to December 2017, were provided with a different compliance date of December 2019. Canada on the other hand, is required to be ELD compliant by June 2021. 

 

What Benefits Can Fleets Expect To Notice After Becoming Compliant? 

 

Apart from being compliant and limiting the fines or penalties could receive, it’s important to learn about the additional benefits that come from being ELD compliant. In some cases, fleet managers may find that they are not only able to better organize their efforts, but can see financial improvements happen. The following are some benefits that managers can expect to notice once their fleet is ELD compliant: 

 

  • Increased accuracy with administrative tasks as the devices automatically record and log information
  • Improved fuel use as idling can be monitored and addressed
  • Better vehicle diagnostics as engine fault codes can be detected quickly with ease 
  • Improved location tracking of assets and route management as ELDs automatically gather information about where the device is 
  • Improved identification of poor driving behaviours for each driver (that can later be addressed in training modules or employee reviews)
  • Increased safety as there is less of a risk of drivers operating the motor vehicle if they are overworked and tired 
  • Improved Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) scores as the device can help ensure that you are meeting strict standards 

 

Interested in viewing what electronic logging devices GoFleet can offer you? 

shop, devices, button, eld

However, with so many options to look at and so many details to review, we understand that sometimes becoming ELD compliant can be overwhelming. That’s why we compiled a list of questions that should be asked when inquiring about ELD Solutions. 

 

Read our top 7 questions to keep in mind before buying ELD solutions below! 

 

1. “Will the same device work in any type of vehicle?”

 

When you’re speaking with a solutions provider or buying ELD solutions, it’s important that you discuss in-depth your current needs and how your fleet could change (or how you would like it to change) in the future. Specifically, mentioning information like what class of vehicles are or will be used (ie. makes, models and fuel type), the size of your fleet, and your current struggles of fleet management in relation to driver and workload monitoring. 

 

All of this information can better help your ELD provider supply devices that are compatible now and in the future. 

 

2. “What is the installation procedure for ELD solutions and how long does it take?”

 

To fully understand the installation process, it’s important that you inquire not only about how easy the ELD solutions will be to install, but what the failure rates are in addition to the simplicity of troubleshooting or replacing. For example, if a device has a high failure rate or is difficult to replace due to rarity, it may not be the right fit for a small-sized fleet that needs to be agile and functional at all times.

 

3. “How much does the device cost and what are the ongoing fees?”

 

Often, the go-ahead to deploy new technology typically relies on the financial burden that the company will take on. So always inquire twice about this. Asking not only at the beginning of your research, but finalizing the cost and fees at the end (right before you purchase the devices). This will ensure that there are no surprises. 

 

Somethings to remember to consider while asking about the cost are:

  • How expensive the hardware itself is
  • Whether you will require professional installation or if it is a plug-and-play device
  • What the monthly recurring charge (MRC) is for each vehicle 
  • What is the training or onboarding process typically like – taking into consideration downtime to install devices or train personnel 

 

4. “Is the ELD device easy to use?”

 

GO9 GPS Tracking DeviceIf a device is too complex or difficult to understand, you may find that it’s not the right fit for your team. As you need to ensure that your entire team, especially your drivers, will understand how to use it – you need to be confident in the capabilities of the device. Ensuring the device is user-friendly, easy to setup and requires minimum upkeep are only a few things to keep in mind. 

 

Additionally, prior to buying ELD solutions, you should consider how the device will be supported. For example, asking whether it is supported with iOS and Android devices, or whether you will need to purchase specific devices to use it. For many fleet managers, cross-compatibility with adaptable ELD solutions are the most attractive. 

 

5. “How will you ensure that the solution will remain compliant in the future?”

 

Since a major factor of the adoption of electronic logging devices are compliance requirements, it’s important that the device you adopt will always remain compliant. Specifically inquiring whether the solution will adapt to new regulations and whether you are satisfied with the vendor’s commitment to updating their device. 

 

6. “What types of plans do you offer? How easy is it to switch?”

 

Depending on the current needs of your fleet, certain plans will be better for you. With this being said typically, there is a Base Plan that has basic GPS tracking features, a Regulatory Plan with improved data tracking, a Pro Plan that tracks engine data, and a ProPlus Plan that does all of this with 24/7 support! While it is fairly easy to upgrade in most cases, it’s important to not only clarify this but understand all features available. 

 

Some key features to keep in mind are: 

  • Support for ruleset and exemptions 
  • The ability to share data with 3rd party users or backend customers
  • Open platform expandability and data ownership

 

7. “How long has your company been in business? Have you offered an AOBRD product before?”

 

Working with a business that is well known and experienced in the industry is critical. While some newer organizations may have an attractive price, you may find that in the future they are unable to provide the right offerings and support because of their young age. With this being said, always research and look for reviews with who you are working with so you don’t unknowingly work with a less than a reputable provider. You can also inquire about their core business offerings, how long they’ve been supporting your industry, how long they have been offering ELDs, how large their customer base is and the names of businesses they work with who are similar to yours. 

eld mandate deadline

Even though we only listed the seven important questions, there could be additional concerns that you need to address before buying ELD solutions. With that being said, we invite you to give us a call to talk about your fleet and your unique ELD needs. We’re confident that with our extensive knowledge of electronic logging devices, we have the experience necessary to help!

Remember while many Canadian fleets still have some time to migrate to using electronic logging devices, many American fleets should already be compliant! 

 

contact us

Taking Your Fleet Telematics to the Next Level

Posted on | by Anna | Leave a Comment on Taking Your Fleet Telematics to the Next Level

With basic telematics implemented into your fleet, you are now able to track the location, movement and speed of all of your vehicles, which helps your organization increase efficiencies, and effectively, reduce wasted time and improve costs.

So, what comes next?

Advanced Fleet Tracking
Once you have the basics in place, you can start to dive deeper into telematics technology in order to really fine tune and optimize your fleet operation.

Check out these major benefits your company can gain by implementing advanced fleet telematics solutions.

Increased Safety
By monitoring driver behaviour – things such as how fast your driver is driving and how aggressive their driving may be – you can use technology that allows you to talk to the driver and coach them through safer driving practices, thereby increasing safety for them and for your vehicle.

It has been shown that drivers who are aware that their driving habits are being monitored, are more apt to perform safer behaviour which not only increases their safety, but also reduces accidents and damage to vehicles and freight.

Increased Efficiencies
By using real time communication as an add-on to your basic telematics, and adding in some routing apps, you can manage driver routes more efficiently – if there is an accident, you would be able to re-route the driver and eliminate wasted time having them stuck in traffic with high priority loads on the vehicle.

By using some of these type of add-ons to your basic telematics, adding a few minutes more to your driver’s HOS (Hours of Service) can really increase your fleet efficiency and delivery rate.

Reduce Operating Costs
In being able to track even the smallest things, such as idling time and minimizing it, a fleet can increase savings by reducing fuel costs. Other things that can be looked at are tracking at a more granular level, such as live movements on a map, maps routing, stopping vehicles, accidents and who’s responsible, which allows for increased productivity thereby reducing costs.

Optimize Vehicle Performance
With advanced telematics, sensors can send out alerts about engine issues and other diagnostic problems. Further to that, the data can be used in a predictive manner to determine when service should happen on a vehicle and allow for advanced planning in order to ensure as much uptime for the fleet as possible and manage the expenses related to repairs.

Reduce your Carbon Footprint
It’s a hot topic these days more and more companies realize that not only is this good for business, it’s good for the planet as well. By reducing your fleet’s idling time and decreasing speeding (thereby reducing the amount of exhaust and CO2), not only are you increasing the safety of your fleet and drivers, increasing your efficiencies and reducing your costs, you are also helping to do your part in reducing emissions in the air for our future generation.

Streamline Compliance
With the Canadian ELD mandated for June 21st, 2020, it is imperative that fleets ensure they are compliant and implementing advanced telematics not only ensures this but provides many other benefits previously mentioned. In addition to the benefits, the cost of not being compliant is expensive and can be avoided with the correct telematics solutions in place.

Do you need to upgrade your telematics plan for advanced fleet tracking?
Some features are already built into your tracking device that collects the data and some solutions require you to step up to the next level of offered services and products.

In order to get the most out of your fleet telematics so that you can save your company time, money and increase efficiencies and safety, give GoFleet a call. We are here to help create a customized and fully integrated telematics solution that is specific to your needs and lets you get the most value for your money.

Advanced fleet tracking is much more than GPS services and with the telematics of the future, there are and will be so much more you can do in order to continually create the best fleet management company you can envision.

GoFleet – Connected Technology. Smarter Solutions.
Discover more about GoFleet and its Telematics Services

Benefits of Using a Dash Cam with a GPS System

Posted on | by Wisam Abou-diab | Leave a Comment on Benefits of Using a Dash Cam with a GPS System

One of the great things about fleet cameras is most fleet cameras include basic vehicle monitoring. For that reason, some businesses are replacing GPS systems with camera systems. Although this makes sense for light GPS tracking users, there are many benefits of using a Dash Cam with a GPS system.

 

In this post, we’ll explore two things. Firstly, we’ll discuss when fleets can use fleet cameras without additional GPS devices. Secondly, we’ll look at some benefits of using a GPS with a camera system.

 

 

When are fleet cameras enough for vehicle tracking?

 

Dash Cam with a GPS

 

 

Fleet cameras are enough when two things happen: (1) the fleet camera has a built-in GPS, and (2) the fleet only needs tracking for basic needs. This is because most fleet cameras record vehicle location and save a trip history, thus sufficing basic tracking needs.

 

 

When will fleets get benefits from a GPS with a camera system?

 

 

Car Cameras With Gps

 

 

 

Sometimes, fleets need more than basic monitoring and significantly benefit from combining cameras and GPS solutions. The most common use cases include: wanting fuel and diagnostic data, following compliance rules, and simplifying office reporting.

 

 

Fleets want to record fuel & diagnostics.

 

One of the biggest fleet camera weaknesses is that fleet cameras don’t connect with the vehicle’s engine computer. Hence, cameras are not able to collect engine data such as fuel measurements or diagnostics codes.

 

On the other hand, one of the benefits of using a dash cam with a GPS system is getting engine data. For instance, Geotab devices work with OEMs to read and report thousands of engine codes. In turn, fleets can leverage that data to improve their maintenance process.

 

 

Fleets need to follow compliance rules.

 

Another use case includes complying with rules. A great example is the ELD mandate. The ELD mandate requires fleets to electronically verify driving hours.

 

While fleet cameras can verify driver location and driving time, it fails to connect those data to HOS rules. Instead, fleets need a dedicated vehicle monitoring device because these devices compare driving hours against regulation hours.

 

 

Fleets want to simplify office reporting.

 

Lastly, GPS tracking helps simplify office reporting whereas fleet cameras can only provide footage.

 

For instance, consider time card reports. While administrators can match driver footage, driving records, and payroll together, this takes a lot of time. Instead, a vehicle tracking solution is more intuitive. Many vehicle trackers use driver log-in technology to match drivers to time cards.

 

 

 

Combining solutions improve reporting!

 

In summary, while fleet cameras are sufficient in some cases, combining a dash cam with a GPS system provide much more information. This is seen in fleets that want to manage fuel reporting, stay in compliance, and simplify reporting.

 

 

Like this blog? Check out our other blogs on fleet dash cameras and GPS tracking!

 

Can Dash Cams Lower Insurance Rates?

GPS Tracking for Small Businesses: What’s Different? What’s Important?

Tech Disruption: Restaurant Delivery Vehicle Tracking

Posted on | by Jimmy Song

How would you order food from a restaurant? For a long time, there was only one way. People needed to call the restaurant and place an order with in-house delivery drivers. Nowadays, people use food order apps and watch restaurant delivery vehicle tracking to monitor their food!

Transformation of Food Delivery

Traditional Boring Food Delivery

Traditionally, food delivery is boring and simple. When people want food, they would simply call a restaurant and place an order. If the restaurant offers delivery, they would send an employee to deliver food to the customer’s home. While this process worked for a long time, it wasn’t perfect. Why?

Typically, if people are ordering food, they are hungry! People want to get food right away. However, between preparing the food and sending a delivery driver, customers might wait upwards of 30 to 60 minutes. That’s not good for those as hungry as a lion!

A New Idea

How can people get faster food deliveries? A new idea came with the rise of phone apps and online orders. Similar to ordering something online, what if people can order food and schedule deliveries online?

That idea took off. Several companies including UberEats, SkiptheDishes, and Just Eat are offering food couriers. These courier services work with a restaurant to process online orders and send local drivers to deliver food to a customer. The business model got so lucrative that some of these companies are worth $50-billion.

How Does Online Food Ordering & Delivery Work?

There are usually several steps. Here is a rough process:

1. Restaurant & Courier Partnership

Firstly, couriers would partner with restaurants. The partnership helps both the courier and restaurant. For restaurants, couriers handle the entire delivery process. This includes setting up an online order menu, processing payment, delivering food, and providing restaurant delivery vehicle tracking. In exchange, couriers receive a cut out of the food order.

2. Customers Order Online.

Secondly, customers can order food online. After setting up an online menu, customers can use an app to browse an online menu, order their food, and pay.

3. Restaurants and Couriers Prepare Food & Delivery.

Thirdly, restaurants and couriers prepare the order. At the restaurants, staff receive and prepare the online order. Meanwhile, the courier receives the order, finds the closest driver, and sends them to pick up the food.

4. Delivery

Finally, when the food is finished, a driver takes the food and delivers it to its destination. Throughout the process, customers can check restaurant delivery vehicle tracking on their app to monitor their food. From placing an order to receiving food, the process can be as quick as 15 minutes.

What if I want to start my own online food delivery service?

This is not a rare thought. There are many online food delivery services. However, potential business owners face two big challenges.

Saturated Industry

The biggest challenge is the food delivery space is dominated by major players. In recent years, several businesses opened and closed because of stiff competition.

In order to compete against big names, new services have to offer something different. For instance, a common complaint against big-name food deliverers is the quality of service. Some restaurants report that drivers sometimes fail to take care of the order and deliver unfresh food. As a result, the restaurant ends up looking like the bad guys. Consequently, some new services are taking advantage by controlling their delivery quality and outcompeting the big names.

Finding Restaurant Delivery Vehicle Tracking Technology

Another barrier is finding the correct restaurant delivery vehicle tracking technology. Online delivery services rely on steady technology to quickly process orders.

As a result, new businesses need to build a system that can: 1) process online orders, 2) track the closest driver, 3) assign them to their job, and finally 4) monitor the delivery process. Thus, new services need to either hire strong programmers or buy specialized software.

Review a case study in the food industry here.

Links
The Globe & Mail: The rise of the instant-delivery lunch
BlogTO: Toronto is getting fed up with food delivery apps

Playbook: How to Improve Workload with GPS Trackers

Posted on | by Jimmy Song

A common business quote is “busy is good”. And busy is good! Being busy usually means a business is earning money. In the same way, fleets want more workload because that leads to higher income. In this guide, we will cover 4 ways to improve workload with GPS trackers.

Four proven ways to improve workload with GPS trackers include:

1 – Optimizing routes

2 – Increasing driver productivity

3 – Increasing task productivity

4 – Balancing telematics workload

Optimizing Routes

The first way to improve workload with GPS trackers is to look at route optimization. Route optimization means planning out the best route and increasing the number of jobs per day.

Here’s how it works.

Firstly, managers would look at different factors to determine job routes. This can include distance from jobs, traffic, weather, and customer preferences. Thankfully, GPS programs are powerful enough to calculate routes based on all of those factors.

Secondly, routes are shared with drivers. For a long time, managers sent emails or texts to drivers. However, modern fleet setups now include an in-vehicle navigation guide. For example, some companies have in-vehicle tablets and display routes on those tablets.

As a result of these two steps, managers can squeeze more jobs out of a day.

Increasing Driver Productivity

Another way to improve workload with GPS trackers is to focus on job efficiency. In other words, are drivers productive on their current routes?

An operations manager at a service company explains. “When we evaluate workload, one thing we look at is driver productivity”, said the manager. “We had a few unproductive drivers that took long breaks and did not start their job on time.”

In response to these challenges, the operation manager started measuring work productivity. “We were able to track productivity by measuring the percentage of time drivers spent on the road versus off the road. Soon after, drivers got the message and productivity improved.”

Increasing Task Productivity

Besides looking at driver productivity, another area is task productivity. Are employees spending their time on tasks that generate revenue for the business?

“Our company focuses on deliveries, so for us, making money means driving more. I found that our drivers were burdened with tasks like inspecting vehicles or completing delivery paperwork”, said a delivery business owner. “Sure, those tasks might take 10 or 15 minutes a day. However, that quickly adds up to over an hour per week where we can be on the road and making money.”

One idea is to use automated paperless software. For instance, some businesses use a computerized inspection system. Computerized programs collect diagnostics data from the vehicle and auto-fills inspection forms. Therefore, employees can go straight to the job rather than doing paperwork.

Balancing Telematics Workload

Finally, is it always useful to use telematics? The answer is actually no. There are times when GPS trackers can burden drivers.

Recently, there was an academic study on drivers that got in accidents because of telematics. The study refers to the “Multiple Resource Theory”, which states that humans only have enough visual, cognitive, and manual resources to focus on one task at a time. In other words, some drivers get distracted by their telematics system.

For example, some systems might have audio alerts whenever a manager assigns drivers a new job. The first instinct for some drivers is to check their notifications. Unfortunately, during that time, the driver stops focusing on the road and increases their risk of getting in an accident.

What’s the lesson? Businesses should learn to balance telematics and driving. For example, some businesses set up their system to only alert drivers of new jobs when their vehicle is stopped.

Click here for another article about improving workload with GPS trackers!

Links
University of Michigan: Driver Distraction, Telematics Design, and Workload Managers: Safety Issues and Solutions

Telematics Benefits | The 2018 Edition

Posted on | by Jimmy Song

Telematics, or the art of monitoring vehicles and making data-driven decisions, is several decades old. Telematics benefits include improving productivity, safety, and maintenance.

What is telematics?

Whenever I teach telematics to newbies, I begin by comparing it to a stock market. People try to predict the future when they invest. They might look at anything from industry news to financial stats. In other words, people use data to make their decisions.

Telematics fleet management has the same idea. One of the biggest telematics benefits is being able to collect data and make decisions, just like investing.

Evolving role of telematics

evolution of telematics

Before 1996, telematics was only used in the military. After the technology was publicly released, people and businesses quickly adopted telematics.

Private users bought devices to protect their vehicles, and yes, even spy on family members! Businesses, on the other hand, use it to revamp their processes.

Today, a lot of people use and accept telematics. The question is no longer “what’s a telematics device” but rather “what else can devices be used for”?

Here are three new ways in 2018 to realize telematics benefits.

 

Consumers and insurance

In 2018, telematics and insurance go hand-in-hand. Many car makers are partnering with insurance providers to install and use telematics. Insurance companies realize that telematics is a great tool to acquire and keep customers.

Customer pricing

For a long time, insurance companies relied on trends such as age, gender, and location to determine their pricing plans. A lot of consumers felt that was unfair – after all, shouldn’t good drivers get better rates?

Enter telematics! Insurance companies can collect driver data and identify a driver’s risk level. As a result, insurance companies were able to offer competitive rates to keep good drivers.

Customer engagement

telematics increase customer engagement

Additionally, insurance companies realized that pricing is not the only way to engage customers. Ted Gramer, CEO of a driving app company, argues that consumers care equally about customer experience and pricing when deciding whether or not to stay with a company.

Some insurance companies use telematics to personalize customer experience. For instance, if the company notices that a driver struggles with speeding, it shares feedback with the driver. As a result, the driver is more likely to improve their driving habits and decrease their insurance rates.

Other business functions

In the past, only a few business functions used telematics. In 2018, other business departments started to realize telematics benefits. For instance, take a look at the following marketing and customer service ideas.

Marketing

telematics with social media

In some companies, marketing gurus combined telematics with social media to engage customers. A good example is Itty Bitty Donuts, a food truck company.

Marketers at Itty Bitty Donuts collected location data from its telematics system. Whenever the truck arrives in a city, the marketers published a targeted post for followers from that city. As a result, fans knew that yummy donuts are in town again!

Customer service

Customer service departments also started using telematics. For instance, a common problem is inaccurate bills. Inaccurate bills can occur for many reasons, including inaccurate data entry on invoices and illegible handwriting on service reports.

What’s a better way to manage this process? Some companies are using telematics for field service. For instance, the ZenduWork program uses vehicle history data to update and send forms. As a result, human error and inaccurate bills are reduced.

Video integration

If a picture is worth 1000 words, how many words are a video worth? A lot of companies are adding videos to their telematics system.

Smart Rules

camera systems with telematics

The most effective camera systems are the ones that integrate with telematics. Without telematics integration, the camera simply saves hours and hours of footage. Obviously, most of that footage is not important.

However, with telematics, the camera can save critical clips. For instance, a moving company wanted to record all instances when workers load and unload the truck. As a result, they set a “doors opened” rule on their telematics system and programmed the camera to start recording when that rule is triggered.

Links
Insurance Journal: Telematics CEO: 5 Trends to Watch in 2018 in Auto Insurance
Automotive Fleet: 12 Telematics Trends and Technologies
ASA Shop: Telematics: Past, Present, and Future

Reduce Costs Due to Accidents

Posted on | by Victoria Gole

Telematics has come a long way from simply just GPS tracking. One of the top reasons so many of our customers reached out to us for help, was to reduce accidents and increase safety within their fleet.

Telematics is now highly used to reduce insurance and liability costs, by reducing the number of accidents that occur. Nowadays, a small fender bender can end up costing you $1,000 or more to repair – which is why so many fleet managers look into telematics for their fleet.

Telematics helps lower accident-related costs in four key areas:

  • Minimizing personal injury with in-vehicle audible coaching for speed and seatbelt use.
  • Reducing vehicle damage with in-vehicle audible coaching, promoting positive forward and reversing driving habits.
  • Improving general liability rates with monthly risk management driver scorecards.
  • Helping to manage driver-related workers’ compensation claims.

With telematics coaching tools, we can encourage safer driving habits, such as: accelerating and braking smoothly; driving within the posted speed limit; and backing into parking spaces instead of reversing out of them. In the fleet world, we actually train drivers to reverse in when they arrive at a destination — it’s much safer and greatly reduces the risk of accidents.

Telematics technology can also be useful after an accident, if unfortunately, one occurs. Instant accident notifications and detailed second-by-second data make it possible to take crucial and timely action steps. For example, if a vehicle has been hit while parked, our unique recording technology can help prove no-fault to the insurance provider.

To take accident reduction and elimination even further, check out our new Fleet Dash and Driver Camera Integration.

Driving the Fleet Safety Movement

Source:
Geotab Blog: https://www.geotab.com/blog/telematics-benefits-greater-good/

Benefits of Plug and Play GPS Device Installation

Posted on | by Courtney redwell

Plug and Play GPS

 

Our plug and play GPS devices make installation a breeze; it’s quick, easy, and doesn’t require any special tools or the assistance of a professional installer.

Many of our competitors who do not offer a plug and play GPS device, will often argue hard-wire GPS devices are the better option.

They claim that plug and play GPS devices:

  1. Can be easily tampered with
  2. Only work in OBDII port equipped vehicles
  3. Do not receive accurate GPS data

As our current customers are well aware of, these plug and play issues are not the case for our devices.

  1. We offer our customers a T-Harness or EZ-Harness for secure and tamper-proof installation
  2. We are well equipped for handing vehicles without an ODBII port with 6-pin, 9-pin, and 3 wire harnesses available
  3. Our GPS data has a recorded uptime of 99.99% since September 2011

Benefits of Plug and Play GPS Device Installation:

  • Self Installation No expensive install costs.
  • No Vehicle Damage Multiple customers switched from a hard-wired solution to our plug and play solution because of the bad experiences they had with hard-wired device installers damaging the vehicle.
  • Engine Diagnostics Accurate engine data pulled directly from the vehicle to better manage maintenance and monitor engine faults in real-time.
  • In-Vehicle Driver Coaching In-vehicle audible alerts that help increase safety and decrease fuel costs.
  • Interchangeability Many of our customers like the ease of changing our devices from one vehicle to another, when they replace vehicles, without having to call an installer and risk damaging the vehicle.
  • Curve-Based Logic, Accurate Accident Data Using the solutions patented curve logic algorithms millisecond accuracy can be seen under accident conditions to prove exactly what happened.

When looking for a GPS solution provider, make sure you carefully examine your options. There are many myths about different GPS providers and solutions so it is important you do your research. We are confident in our solution, which is why we are happy to offer a free 30 day trial for you to see just how much we can help you optimize and streamline your business.