{"id":20815,"date":"2018-03-07T09:00:19","date_gmt":"2018-03-07T14:00:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gofleet.com\/?p=20815"},"modified":"2024-12-11T22:26:30","modified_gmt":"2024-12-12T03:26:30","slug":"commercial-vehicle-dashcams-fail","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gofleet.com\/commercial-vehicle-dashcams-fail\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Some Commercial Vehicle Dashcams Fail"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s no secret – having commercial vehicle dashcams<\/a> is the industry norm. Frequently, there are stories about how dashcams reduce liability, simplify insurance claims, and train employees.<\/p>\n

However, what about some of the other stories? Some companies experienced challenges on their first commercial vehicle dashcams. From faulty hardware to internal politics, their projects failed because of multiple roadblocks.<\/p>\n

In this post, let\u2019s review why some commercial vehicle dashcams fail and how companies can avoid these roadblocks.<\/p>\n

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Hardware issues<\/h2>\n

The #1 concern for all dashcams is if it works. \u201cThe cameras worked well for the first few months,\u201d wrote an online reviewer. \u201cThen, after a few months, we got in an accident. We only learned that the camera stopped recording footage after the accident!\u201d<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, the reviewer experienced the worst-case scenario – the camera was useless when it was most needed! Some common hardware issues include broken SD cards and ports.<\/p>\n

How to avoid this issue?<\/h4>\n

Camera reputation.<\/strong> Purchasers must \u201cscreen\u201d dashcams. Screening involves reviewing the camera vendor\u2019s history or looking for references. Typically, the best hardware comes from vendors with multiple years of experience and with positive user reviews.<\/p>\n

Trial program.<\/strong> Of course, the best way to evaluate cameras is to try them! Many vendors have a trial program on dashcams for commercial vehicles<\/a>. As a result, purchasers can test cameras on a portion of their fleet before rolling out the entire product line.<\/p>\n

Software support<\/h2>\n

In addition to hardware, the software makes up the second half of dashcam systems<\/a>. As such, buggy software and poor support often lead to unsuccessful dashcam rollouts.<\/p>\n

\u201cCustomer support is important,\u201d said a purchasing manager. \u201cTechnology will always have bugs and glitches. However, the key question if we will receive good support when these issues arise.\u201d<\/p>\n

How to avoid this issue?<\/h4>\n

Onboarding.<\/strong> Although many dashcams are user-friendly, it is highly recommended to go through a vendor\u2019s onboarding process. Most vendors offer free training to ensure that the database is correctly set up and to teach administrators on how to use the program.<\/p>\n

Communication.<\/strong> Also, after installation and onboarding, many companies offer continuous support. For example, camera support teams work with their clients to retrieve certain footages and solve technical glitches. Therefore, successful camera rollouts often involve good communication between the customer and the camera provider.<\/p>\n

Tampering<\/h2>\n

As strange as it sounds, sabotage is another reason for why camera projects fail.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, some companies experienced cases where drivers tampered with the camera. For instance, one company caught drivers who taped over camera lenses. In another company, managers discovered that some drivers removed and threw away SD cards.<\/p>\n

How to avoid this issue?<\/h4>\n

Tamper-proof hardware.<\/strong> One of the best ways to eliminate tampering is to install tamper-proof hardware. For instance, some cameras are hard mounted and have SD card locks.<\/p>\n

Cybersecurity.<\/strong> On the software side, there should be strong cybersecurity. \u201cCybersecurity was an important purchasing factor,\u201d a purchasing manager said. \u201cWe wanted to leave no room for error so we only looked at secured cloud systems that had backup systems.\u201d<\/p>\n