The introduction of telematics technology has drastically changed fleet management and monitoring for the better.
Telematics systems provide essential insights into the complex areas of vehicle performance, driver behavior, and fleet management by seamlessly combining diverse technologies. As technological innovations continue to push limits, the future of telematics looks even brighter, bringing tremendous opportunities.
In this article, let us look at telematics technology in depth, its uses and advantages, its important role in modern vehicle and fleet management.
Telematics history and basics
Telematics is a concept that originated with the introduction of the internet and mixes telecommunications, informatics, electrical engineering, computer science, and automotive technology. The word “telematics” appeared for the first time in a 1978 paper titled “L’Informatisation de la société” by Simon Nora and Alain Minc, where they studied the evolution of computer technology and its possible influence on society.
In the years following, advances in computer technology, telecommunications, and GPS technology have opened the way for the development of automobile telematics systems.
GPS emerged in the 1960s from the US Defense Department but was only implemented into vehicle tracking systems in the mid-1990s. Through simple vehicle tracking, these early systems exhibited improvements in road safety and environmental effects.
The introduction of digital and cloud-based fleet management systems in the 2000s enabled fleet operators to monitor their vehicles remotely. In the 2010s, telematics systems were upgraded further with the incorporation of smartphone applications, allowing for immediate location data transfer over mobile data networks.
What is a vehicle telematics system?
A vehicle telematics system consists of tracking devices fitted or incorporated into vehicles that connect with the CAN (controller area network) or OBD-II (Onboard Diagnostic System) protocol. These devices capture vehicle data and wirelessly transfer it to a central server. Telecommunications companies receive this data and distribute it in real-time to fleet operators or off-road vehicle owners.
Telematics providers provide data by means of cloud computing and software-based solutions, with GPS tracking embedded directly inside the hardware of the vehicle.
Depending on vehicle data points, the gathered vehicle data may be employed to develop one-of-a-kind programs that fleet management companies can utilize. These programs can include reporting, visual indicators, and notifications.
How do telematics systems work?
Vehicle telematics systems function similarly to black-box systems in aviation. The vehicle module collects real-time vehicle data through either OBD-II or CAN and blends it with GPS information.
This data is subsequently packed and sent to a central server via satellite or mobile networks. Users can access this data through their devices, which decode the sent vehicle data and provide it comprehensively. With CAN, data arrives and gets broadcasted to all devices on the network.
Telematics devices collect a wide range of data, including the location of the vehicle, its speed and acceleration, the amount of gasoline used, any anomalies experienced by the vehicle, and temperature readings. This vast amount of data offers information on both the functioning of the vehicle and the behavior of the driver.
Benefits of telematics
Vehicle telematics systems provide multiple advantages and features to a wide range of stakeholders, including vehicle owners, fleet management companies, and drivers. Among these advantages are:
Diagnostics
Telematics systems can assist fleet managers and owners with vehicle health updates, enabling them to monitor the state of their vehicles. This data can be provided immediately to dealers for preventative maintenance, lowering the likelihood of breakdowns and reducing downtime.
Real-time alerts
Telematics modules can detect wrecks or collisions and promptly communicate location data to contact centers or emergency agencies to seek help.
Connectivity and geo-tracking
Fleet managers can employ telematics systems to define borders and limits for their vehicles. Geo-tracking lets draw virtual borders on a map and get notifications when a vehicle enters or departs those boundaries. This allows managers to know where their equipment is at all times – even across multiple job site locations.
Use cases for telematics
Telematics and management software systems like Trackunit, built to connect your entire fleet and streamline processes, have various use cases.
There are several uses for telematics systems, with fleet management being one of the most notable. Fleet companies use telematics data to monitor their equipment and vehicles, optimize routing, increase fuel economy, encourage safe driving behaviors, shorten route times, calculate use accurately, and conduct preventive maintenance procedures.
Knowing where equipment is at all times significantly reduces the issue of downtime. It helps ensure that if vehicles aren’t in operation, that they are receiving necessary maintenance to get back in the game.
To summarize, telematics can significantly aid in:
- Fleet management
- Multi job-site management
- Equipment security and theft protection
- Preventative maintenance
- Regular worker use
- Improvement of daily workflows
Telematics: The future of fleet management.
The future of telematics contains enormous possibilities for breakthroughs and applications.
Telematics systems could profit from increased data transmission speeds and reduced latency with the implementation of 5G technology, allowing for more frequent and accurate information. This could include real-time fuel usage statistics, improved technology for self-driving or electric vehicles (both on- and off-road), and better connectivity between fleets.
Furthermore, telematics systems that integrate artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning algorithms may provide predictive analytics for vehicle maintenance and performance. AI can analyze vehicle data trends and predict likely issues, allowing for preventative maintenance and the avoidance of costly breakdowns and repairs.
To conclude, telematics provides several advantages and features to business owners, fleet managers, and workers. With this developing technology, the future looks bright for the construction industry and other sectors.
