Did you know the word ”telematics” is derived from the French word ”télématique”?’ Alain Minc and Simon Nora first coined this term in 1978. Originally, the term was limited to academic reports and papers. Over time, it became associated with vehicle telematics in commerce.
Today, we have comprehensive tools like Trackunit that harness the power of telematics to make construction projects more efficient and cost-effective. You can learn more about Trackunit’s offerings here: https://trackunit.com/hardware-overview/.
Telematics has several applications spanning several industries. Let’s discuss the power and potential of telematics in detail below.
What Is Telematics?
Telematics is a unique combination of telecommunications, computer science, and vehicle technologies. It is a vast sector that can involve:
- Telecommunication devices used to send, receive, and store information
- Global navigation satellite systems for automotive navigation
- Sophisticated tools and software for tracking and managing fleets
- Vehicle navigation systems used for location awareness
- Sensors integrated into the vehicle control system for engine diagnostics
When we talk about telematics today, we basically mean vehicle or equipment telematics for fleet management. These technologies have made fleet management easier, cheaper, safer, and more efficient.
Power Of Telematics
Telematics holds the power to help organizations and fleets in the following ways.
Vehicle Tracking
Possibly the most common use of telematics is in vehicle tracking. Telematics systems can help fleet managers monitor the movement, status, and location of the vehicles in their fleet.
Here are the main features in a telematics system:
- A GPS receiver
- An electronic device, either containing an SMS sender or a GPRS transmitter, which is installed on the vehicle
The ”sender” collects the data from the vehicle and transmits it to the receiver. End users, which are usually fleet managers, use web-based software or apps to access this data.
These tools have mapping software that converts data into visual information about the vehicle. Over time, these systems have become impressively accurate.
For example, GPS tracking has an accuracy range of about 5 to 20 meters. However, the EGNOS technology developed by the European Space Agency makes it accurate to 1.5 meters.
Fleet Management
Fleet management is the main use case for modern telematics systems, especially in the freight and construction industries. Managers use telematics systems to:
- Conduct predictive maintenance analysis
- Minimize fuel consumption by monitoring driving habits such as rapid acceleration and sudden braking
- Improve road safety by enforcing speed limits
- Automate admin tasks like payroll
- Reduce downtime
- Collect data about vehicle health and past usage
Telematics systems also help managers comply with federal regulations to avoid penalties and fines. Off-road fleet managers can also get fuel tax refunds by showing vehicle use records and video evidence to state authorities.
Geofencing
Telematics systems help create a virtual ”fence” around a job site’s geographical location. If a vehicle leaves this premise, the system alerts the relevant authorities.
On the one hand, it prevents theft by allowing swift action against any suspicious activity. On the other hand, it can help managers monitor and control vehicle usage outside of working hours.
Potential Of Telematics
Telematics will only become bigger and better as technology improves. Here are some emergent trends to look out for.
5G
Experts predict that as 5G becomes increasingly popular, it will revolutionize telematics. 5G is faster, has a higher bandwidth and lower latency. Paired with the Internet of Things IoT, it can unlock an array of new use cases for telematics.
Telematics systems’ cameras can be powered with 5G for faster data transmission. These cameras will also give fleet managers better control while reducing costs and improving monitoring capabilities.
Mobility-As-A-Service (MAAS)
Since telematics lets fleet managers monitor vehicle and equipment movement in real-time, MAAS will become common in the future. Instead of buying, renting, or leasing vehicles and equipment, fleet managers will be able to access them on demand.
MAAS will also help managers optimize operations by allowing them to choose the most suitable equipment and vehicles for the job. It will also bring a shift in the fleet management metrics.
For example, instead of taking inventory on total vehicle count, managers will focus on project completion timing, annual costs, attendance rates, fuel consumption, etc.
AI Integration
Artificial intelligence is already used in telematics. For example, predictive maintenance requires an AI system to identify potential vehicular issues before they become significant and costly problems. While telematics collects vehicle data, the AI system recognizes unusual occurrences or irregularities in this data to alert in case of an issue.
And, with the rise in the number of electric vehicles and autonomous vehicles, AI will play a much bigger role in telematics, including power management, self-driving capabilities, and detailed diagnostics.
In fleet management, AI tools will help in data-driven decision-making by identifying trends from historical data. For example, if certain construction equipment, like a bulldozer or excavator, have a history of being underutilized, they will be flagged for possible replacement.
Telematics-Based Fleet Management Solutions
Last but not least, telematics-backed fleet management solutions will become more feature-rich and comprehensive in the future. They will offer features like dynamic routing, equipment dispatching, remote diagnostics, troubleshooting, driver performance monitoring, and task scheduling.
These solutions will also become more accessible. Fleet managers and equipment operators or drivers will be able to use them on their smartphones or tablets. Easier accessibility will increase the adoption of these tools, ultimately bringing the intelligent transportation system market’s value to $28 billion by 2031.
Final Words
With the power of telematics on display, it’s wise to invest in the technology now. Whether you manage a fleet for construction projects or need a solution for off-road applications, telematics helps improve fleet safety, operational efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability.
Soon, telematics will be an integral part of the construction and off-road vehicle industry. So why not start today?