Fleet software provider, Mycompanyfleet, says that the biggest obstacle to wider telematics uptake – the costs of installation and delivery – can be largely overcome by the latest generation G3 mobile phones, which can play a key part in capturing drivers’ mileages, tracking their location and estimating journey times.
Andrew Leech, business manager at Mycompanyfleet, the automotive arm of HR software provider NorthgateArinso, said that if a fleet manager’s requirement was to track drivers, estimate arrival times and the length of appointments and capture business and private mileage, then all these functions could be achieved through current generation mobile phones.
“All business cars have a telematics device already installed – it’s called a mobile phone. And without paying the typical cost per car of around £20 per month for telematics systems, fleet managers can carry out straightforward track-and-trace and mileage capture through modern phone technology.
“This can then be integrated with fleet software systems, like our own Driver Self Serve, to record business mileages and feed them through to the relevant departments – such as payroll and HR – to be recorded and auctioned.
“This way there is no need to worry that the telematics supplier is going to go bust, which seems to be a fairly common occurrence,” he added.
Mycompanyfleet also believes fleet operators would benefit from better service scheduling, reduced vehicle downtime and cost efficiencies if telematics providers would allow enhanced freedom of access to vehicle diagnostic information and easier system integration for software suppliers.
Andrew Leech said that most modern software systems could integrate with current telematics systems providing they are internet based and delivered.
“We believe there are huge cost and efficiency benefits from allowing this access and for improved integration between telematics-generated information and modern fleet management systems.
“With the correct diagnostic feedback relayed through the vehicle’s CAN Bus system, fleet management software can then flag up for fleet managers when vehicle components are going to need replacing in advance, as well as capturing vital information such as vehicle mileages.
“Advance service scheduling brings reduced vehicle downtime, lower costs and improved efficiencies. For fleets that use in-vehicle telematics, the necessary information is available but access to it for third parties, like software suppliers, is not always granted.
“We believe there are huge cost and efficiency benefits from allowing this access and for improved integration between telematics generated information and modern fleet management systems.
“The holy grail for fleet operators is to be able to anticipate vehicle serving in advance and be pro-active rather than having to be reactive,” he said.