Back to Basics: What is Vehicle Telematics?

Vehicle Telematics 101 

Any fleet manager could benefit from the use of telematics. Whether they want to track their vehicles and closely monitor their condition or monitor their drivers. But to fully utilize this technology one needs to understand it.  

Let's break down the basics: 

• Vehicle telematics is a technology that assists with surveillance and diagnostics of trucks, cars, and basically anything on wheels. 
• In our increasingly digitized society, technology is smarter and more intuitive. This means that the automotive industry had to get with the program (literally). This is where vehicle telematics comes into play. 
• In 1983, mobile phones became accessible to the public at large, and thus so did GPS technology. 

Now that we've covered the gist of things let's unpack the nitty gritty of vehicle telematics: 

How does vehicle telematics work? 

As cell phones evolved to be faster and more compact, this opened the door for fleet management companies to modify these technologies into devices that monitor vehicles in real-time regardless of location. 

Fleet tracking operates via a compact vehicle tracking device that works in conjunction with telematics software to collect and compile the user's data and communicate these insights to fleet managers. At Powerfleet, our fleet management technology tracks vehicles, drivers, and assets, providing reliable analytical information for action and reporting. 

This enabled users to monitor every aspect of their fleet's performance and streamline operations. 

How will this benefit your business? 

Having access to the treasure trove of information that telematics solutions offer can help you manage safer, more efficient fleets. All bases are covered, from monitoring speed, fuel consumption, and vehicle downtime to tracking whether a driver is on the correct course. 

Our in-cab video allows fleet managers to identify hazardous driving practices and stop them in their tracks. Managers can track according to a particular driver, vehicle, location, and day. This keeps them informed on an immediate and constant basis and further safeguards their fleet. 

This is a prominent example of how telematic solutions not only keep drivers safe but also show them where they could improve, optimizing their performance. 

Another key benefit of fleet management is monitoring and reporting fuel-wasting behaviors, such as speeding, unnecessary idling, or harsh acceleration and breaking. This effectively reduces fuel consumption and CO² emissions. 

Vehicle telematics is essential. It provides real-time data that provides the extra assurance needed to make roads safer and make key changes to fleet management and maintenance. 

The future of vehicle telematics 

Customized vehicle telematics software is evolving rapidly. Customers can tailor their product bouquet according to their specific needs, ensuring all bases are covered. This is an indicator of the influence fleet customers have on swaying industry trends. 

As consumers constantly look for the latest and greatest, they provide telematics companies with real-world know-how about how this technology works and highlight improvement opportunities. 

We can collect all the operational data and metrics in the world, but we must act to take advantage of this technology's potential. This will truly change how fleets operate, improving safety, efficiency, and sustainability.