Things You Didn’t Know About Telematics

Telematics, in its broadest definition, refers to the integration of telecommunications (the study of technologies such as telephone lines and cable television) and informatics (the study of computer systems and their applications). As a phrase, it has come to mean the telematics solutions installed in automobiles used for business.

Black box" technologies and other forms of wireless telematics are now widely used to collect and communicate information about vehicle usage, repair needs, and other aspects of the automobile industry. Today, many businesses use fleet management software, a subset of telematics, to better keep track of their cars and get an overall picture of their fleet's well-being, financial performance, and output.

Telematics is a system for tracking and recording various data linked to a single vehicle or a fleet of vehicles. To further assist fleet managers in resource allocation, telematics systems collect and display information such as vehicle location, driver behaviour, engine diagnostics, and vehicle activity on computer programmes.

Telematics—How Does It Work?

A car tracking device that can transmit, receive, and store telemetry data is the backbone of any telematics system. It uses a SIM card to connect to a wireless network through the car's onboard diagnostics (ODBII) or CAN-BUS connector.

The unit monitors a vehicle's location and communicates that information to a server through a cellular network, satellite connection, or GPRS (General Packet Radio Service). The server interprets the data, making it accessible to users through protected mobile websites and apps.

Location, velocity, idle time, harsh acceleration/braking, fuel economy, vehicle malfunctions, and more are all information that a telematics system can gather. When this data is examined for certain occurrences and trends, it can provide previously unknown information about an entire fleet.

Envision a super-smart computer installed in your car that gives you feedback on everything from your speed and idle time to your gas mileage and low tyre pressure. Better monitoring of vehicles can save maintenance costs, and understanding driving habits can lead to greater fuel efficiency. Telematics, or GPS fleet tracking, encompasses the entirety of these phenomena.

A compact telematics device (sometimes known as a "black box") that connects to the vehicle's OBD II or CAN-BUS connection records data from the vehicle, allowing its whereabouts to be tracked. Thanks to a SIM card and modem, the device can talk over the cellular network.

A telematics system is comprised of the following primary parts:

• Radio-Guided Positioning System
• Transmission link
• Interface for inputting and outputting data (expander port)
• Card SIM
• Accelerometer
• Buzzer

How Can I Put Telematics to Work for My Fleet?

For fleets of any size, telematics solutions that are compatible with preexisting applications and systems provide a wide variety of possibilities, such as:

Tracking Vehicles

GPS satellites & receivers, GPRS networks, and cloud computing can work together to keep tabs on a vehicle. To use applications like GPS navigation systems for drivers, a GPS receiver must first download data via GPS satellites and then process it. This data is also sent over GPRS to web servers utilised by the office personnel, who can then use it to assign the closest available driver to just a new work.

Trailer Tracking

Trailers and other non-motorized assets can have GPS trackers attached to them to prevent them from going missing, and drivers can use the trackers to be directed to parked trailers. When drivers need to unhitch a trailer, they may mark the position on their GPS and provide the information to whoever needs to get there. Moreover, the system can send a push notification to a manager's smartphone if a truck or asset is transferred without permission.

Maintenance Enhancements

Fleet telematics can enhance car repairs and asset lifecycle management by monitoring engine hours, service records, and warranty recovery to better plan preventative maintenance and keep track of how many miles each vehicle has driven. By monitoring data like battery voltage, coolant temperature, powertrain malfunctions, intake valve issues, oxygen sensor problems, and more, fleet managers can reduce costs and keep cars in safe operating condition.

Tracking for Security

Fleet telematics allows managers to monitor vehicle speed, location, hard-driving events, and seat belt usage. Telematics creates an electronic logbook of a vehicle's every move, allowing fleet managers to see how safe their drivers are and where they can make adjustments to reduce the likelihood of accidents.

Assessing Insurance Risk

With the help of telematics, insurance companies may keep tabs on their policyholders' driving habits to assess risk more precisely and set premiums appropriately. When a vehicle is being operated outside a predetermined area (a "geofence"), telematics devices can notify the owner.

Pros of Using Telematics

Telematics can be helpful for any organisation, from a sole proprietorship to a multinational conglomerate, from a nonprofit to a government agency that uses automobiles or other mobile assets.

Sectors (not exhaustive) that have adopted fleet tracking and telematics systems:

• Delivery services and messengers
• Repairs and installs heating, ventilation, air conditioning, plumbing, and other systems.
• Rescue services
• Logistical support for trucks and transport
• Commerce within the Building Industry
• Retailers of consumables
• Transportation fleets, including buses, cabs, subways, and wheelchair vans
• Mining, petroleum, and mineral extraction
• Utilities
• Organizations such as the police and emergency services,
• Other Government Institutions
• Firms specialising in landscaping
• Garbage collection trucks
• Telematics In Fleet Management

The use of telematics in managing fleets has grown increasingly important. These five essentials are bolstered by telematics technology:

• Increased output and better service for customers thanks to GPS monitoring throughout the day and automated reporting of completed trips, as well as improved scheduling, dispatching, and rerouting
• Improved security thanks to features like real-time feedback on driving style, alerts in the event of an accident, detailed crash reports, and GPS tracking if your car is ever stolen
• By predictive maintenance and remote diagnostics, vehicle upkeep may be maximised, and fuel management can be maximised by identifying and addressing inefficient behaviours like excessive idling 
• Compatibility with third-party applications, like onboard video recorders and customer relationship management programmes 

The use of insurance telematics, in which a fleet's insurance provider is provided with safety data to lower premiums due to the fleet's safe driving practices, is also on the rise. For insurers, telematics means more accurate risk assessment. (If you still need to be self-insured, it's a good idea to talk to your insurance company about this telematics-based insurance.)

Integrating identification sensors into automobiles is another primary method of boosting safety. Fleets can now verify the identity of their drivers before allowing them to start the vehicle.

How GPS Tracking Differs From Telematics

With a telematics setup, GPS tracking plays a vital role. As we've established, it enables fleet managers to monitor their assets at all times, giving them a complete picture of their available means. We've already shown that telematics is capable of far more than just tracking a vehicle's location. For these reasons, telematics has rapidly assumed a pivotal role in fleet management over the past few years. Telematics devices capture the following data points:

• Position of Vehicle
• Interest Point on a Map (Geofencing)
• In terms of vehicle velocity,
• Accidents involving automobiles (harsh braking, acceleration and cornering)
• Location of Vehicle (customizable)
• Reports on the state of vehicles made remotely
• Crisis messages
• Communication and task assignment
• Clips from a Car's Dash Cam

Furthermore, telematics solutions combine vehicle routes, maintenance schedules, and driver efficiency to address all significant issues plaguing fleet management. So, they encompass a lot more than just tracking cars.

Conclusion

Telematics refers to a system that monitors and stores information on a single vehicle or a fleet of vehicles. Information regarding vehicle usage, service needs, and other areas of the automotive industry are now routinely collected and sent using black box technologies and other forms of wireless telematics. The core of every telematics system is a tracking device for vehicles that can send, receive, and store telemetry data. Communicating data to a server via a cellular network, satellite link, or GPRS, it plugs into the car's onboard diagnostics (ODBII) or CAN-BUS port using a SIM card (General Packet Radio Service). The data is interpreted by the server and made available to users via encrypted mobile websites and applications.

Telematics is a system that allows fleets to monitor their vehicles, trailers, and non-motorized assets in real time. It can be used for insurance risk assessment as well as monitoring vehicle speed, location, hard-driving events, and seat belt usage. Tracking engine hours, service records, and warranty claims can also improve vehicle maintenance and asset lifecycle management. If an unauthorised transfer of a truck or other asset is detected, a push message can be sent to the manager's smartphone. Telematics is becoming increasingly important in fleet management due to the benefits it offers in terms of increased productivity and better customer service, enhanced security, predictive maintenance and remote diagnostics, vehicle maintenance, fuel management, compatibility with third-party applications, and reduced insurance premiums.

With telematics, fleet managers are able to keep constant tabs on their vehicles and collect valuable information on their whereabouts, speeds, accidents, and other events. Fleet management problems are alleviated by the integration of vehicle routes, maintenance schedules, and driver efficiency.

Content Summary

• Telematics, in its broadest sense, is the study of how telecommunications (including telephone lines and cable television) and informatics (the study of computers) work together (the study of computer systems and their applications).
• The term has come to refer to the telematics systems fitted in commercial vehicles.
• Now more than ever, the automotive industry relies on "black box" technologies and other forms of wireless telematics to gather and disseminate data on vehicle usage, repair needs, and other factors.
• Fleet management software is a type of telematics used by many modern enterprises to keep track of their automobiles and gain a holistic understanding of their fleet's health, financial performance, and production.
• Telematics refers to a system that monitors and stores information on a single vehicle or a fleet of vehicles.
• Information such as vehicle location, driver behaviour, engine diagnostics, and vehicle activity can be collected and displayed on computer programmes to help fleet managers better allocate resources.
• The core of every telematics system is a tracking device for vehicles that can send, receive, and store telemetry data.
• Using the car's CAN-BUS or onboard diagnostics (ODBII) port, it connects to a wireless network using a SIM card.
• The device tracks a car's position and sends that data to a server via a cellular network, satellite link, or general packet radio service (GPRS) (General Packet Radio Service).
• The data is interpreted by the server and made available to users via encrypted mobile websites and applications.
• A telematics system can collect data including location, speed, idle time, severe acceleration/braking, gas mileage, vehicle faults, and more.
• Looking for patterns and correlations in this data can reveal insights about a fleet that was previously unknown.
• Imagine you have a supercomputer in your automobile that constantly monitors and reports on your speed, idle time, gas mileage, and tyre pressure.
• Monitoring vehicles more closely can reduce the amount spent on repairs, and learning about driving styles can improve gas mileage.
• All of these phenomena are included in telematics, sometimes known as GPS fleet tracking.
• Small telematics devices (sometimes called "black boxes") that plug into the car's onboard diagnostics (OBD II) port or CAN-BUS interface record data from the car and can be used to pinpoint its whereabouts.
• Connection for sending and receiving information (expander port) SIM Card Accelerometer Buzzer What are some practical applications of telematics for my fleet? There is a wide range of options for fleets of any size thanks to telematics solutions that are backwards-compatible with existing software and hardware. Finding Where Cars Are To keep track of a vehicle, a combination of GPS satellites and receivers, GPRS networks, and cloud computing is required.
• A GPS receiver must first download data from GPS satellites and then process it before it can be used for applications like GPS navigation systems for cars.
• This information is also transmitted through GPRS to web servers used by office staff, who can then utilise it to allocate the nearest available driver to a specific new job.
• Attaching GPS trackers to trailers and other non-motorized assets can help keep them from being stolen, and drivers can use the devices to find their way to trailer parking spots.
• If a driver requires help unhitching a trailer, he or she can mark the location on a GPS and provide the directions to the appropriate people.
• In addition, if an unauthorised truck or asset movement is detected, the system can send a push message to the manager's smartphone.
• Improvements to maintenance
• By keeping tabs on engine hours, service records, and warranty recovery, fleet telematics helps improve car repairs and asset lifecycle management. This allows for better preventative maintenance planning and mileage tracking.
• When fleet managers keep an eye on things like battery voltage, coolant temperature, powertrain difficulties, intake valve issues, oxygen sensor problems, and more, they can keep their vehicles running efficiently and affordably.
• Telematics for fleets allows managers to keep tabs on things like speed, location, aggressive driving, and seat belt use.
• Fleet managers may assess their drivers' safety and identify areas for improvement with the help of telematics, which records every movement of a vehicle in an electronic logbook.
• Telematics offers insurers a way to monitor policyholders' driving patterns in order to gauge risk more accurately and establish premiums.
• Telematics devices can send alerts to the car's owner if the vehicle is driven outside of a specified area ("geofence").
• Those who transport packages and messages provide maintenance and installation services for HVAC, plumbing, and other related systems.
• One of the most effective approaches to improving vehicle safety is to install identifying sensors.
• Vehicle fleets may now ensure that only authorised drivers are able to start the engine.
• GPS tracking is crucial in a telematics system.
• As we've seen, it allows fleet managers to keep constant tabs on their assets, providing them with a full view of their resources.
• We've already established that telematics has significantly more potential than simply serving as a location tracker for vehicles.
• Because of these factors, telematics has emerged as a critical component of fleet management in recent years.
• Thus, they are used for much more than just car tracking.