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TomTom Telematics has launched the inaugural Driver of the Year Awards to help promote safer and more responsible driving standards among European business fleets.

The competition will rank the performance of participants based on driving behaviour scores to find the safest, most efficient driver across 14 countries. Scores will be calculated from incidents of harsh braking and steering per km/mile by the TomTom WEBFLEET fleet management solution.

Ten finalists will then compete for the grand title of European Driver of the Year at the Circuit de Catalunya race track in Barcelona on October 21.

“This competition has been launched in a bid to make driver safety a higher priority with European businesses and to encourage more cost-efficient fleet motoring,” said Taco van der Leij, VP Marketing at TomTom Telematics.

“Road traffic collisions are estimated to contribute to more than a quarter of all work-related deaths across the EU1. Mobile workers however can be empowered to drive more safely – and in turn more fuel efficiently and environmentally responsible – with the appropriate guidance, technological support and training. Our OptiDrive 360 technology can help businesses address these needs and provide valuable insights on driver behaviour across Europe.”

 

Drivers can compete in one of the contest’s two categories – ‘Vans (Light Commercial Vehicles) and cars’ or ‘Trucks (Heavy Goods Vehicles)’. The top scoring driver in each category from each of five regions will progress to the final. These regions are Benelux (Belgium, Luxembourg and The Netherlands), France, Mediterranean (Italy, Portugal, and Spain), Central Europe and Nordics (Austria, Denmark, Germany, Sweden and Switzerland) and UKI (United Kingdom and Ireland).

Companies can register to participate at http://telematics.tomtom.com/driveroftheyear, where the competition’s full terms and conditions and regional rankings are available.

 

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TomTom Telematics has announced a collaboration with SOTI that will see the company’s popular flagship enterprise mobility management (EMM) software, MobiControl, be made available to manage TomTom PRO 8 series* driver terminals.

SOTI MobiControl gives fleet managers complete remote control of the TomTom PRO 8 series, an open-platform device that is easily customised with apps to meet the needs of specific users and functions. Content and user profiles on devices are managed centrally, so drivers have access to the most appropriate and up-to-date applications for their specific role, without having to return to base.

SOTI MobiControl offers a powerful feature set, enabling managers to dynamically control user groups and policies, allowing access to apps, functionality and content based on a user’s role in the business. Access can also be determined based on geographical location. These features not only help to control app usage, but also to manage data costs, for example by not allowing users to download large files when they are abroad.

 

“SOTI MobiControl allows customers using TomTom PRO 8 series driver terminals to instantly manage and update devices in the field, via one secure interface, so they are always fit for purpose. This takes the complexity out of mobility management and frees up time to focus on core tasks,” said Oscar Rambaldini, Vice President of Product Management at SOTI.

“SOTI is a leader in mobile device management, and by offering MobiControl together with the TomTom PRO 8 series of driver terminals we are helping businesses ensure that their field teams have the tools they need to be effective,” said Taco van der Leij, VP Marketing at TomTom Telematics. “With hundreds of apps available for WEBFLEET and PRO 8 series driver terminals we are committed to helping our customers to achieve more with their businesses.”

The integration will be handled by OrangeSeven BV, a specialist in MDM that SOTI has selected to provide all MobiControl solutions to TomTom worldwide.

 

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The rise of the connected fleet has been discussed as an emerging technology with huge potential to change field service operations for some time now. However, we are now reaching the point where the discussion must move from theoretical to practical - so just what will the impact of the connected fleet be for field service organisations?

As more and more fleets become connected with on-board equipment straight from the OEM, is there still a need for companies operating a mobile workforce to work with traditional telematics providers?

Field Service News spoke to sector experts to understand how the fleet management industry is evolving and what the impact this rapid period of technological change will mean for field service organisations.

So just what exactly does the rise of connected vehicles mean for the fleet management sector?

“Ultimately, the rise of connected vehicles means both telematics suppliers and customers will benefit from a higher quality of vehicle information and reduced operational overheads,” explains Sergio Barata, General Manager, Telogis EMEA.

“It should be viewed as an opportunity for telematics providers to refocus their solutions so they leverage the new possibilities these technologies will bring. For different providers this may mean different things, but at Telogis our focus has been to develop a single connected platform that expands the value of our proposition beyond the vehicle and focuses on improving the operational processes within the enterprise, such as integrated route planning and mobility tools,” he adds.

However, John Gorbutt, Regional Sales Leader, Greenroad highlights that alongside the new opportunities that these latest technologies present, new challenges are also emerging.

“The incredibly accelerated growth of the connected fleet vehicle presents challenges, as well as opportunities,” he begins.

 

“First, for all fleet operators, both dispatched and un-dispatched, the driver’s function will be drastically different sooner than anyone imagines.

The driver will be at the focus and responsible for their own productivity and safety while behind the wheel. Essentially, as new, non-telematics based solutions enter the market the driver is now more connected than ever.”

“They will not only use their mobile device as the centre of their work day, they will have access to their own driver behaviour data along with various contextual information to make them as productive and safe behind the wheel as possible. These new systems are now coming onto the market at a fraction of the cost of traditional telematics systems but still provide all the same and better functionality.”

Meanwhile Stephen Watson, Microlise Director of Product believes that there is now an onus on fleet management solution providers to harness the technologies and drive the solutions forward for the industry as a whole.

“Any significant change in an industry is always a threat to the existing suppliers in that market, however where there are threats there are of course opportunities!” He comments.

“Provided organisations acknowledge the changes that are starting to happen, the changing requirements of the operators and use the expertise gained within the industry to their advantage, there is no reason to fear the rise of connected vehicles.

More it is an opportunity to embrace the evolution and provide greater value in an exciting area that touches us all.”

So what enhancements can field service organisations expect to see in the not too distant future in terms of their fleet management tools?

Barata believes that fully connected fleets will bring “new levels of data quality and accuracy not seen today, as the connectivity revolution continues apace.”

“We’ve already seen with partnerships, such as ours with Ford, that increased connectivity helps drive new business outcomes, based on data delivered through a holistic, connected vehicle approach,” he asserts.

“Through the integration of more data points –  such as seat belt usage data for example – we can help improve the safety of fleets, and we’re already seeing an increase in the use of preventive maintenance on engines to reduce downtime, thanks to Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) diagnostics data.”

However, when questioned on what fleet management will look like as fleets become fully connected across the next five years Watson thinks that we may be getting slightly ahead of ourselves “5 years seems ambitious!” He begins.

“I think we are still a way off fully connected fleet operations. There are a number of EU and UK government innovation schemes designed to support organisations in the enormous R&D costs that come with the technology, however there are still significant legal and regulatory hurdles to be overcome before fully connected vehicles becomes mainstream.”

Yet, Gorbutt insists that the telematics sector as a whole is well overdue when it comes to ultimately delivering the return on investment it has always promised.

“I don’t think it’s a surprise to anyone that the promise of track and trace telematics didn’t provide the long term value most fleet operators expected,” he asserts.

“When weighed against the cost of the system, the ROI is minimal at best. So over the year’s telematics providers have raced to provide more and more features to supplement the high cost of live tracking. This has resulted is millions of customers paying outrageous sums for a system grounded in technology from 2001 or earlier.

“With new systems coming on board every day that are based on cheaper, high quality networks and mobile devices, any fleet operator can get an entire fleet up and running on a mobile based system that includes everything from live tracking to driver behaviour at a fraction of the cost.”

However, whilst the promise of improved fleet management tools at a reduced cost is one that will appeal to all field service organisations, it is also worth considering how this will change the role of the fleet manager.

“With this new mobile technology, security will be key,” Gorbutt explains.

 

“Hence there will be an evolution in the role of the new fleet manager, who will become more of a chief mobile officer in charge of everything from mobile deployment of solutions or cyber/mobile security and will encompass the productivity and usage of everything included in the new smart mobility ecosystem.”

Indeed, as we begin to discuss fleet management solutions that are mobile centric the lines between field service systems and fleet management systems are becoming increasingly blurred. Is there still a need for field service organisations to invest in both sets of tools?

“I guess this depends on the definition of field service management software,” Watson comments.

“It’s fair to say that concepts of engineer location, performance, planning and resource management are all now widely available, however there are a number of functions of field service management that would not currently feature in a standard fleet management software solution.”

“From an investment perspective then maybe M&A activity will see customers able to purchase a suite of products from a single supplier and these products will be more broadly integrated. But with the high levels of API integration available from suppliers like ourselves, companies have the opportunity to get best of breed solutions and services from the organisations most able to support their current and ongoing needs.”

Gorbutt echoes this sentiment commenting that he doesn’t “think there will be a decisive divide between the two technologies.”

“There are a few companies that will continue to try and cater to both fleet based companies and field service companies but field service based organisations are so specialised and their needs are so diverse that I don’t think they can get everything they need from one provider.”

 

He is also in agreement with Watson’s thinking when it comes to the belief that continued integration will be a highly important part of the wider ecosystem of field service technologies as technologies continue to evolve.

“What will be most important is the ability for these different systems to “talk” to each other.” He comments.

“For instance, the fleet management system must be able to send live tracking data to the field service customer location and routing system and all must work seamlessly with the driver safety application that ensure the driver is arriving safely. Connectivity is the new world and any service provider that doesn’t have all their systems sending and receiving data from one another will be obsolete in a matter of 5 years.”

However, Barata holds a different view, believing that as these lines blur it is those organisations that utilise a platform-based approach that will see the greatest benefits.

“The need for enterprises to adopt these solutions will continue to increase rapidly in the coming years, and soon they will become ubiquitous, leaving those who choose not to adopt them behind,” he explains.

“The good news for them is there are already suppliers like ourselves out there who can provide a platform which meets the needs of both their fleet and service operations. The previous challenges they faced in integrating data produced by separate technical, operational and strategic systems – often provided by different suppliers - can be avoided by partnering with suppliers that can deliver a single solution.”

The exact role of fleet management for field service organisations in the near future maybe uncertain, but we can be certain that is set to change.

 

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Social enterprise organisation First Ark has saved £210,000 by collaborating with Fleet Operations on a series of fleet initiatives, aimed at increasing value for money. These savings contribute to the commitment First Ark makes as a social enterprise to re-invest back into the local community.

First Ark’s partnership with Fleet Operations has helped to eliminate vehicle ‘spot hiring’ and has led to significant lease and insurance cost efficiencies across the company’s facilities management and refurbishment services division, Vivark.

[quote float="left"]Operational efficiency is paramount for First Ark as we strive to maximise our investment in local community initiatives

“Operational efficiency is paramount for First Ark as we strive to maximise our investment in local community initiatives,” said Angela Coffey, First Ark Value for Money and Procurement Manager.

 

“With Fleet Operations, we have exceeded expectations in terms of our fleet performance and have seen significant gains related to value for money.”

Following a reduction in the size and profile of Vivark’s fleet, from 176 to 132 vehicles, an internal widespread communications campaign was delivered to promote the new value for money initiatives and address vehicle ‘spot hiring’.

“The success of this campaign, which included one-to-one briefings with contract managers, was remarkable with efficient vehicle utilisation realised within just three months,” added Coffey.

“Our mobile Vivark staff now have access to a dedicated ‘helpdesk’ number for Fleet Operations, who now communicate regularly with them. Considerable time and financial and savings have been realised as a result.”

In addition, Vivark’s fleet risk policies have been reviewed by the fleet specialist and risk assessments have been carried out to ensure the organisation remains compliant with the latest health and safety regulations. A ‘permit to drive’ scheme, involving regular licence checks, has been rolled out across all grey fleet drivers while driver risk profiling, using telematics data, is set to deliver further improvements in road safety standards.

 

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Leading digital retailer Argos is implementing a new transport management solution from Microlise.

The tool gives their transport teams live visibility of vehicles and expected estimated times of arrival so they can take action to maximise their on-time performance, as well as proactively keeping customers informed of any delays to their deliveries.

In addition, contact centre representatives will gain access to precision live delivery information letting them accurately respond to queries from customers.

Argos, whose parent company Home Retail Group PLC was bought by Sainsbury’s in September 2017, is currently installing telematics hardware across the entire two-man UK home delivery fleet.

[quote float="left"] “We are constantly looking to new and innovative tools to help us improve our customer experience -Laurence Garnett, Head of Home Delivery at Argos

“Delivering a positive customer experience is an absolute priority for us and customers tell us that being on-time or informing them of any change is really important,” said Laurence Garnett, Head of Home Delivery at Argos.

 

“We are constantly looking to new and innovative tools to help us improve our customer experience. Microlise will be a very powerful solution to help us further improve our high standards for on-time delivery as well as keep customers up to date with the very latest delivery information.”

Fleet Performance enables driving performance to be monitored through an A to G rating system. Via an app on their smartphone drivers can monitor their performance against benchmarks on a whole range of criteria including idling, acceleration, braking, cornering, cruise control usage and speed.

This information enables driver trainers to target training where it will be most effective and will help Argos to be more fuel efficient.

“Argos is a brand that has thrived on the high street since 1973, not least by always staying ahead of competitors and delivering excellent service. It’s great to be working with the company as it implements incremental improvements to continue to perform at the vanguard of retailers in terms of cost control and customer experience,” added Nadeem Raza, Chief Executive Officer, Microlise.

 

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According to a new research report by Berg Insight, the number of telematics service subscribers using embedded systems will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 36.4 percent from 26.5 million subscribers at the end of 2015 to 170.2 million subscribers at the end of 2021. Moreover, Berg Insight forecasts that shipments of embedded car OEM telematics systems worldwide will grow from almost 13.8 million units in 2015 at a CAGR of over 25.1 percent to reach 52.8 million units in 2021. In Europe, uptake will increase rapidly due to the eCall initiative in the EU and ERA-GLONASS in the Eurasian Customs Union, scheduled to be fully implemented in 2018 and 2017 respectively.

Connected car services have evolved from being a differentiating factor to a common feature with a high attach rate among the premium car brands and are rapidly becoming increasingly common in mid-range vehicles. GM’s OnStar was launched 20 years ago and is today the market leader worldwide with more than 7.0 million paying subscribers and well above 10.0 million active users in total. BMW includes telematics hardware as a standard feature on all its cars sold in 43 markets worldwide and has the second largest user base with 3.4 million equipped vehicles. PSA is in third place and manages 1.8 million connected vehicles in Europe.

 

“Carmakers and car owners are starting to see the benefits of connected car services as a growing number of new vehicles are equipped with the technology”, said Jonas Wennermark, IoT/M2M Analyst at Berg Insight. However, the really exciting development will happen when we move from telematics services as an add-on to actually design a vehicle with connectivity in mind. Starting with Tesla, several car makers have introduced vehicles with large dashboard touchscreens and the ability to receive Over-the-Air updates. “We have also seen Volvo and Bentley launch interesting concierge services for the premium segment, such as fuel-delivery to the customer’s vehicle”, added Mr Wennermark.

 

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Click here to download report brochure: The Global Automotive OEM Telematics Market

 

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More than a quarter (27%) of transport professionals who attended the FTA Transport Manager events said they do not have the systems and technology in place to benefit from the DVSA’s Earned Recognition scheme; and a further 15% do not know if they have.

The survey findings are based on responses from more than 900 delegates who have been attending the conferences taking place up and down the country since September, finishing in Coventry this month.

The DVSA’s new Chief Executive Gareth Llewellyn confirmed in September that transport service providers will need technology in place to enable the sharing of information to take full advantage of the scheme, due for launch in 2017.

Hinging on next generation enforcement, operators will be able to achieve Earned Recognition status by sharing tachograph and maintenance data with the DVSA. Exemplar transport service providers would then not be engaged at the roadside, reducing delays and associated costs.

The survey also uncovered which technologies transport professionals feel make the biggest difference in supporting compliance; and how they gauge liability following an incident.

 

The majority (32%) felt that digital walk-around checks make the biggest difference for compliance, with driver hours visibility and alerting (24%) and remote digital tachograph download (15%) the second and third most influential technologies.

Meanwhile 66% said they use video, telematics or integrated telematics and video to gauge liability following an incident. Just over a quarter (26%) take their drivers’ word as the main source of evidence; and just 7% use an external accident investigation service.

“It’s great that almost half of those who responded at the FTA Transport Manager conferences have got the technologies and systems in place to take advantage of Earned recognition next year. But it still leaves a large proportion who aren’t sure, or know they aren’t ready,” said Matthew Hague, Executive Director – Product Strategy, Microlise. “I believe Earned Recognition will be a game changer for compliant operators – delivering a real competitive advantage for those that are ready.”

Existing Microlise fleet management solutions which can benefit operators with compliance include Remote Digital Tachograph Download, digital vehicle walk-around checks and tools to ensure optimum vehicle health and record keeping.

 

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Research by 6Wresearch reveals that India has become one of the most potential markets for telematics solutions globally...

Over the last four years, India has registered increased deployment of telematics solutions especially in commercial vehicle segment. Key application areas of the market include- cold chain, courier, pharma, retail and others. Presently, cold chain sector accounted for highest market share, followed by courier and others. Cold storage freight trailers are deploying telematics solutions to gather time-series data of the temperature inside the cargo container.

According to 6Wresearch, the Indian Commercial Vehicles Telematics Market installed base is projected to reach 1.4 million by 2022.

Increasing road accidents, security concerns and need for fleet management are driving the adoption of telematics solutions in the country. Additionally, benefits such as reducing fuel consumption and repair costs would further spur the growth of the market.

According to “Prijo Samuel, Assistant Research Manager, Research and Consulting, 6Wresearch,” in commercial vehicle telematics market in India, Heavy-Commercial Vehicles (HCVs) accounted for majority of the market share; however, Medium Commercial Vehicles (MCVs) segment is poised to register significant growth over the next six years.

Ravindran Natarajan, Director Business Development, Trimble Navigation (a leading player within the sector) said, “Although, MCVs/ HCVs covered entire market, however Light-Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) segment is anticipated to excel in the coming years. This would be primarily due to overall structuring of e-commerce industry in relation with the change in entire supply chain logistics from first mile pick-up to last mile delivery.”

 

He further commented, “During recent times, India witnessed entry of various companies in freight market, which have changed the whole market dynamics. This would create more opportunities for telematics market players in India.

Suresh Mishra, Director, QTS Solutions (an emerging player in the market), established in 2016 said, “The telematics industry in India would exhibit robust growth due to the deployment of portable telematics devices in MCVs, which runs on trip to trip basis.”

He further added, “Telematics market penetration in HCVs segment would reach between 90-95% by 2022 owing to growing acceptability along with mandatory policies to install telematics solutions in various commercial vehicles.”

The major companies in India commercial vehicles telematics market include- Arya Omnitalk, CMC, Dhanus Technologies, EFKON, TATA Motors (Tata FleetMan) and Trimble Navigation.

“India Commercial Vehicles Telematics Market (2016-2022)” provides in-depth analysis with 44 figures and 8 tables covered in 100 pages. The report estimates and forecast overall India commercial vehicles market by revenue, sales volume, installed base, sectors, regions and by vendor type i.e. aftermarket and OEM. The report also gives the insights on competitive landscape, market share by companies, company profiles, market trends, drivers and restraints.

 

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For a detailed report on this research with purchase options please click here

 

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Traffic congestion is costing UK businesses approximately £767 million a year in lost productivity, according to research conducted by TomTom.

The TomTom Traffic Index has found traffic across the UK’s 25 most congested cities and towns increases the time each vehicle spends on the road by an average of 127 hours a year – more than 16 working days.¹ This could equate to a cost of £767,937,250² in time spent sitting in traffic for the 902,500 light commercial vehicles operated in these cities and towns.³

And the situation seems to be getting worse. An average journey in 2015 took 29%⁴ longer than it would in free-flowing conditions, up from a 25% delay in 2010.

“Traffic congestion may be seen as a fact of life for every driver but, cumulatively, it is taking a heavy toll on the UK economy and this should not be accepted as an inevitability,” said Beverley Wise, Director UK & Ireland for TomTom Telematics.

“Making the most of billable time is key to profitability for any business, so organisations that rely heavily on a mobile workforce must look for ways to maximise the time employees spend actually doing jobs by minimising time spent on the road.

“Through smarter planning, routing and scheduling, companies can help their drivers to better avoid traffic, which could not only have an impact on productivity but also customer service. Previous research conducted by TomTom Telematics among UK van drivers found 90 per cent admit to arriving late for customer appointments – with 93 per cent citing traffic as the reason.”

 

The biggest financial hit was felt in London, where £237 million is lost to traffic each year, followed by Manchester (£157,729,390) and Birmingham (£81,364,800).

Wise added: “Telematics solutions can help businesses mitigate the effect of traffic congestion and minimise time spent on the road. Firstly, drivers can be navigated along the fastest routes based on anticipated congestion spots and traffic information. But the data provided by telematics, including GPS location, ETAs and job status, can also be used to inform smarter planning where daily schedules are optimised to help ensure the most appropriate driver is sent to each job at the most appropriate time.”

 

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