ARCHIVE FOR THE ‘masternaut’ CATEGORY

Opel / Vauxhall and Masternaut have announced an exclusive partnership to provide fleet telematics services to commercial vans.

As of May 2017, businesses can purchase Opel and Vauxhall vans with Masternaut’s telematics devices pre-installed, eliminating deployment time, hassle, and cost. These vehicles are then managed via the industry-leading platform Masternaut Connect, which helps customers realise substantial gains in safety, savings, service excellence, and sustainability. This offer will be available in the UK, France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg.

The benefits identified by Masternaut in short are as follows:

• Management of commercial fleet data via a powerful B2B software platform
• Customers avoid the cost, hassle and time of installing telematics
• One partner to talk to - get everything from the Opel or Vauxhall dealership

An industry game-changer?

This partnership doesn’t only help Vauxhall respond to business customers’ needs, it is a significant milestone for the rapidly growing commercial fleet telematics industry. Industry analysts estimate that over 10 million commercial vehicles in Europe will be managed with telematics by 2020, representing growth of 20% per year. Part of this growth will come from reducing hurdles to deployment, which include taking productive vehicles off the road and incurring separate installation charges.

With connected car and autonomous vehicle trends accelerating quickly, vehicle manufacturers are investing heavily in technology development and strategic partnerships. Opel and Vauxhall are part of GM, the second OEM to partner with market leader Masternaut, following PSA Group’s Peugeot, Citroën and DS. While Vauxhall use their own technology for cars, they sought an experienced partner to serve their business customers’ light commercial vehicles.

Technology that saves time, money and lives

Vauxhall chose Masternaut as their exclusive partner due to their industry-leading technology which, unlike other devices, reads data directly from the vehicle in a fully secure way, without risk of interference with vehicle systems. Steffen Raschig, Director Commercial Vehicles Opel & Vauxhall, said, “We were already interested in working with Masternaut, as they are one of the largest telematics providers globally. We decided to build a deeper partnership as we learned more about Masternaut’s patented hardware. The device provides read-only access to all vehicle data, providing our customers much richer insights than other telematics devices offer. We were also impressed with Masternaut’s new enterprise-grade Connect platform, which is intuitive and easy-to-use.”

Masternaut recently conducted research across 10,000 vehicles in its customer base, finding that its technology lowered fuel consumption by 220 litres per vehicle and total fleet running costs by £660 per vehicle annually, resulting in a 3-5x ROI. In addition, smart reports and in-cab coaching help drivers to significantly reduce harsh driving events and speeding, keeping them safe on the roads. Every year, Masternaut’s 10,000+ customers avoid 300 accidents and reduce the release of CO2 by 230 million kg.

Be social and share this story

Masternaut, a leading provider of fleet telematics and vehicle tracking services, has launched a maintenance module for Masternaut Connect, giving fleet managers the ability to adopt a proactive approach to vehicle maintenance.

Masternaut Maintenance is based on Masternaut’s patented non-intrusive CANbus technology to collect vehicle data. This provides automatic and real-time information on servicing and vehicle faults on cars and commercial vehicles. It can save time and improve operations for fleet managers by helping to proactively plan fleet maintenance operations, and gives an instant overview of a fleet’s condition, improving vehicle availability.

This information helps fleet managers to keep vehicles and employees safe and ensures a high level of fleet compliance. Masternaut Maintenance keeps a complete record of service and fault history for each vehicle which can reduce breakdowns and improve safety on the road.

Steve Towe, Chief Commercial Office and UK Managing Director, Masternaut, commented “Masternaut Maintenance has been launched with our customers and partners in mind, and provides a deeper level of diagnostic solutions than available on the market today, which only identify engine and transmission related failures. We wanted to offer a maintenance tool kit that gives an immediate overview of fleet compliance, with quick access to information and something that can help them save time and money through efficiency gains. This will help fleet managers become more proactive when it comes to fleet maintenance operations, offering improved planning and vehicle turnaround time.”

Alex Rothwell, Chief Technology Officer, Masternaut adds: “Our patented non-intrusive technology combined with Masternaut Connect is already providing our fleet customers and partners with the in latest telematics innovations, such as improved driver behaviour and fuel reduction. Masternaut Maintenance takes or our offering one step ahead to help strengthen and improve the services that we offer to European fleets, by  giving instant information on vehicle faults and servicing status."

Be social and share this story

Murdock Builders Merchants, an independent family owned builders’ merchant group, has reduced fuel costs by 10% after implementing a telematics system from Masternaut.

Murdock Builders Merchants implemented Masternaut’s telematics system across its fleet of 44 commercial vehicles, enabling the business to effectively track its fleet across the country.

Since installation, Murdock Builders Merchants has seen a marked improvement in driving styles and saved 10% in fuel costs thanks to data provided by Masternaut’s telematics solution. The system has also been helping Murdock Builders Merchants to have complete visibility on fuel usage and driving style.

The system has also helped to provide an increase in driver efficiency, with managers now able to distribute tasks more effectively and increase the work done by all vehicles. The customer relationship has been further enhanced, with information provided to them, giving accurate delivery times and updates in case of traffic delays.

Paul Sheppard, Group Fleet Manager, Murdock Builders Merchants said “Part of the experience we offer our customers is outstanding delivery with minimal fuss. We’re committed to providing excellent service to our customers and ensuring we hit our delivery times, and Masternaut provides a vital part of how we go about doing that. The system gives us 100% accurate times of delivery and the ability to update customers if there are unexpected delayed, and we’ve been able to make efficiency savings on fuel. Masternaut is a vital, supportive partner of ours and gives us an extra edge that we can offer our customers.”

Steve Towe, Chief Commercial Officer and UK Managing Director, Masternaut added, “For independent family businesses like Murdock Builders Merchants it is vital that they deliver the best services for their customers. Telematics can become a vital tool to ensure a company is able to meet high customer expectations, and at the same time improve on driver behaviour across the fleet. Telematics enables you to provide a duty of care to your staff and produces savings and safety improvements across the fleet, which is important to any business.”

Be social and share this story

Almost four in ten business drivers have been given points on their license from work-related driving offences, according to research from telematics provider Masternaut...

In total, 39% of business drivers said that they had received points on their license for work-related driving misdemeanours. Almost two-thirds (62%) of those with points on their license were from speeding offences.

Other offences committed by business drivers include driving without reasonable consideration for other road users (15%), driving without due care or attention (14%), traffic light-related offences (14%) and dangerous driving (10%).

Masternaut surveyed 2,000 UK employees who drive as part of their job, to examine the effect of employee penalty points amassed when driving for work. Business drivers with points on their license, on average, have accrued seven points from work-related offences.

This follows UK accident data released in June 2015 by the Department of Transport, reporting an overall increase of 6% in road casualties in 2014, the first increase since 1997. HGVs, LCVs and vans saw an increase of 10% in casualties.

However, this confidence might be misplaced as more than half (50%) of business drivers said that driving training would make them better and safer drivers. Previous research from Masternaut revealed that 70% of business drivers aren’t offered driver training by their employers.

Telematics is shown to improve driver behaviour and safety, providing businesses with the technology and tool kits for keeping staff safe on the road. Both instant and ongoing coaching, driven by telematics data, alert drivers to poor driving reducing the risk for drivers and other road users. Arriva Transport Solutions reduced negative driving events by 92% using telematics data provided by Masternaut Connect.

Steve Towe, Chief Commercial Officer and UK Managing Director, commented: “There’s a worrying number of business drivers on our roads who are driving in a manner that is serious enough for them to have points put on their license. Telematics provides broader social benefits beyond simple vehicle tracking and can help towards reducing the number of points accrued by drivers on the job. Not only can it provide fleets with the information to pinpoint offenders, the technology can provide ongoing driver feedback to improve drivers’ behaviour when they’re at work. By providing coaching and instant in-cab feedback, telematics can go a long way to reducing the number of points accumulated by drivers on the road, making them safer drivers in the process.”

Telematics technology from Masternaut has evolved so that driver-centric training programmes using data and insight from an intelligent telematics system can be delivered without the traditional map-based services protecting driver privacy.

Systems such as Masternaut Connect have been shown to improve driver behaviour, reducing instances of speeding as well as harsh braking, acceleration and cornering. UK businesses and fleet managers can easily implement a driver training programme using data and insight gained from Masternaut Connect. By collating information on driver behaviour, Connect can give an in-depth look at how businesses can improve driving standards within the workforce, helping to reduce the amount of penalty points and fines given to drivers.

Be social and share this story

Water control systems and plumbing company Reliance Worldwide Corporation (UK) Ltd has improved mileage logging and slashed administration times after implementing a telematics system from Masternaut.

Reliance Worldwide has  implemented Masternaut telematics across its fleet of 26 cars, to accurately and effortlessly log all private and business mileage for its field sales team.

Reports are automatically sent to the administration manager on a weekly basis, breaking down the total mileage into business and personal, based on agreed cut off times for business related mileage. Employees use a fuel card to purchase all fuel, both private and personal, and a deduction is made from monthly pay in line with HMRC Fuel Advisory rates for any private mileage recorded. As such the process is HMRC compliant.

The Masternaut system has benefited the whole business, from the finance department to individual drivers, enabling authentication of business and private mileage, whilst storing data for regulatory compliance. This provides absolute transparency and avoids any over-claim issues.

 As a result of having the technology installed in all 26 vehicles, Reliance Worldwide has also managed to reduce insurance premiums across the fleet.

 “Expense and mileage logging is a heavy admin burden on any business, but the data and technology provided by Masternaut has helped us to eliminate that burden for our sales team,” commented Sally Pearson, administration aanager, Reliance Worldwide. “The support provided by the Masternaut team is excellent. We have reduced the company car drivers’ admin workload, eliminating the pain of manually logging their mileage. The reporting process gives total transparency on mileage across the business, giving a far more accurate picture on private mileage. By streamlining the process, we’ve given time back to our employees and saved them from an additional administration headache.”

Steve Towe, Chief Commercial Officer and UK Managing Director, Masternaut added, “Fleet car drivers are more likely to use their vehicles for both personal and work use, not something typically seen with vans or LCVs. Reliance Worldwide now has transparency on the actual mileage drivers have done allowing for a far more accurate picture of business versus private mileage. For many drivers, handling tax and expense claims can be a complex and time-consuming task, providing a real challenge to get everything right. Telematics is helping to reduce this burden.”

Be social and share this news

Smart meter installation and maintenance company Trojan Utilities has reduced its fuel usage by 24% after implementing a telematics system from Masternaut across its 100-plus strong fleet of vans. The system is used for a range of purposes by multiple departments across the business.

The Masternaut system provides Trojan with in-depth driver behaviour monitoring, looking at speeding, mileage and harsh events, helping Trojan to determine the effect various improvements have on fuel usage. The system is also used to dispatch engineers to proactively plan jobs and reactive emergency installs. The two-way messaging system allows engineers and Trojan Utilities to import contact numbers and communicate whilst out in the field too.

Since installation, Masternaut’s system has helped deliver a reduction in fuel usage through a combination of dynamic scheduling and improved driver behaviour. Reducing harsh events, idling and miles driven by each driver has seen a drop in fuel usage of 24%.

Driver behaviour overall has seen a major improvement with a 97% reduction in instances of speeding, helping make Trojan Utilities’ mobile workforce and other road users more safe.

Gemma Openshaw, Operations Director, commented, “Masternaut has become essential to our business, because it offered us everything we needed in one package. The system is used every day and we can’t operate without it. Without Masternaut, our fuel bill would be much higher so the system is effectively paying for itself. As a business, we’re operating in a challenging sector and the system has helped us cope with the rigours of installing in excess of 2,500 meters per week. That figure is only going to rise as we get closer to 2020, but with Masternaut, we’re confident that we’ll continue to stay ahead of the curve in the growing demand for smart meters.”

Steve Towe, Chief Commercial Officer and UK Managing Director, Masternaut, added: “The smart meter technology roll out is scheduled to be completed by 2020, and with millions of properties across the country needing them installed, this is certainly a significant challenge for all involved.”

He continues, “Telematics is giving Trojan Utilities a significant edge in managing this task, giving fleet managers total control and visibility of their fleet UK wise. In addition, the system is providing benefits in the form of reduced fuel usage and improved driver behaviour, reducing costs and improving driver welfare.”

Be social and share this news

Despite 86% of fleets experiencing collisions in the past 12-months, an alarming number of drivers are still driving without consideration for their safety...

One in six (16%) business drivers feel invincible when driving, claiming that they never consider their safety to be at risk, according to research from Masternaut, a pan-European provider of fleet telematics solutions.

Van and LCV drivers are the least likely to feel invincible, with only 10% saying that they don’t consider their safety while driving. This contrasts to 26% of public transport drivers, who feel invincible on the road at all times. 17% of business fleet car drivers and HGV and lorry drivers never think about their personal safety on the road.

As part of a focus on helping fleets improve safety on the road, Masternaut surveyed 2,000 UK employees that drive as part of their job to highlight the progress in road safety education and the work that is still required for further improvement.

Steve Towe, Chief Commercial Officer and UK Managing Director, commented, “Our research shows that a high percentage of business drivers don’t consider their safety to be at risk - despite driving being amongst the most dangerous profession. Research from The Institute of Advanced Motorists’ Drive & Survive shows that 86% of fleets have experienced an accident in the past 12 months, so it’s alarming to see so many drivers still not considering their safety when driving.”

Motorways were cited as the most unsafe type of road to drive on with 27% of drivers concerned about their safety. This is despite just 3.9% of all 2013 UK road accidents* taking place on motorways, showing that motorways are comparatively the safest type of road to drive on.

Drivers also felt unsafe on rural roads, with a quarter (25%) saying they feel vulnerable. This rises to 42% amongst HGV and lorry drivers and 36% of LCV and van drivers.

“The tools and technology exist to help educate drivers on safe driving practises, which can be driven by the intelligent application of telematics,” continues Towe. “Telematics has broader social benefits that it can offer to protect our drivers, not just in terms of notifying us of a collision, but in preventive and proactive driver-centric applications designed to improve behaviour”.

Telematics technology from Masternaut has evolved so that driver centric training programmes using data and insight from an intelligent telematics system can be delivered without the traditional map-based services protecting driver privacy. This in the past has been the limiting factor in the uptake of driver services, but has now been solved with Masternaut’s next generation telematics platform, Masternaut Connect.

Masternaut Connect is proven to improve driver behaviour, reducing instances of speeding and harsh braking, acceleration and cornering. UK businesses and fleet managers can easily implement a driver training programme using data and insight gained from Masternaut Connect. By collating information on driver behaviour, Connect can give an in-depth look at how businesses can improve safety and driving standards within their workforce, helping to reduce the amount of invincible and vulnerable drivers on the roads.

Be social and share this feature

Masternaut Connect selected to help Airporter track vehicles, deliver efficiency savings and improve driver behaviour

Airporter, a leading private sector airport transfer organisation, is implementing Masternaut’s powerful fleet management solution to provide real-time vehicle tracking, increase passenger safety, and deliver fuel efficiency savings.

Fleet managers at Airporter are now using data from Masternaut Connect, including the eco-Drive and TACHOfresh modules, to inform passengers of where vehicles are at a particular time, track and improve driver behaviour, and reduce fuel costs across the fleet.

Transporting 100,000 passengers each year with its fleet of 17 Mercedes Executive mini coaches, accurate vehicle tracking is essential to Airporter’s service. Masternaut Connect will ensure that real-time vehicle information can be correctly relayed to customers and ensure they transfer from airport-to-airport on time.

Airporter prides itself on high safety and compliance standards, ensuring drivers are correctly trained to be safe and that regular vehicle safety inspections are completed. Masternaut’s ecoDrive module will allow Airporter to see that if its training is successful and where improvements may need to be made in driver behaviour, all the while reducing fuel consumption and costs.

TACHOfresh provides Airporter with tachograph management that stores, archives and protects instantly-available data, and is mobile compatible. TACHOfresh also gives the ability for the user to remotely download all tachograph and driver data, and provides next-generation digital analysis, helping Airporter remain compliant with government regulations.

He continues, “We travel 1.5 million kilometres per year and carry more than 100,000 passengers, so passenger safety is something we take very seriously, and we needed a solution that can keep up with the pace. We’re the first public transport company in Northern Ireland to implement Masternaut telematics, and believe the company’s offering is the best available on the market. TACHOfresh in particular took us by surprise. For us, it ties up the whole logistics management side of Airporter, and it’s great to have one single reporting system as opposed to the time-intensive system we had previously.”

Steve Towe, chief commercial officer and UK managing director, Masternaut, commented: “It’s very rewarding to see how our solutions can help businesses simplify their processes. Airporter is already well regarded for its commitment to compliance, safe Mercedes vehicles, and for being the first transport provider in Northern Ireland to add free wifi into vehicles. It seems now, with the addition of telematics, that its reputation can only get better thanks to improved driver behaviour and environmental improvements, due to lower fuel usage. We look forward to seeing the results, and further expansion as Airporter continues to grow in the future.”

be social and share this story