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Fleet Operations, one of the UK's leading independent providers of outsourced fleet management services, is helping companies plan for an uncertain future by offering free post-Covid Fleet Health Checks at this year’s Virtual Fleet and Mobility Live event. 

From flex fleet and affinity options to grey fleet and EV adoption, the fleet and mobility management specialist will be offering bespoke advice on how fleets can be as efficient and futureproofed as possible.

Fleet Operations director Jayne Pett said: “The Covid-19 pandemic is reshaping the fleet landscape and companies are now faced with unprecedented challenges.

“Not only are companies tasked with making the switch to more mobility-focused, electric-powered, data-driven fleets, but they are having to do this at a time when resources are increasingly limited.

THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IS RESHAPING THE FLEET LANDSCAPE

“Immediate concerns include a need to adopt the most appropriate fleet strategies against a backdrop of economic uncertainty. Many are reluctant to commit to long-term contract hire, for example, opening the door to more flexible options including mid-term leasing.

“Risk policies and procedures are having to be reassessed to ensure driver safety and legal compliance, while trips to the office for employees now working from home may no longer be a classified as a commute, but rather as a business journey. This calls for staff employment contracts to also be reviewed to guarantee HMRC compliant mileage claims, and checks to ensure employees have the right insurance for business travel.

“At Fleet Operations, we have the insights and expertise needed to steer fleets onto the right path to adjust to the ‘new normal’ and ready themselves for the future.”

Other areas covered by the health check will include Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), fuel costs management, carbon footprint, fund options, cash and car allowances, salary sacrifice, cost visibility and streamlining administration. 

The Virtual Fleet and Mobility Live will see the fleet community come together, from fleet managers to experts and suppliers. This year’s virtual event will take place from November 17 to 19. To register, visit fleetandmobilitylive.com. 

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Further Reading:

• Read more about Managing the Mobile Workforce @ www.fieldservicenews.com/managing-the-mobile-workforce
• Learn more about Fleet Operations @ www.fleetoperations.co.uk
• Register for the Virtual Fleet and Mobility Live Event @ www.fleetandmobilitylive.com
• Read more about Fleet Operations on Field Service News @ www.fieldservicenews.com/fleet-operations
• Follow Fleet Operations on Twitter @ twitter.com/fleet_ops

The slow rate of technology adoption amongst many UK businesses could impact their ability to compete on an international scale – that’s according to a new study by YouGov and BT. The survey of over 1,000 businesses - ranging from SMEs to large enterprises - reveals the digital immaturity of some UK businesses, driven by a lack of awareness of key emerging technologies amongst business leaders and a failure to link technology benefits with improved business performance.

BT’s” state-of-the-nation report, “The Future In 2020 Review” , shines a light on the current take-up of digital technologies amongst UK businesses and their future investment plans, with one third having no plans to invest in new emerging tech over the next five years. Of the 14 new technologies highlighted in the survey, more than 50 per cent of business leaders – including Chief Information Officers (CIOs) – were only familiar with half of them.  Meanwhile, 40 per cent of those business leaders who have adopted new technologies worry that these have not been implemented successfully. This reveals a tech awareness problem amongst senior business and IT decision makers, which, when coupled with a digital skills gap, risks holding back the productivity and growth of UKplc.

UK'S DIGITAL IMMATURITY

The report’s findings indicate that a significant proportion of UK businesses are trailing behind in the technology innovation stakes. While more than 40 per cent of businesses have adopted VoIP, no other emerging technology has an uptake of more than 25 percent. Currently only 20 percent of businesses have embraced IoT, and roughly 30 percent of businesses believe that 5G will play a role in their future roadmap despite forecasts that 5G will add $8trn to global GDP by 2030. When asked about technology investment plans for the next five years, nearly a third said they have no plans to invest in data driven technologies such as AI and Machine Learning.

Businesses in the medical, health and education sectors are revealed as those where the biggest gaps lie, with these industries not currently using any of the technologies listed in the study, while over a third of these have no plans to adopt them in the next five years. Unsurprisingly, IT and Telecoms tops the list for the broadest investment in innovative technologies, although this is still relatively low at 26 percent.

 

AN AWARENESS GAP IN C-SUITE

The failure amongst some businesses to embrace emerging technologies can be linked to a lack of awareness, with more than 50 percent of business leaders stating that they were not aware of the technologies listed - despite the respondents sitting in a C-suite role or within a senior IT team. For instance, 31 percent said they are not aware of AI and 60 percent are not familiar with as-a-service solutions and managed security services. And, of those that have adopted new technology, 40 percent of respondents believe these are not being implemented successfully, so businesses are unable to reap the benefits of their technology investments.

 

BUSINESSES FAIL TO LINK TECHNOLOGY WITH COMMERCIAL GOALS

The research also reveals that the most common reason for businesses not adopting new technology is a lack of understanding of how technology can drive improved business performance. While industry experts point to 5G and complementary tech as a key catalyst for the fourth industrial revolution and business transformation, almost half of UK’s businesses are yet to recognise the relevancy and benefits it brings to their business, rising to 57 percent for Machine Learning and AI.

When asked about core objectives, all business leaders agreed; increasing revenue, reducing operational costs and boosting productivity are key priorities for the next three to five years. However, almost a quarter of businesses struggle to see how digital tools can power commercial performance and achieve key business objectives.

One of the biggest barriers to technology adoption according to those surveyed is the financial climate, with 40 percent of business leaders citing that the current climate is impacting their technology strategy. Furthermore, 1 in 3 businesses expect skills shortages to hamper technology investment; even in the most digitally savvy industries such as IT and financial services, one-quarter believe that digital skills shortages pose challenges to technology adoption. In an effort to accelerate UKplc’s digital maturity, BT has launched its Skills for Tomorrow initiative with an ambition to reach one million business owners and their employees with digital skills by 2025.

 

 

Chris Sims, Managing Director of Commercial and Marketing, BT Enterprise’s unit said: “The research reveals that a significant proportion of UK businesses view new technologies as a cost rather than an investment to help boost growth. It’s clear that businesses need more support; whether that’s understanding what technologies to adopt, how to maximise the potential of that technology and how that translates into commercial success.

“As the 5G network continues to roll out across the UK, it will support the delivery and uptake of other emerging technologies like IoT, AI and VR. 5G coupled with these technologies will play a critical role in fuelling the post-Covid recovery, by boosting productivity, delivering new customer experiences and creating new business models. Whilst the research suggests that uptake of emerging technology is slow, the understanding and adoption of these technologies will increase as 5G becomes more prevalent. Businesses that can harness this early on can reap significant benefits; saving time, boosting efficiencies, unlocking innovation and creating a sustainable future.”

To support businesses through their digital transformation journeys, BT is planning to launch a new Digital Health Checker for its corporate and SME customers. This will give businesses a free online assessment of their digital maturity and will help them identify the best technologies to future proof their business and position them for growth.

Details of BT’s Digital Health Checker will be announced in due course. For more information on BT’s Skills for Tomorrow programme, please visit the website here.

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Further Reading:

• Read more about Digital Transformation @ www.fieldservicenews.com/digital-transformation
• Learn more about BT @ www.bt.com
• Find out more about BT Skills For Tomorrow programme @ www.bt.com/skillsfortomorrow
• Read more about 5G on Field Service News @ www.fieldservicenews.com/5G
• Follow BT on Twitter @ twitter.com/bt_uk

Cyberattacks on internet-connected devices continue to rise at an alarming rate due to poor security protections and cybercriminals use of automated tools to exploit these vulnerabilities, according to the latest Nokia Threat Intelligence Report.

The report found that Internet-connected, or IoT, devices now make up roughly 33% of infected devices, up from about 16% in 2019. The report’s findings are based on data aggregated from monitoring network traffic on more than 150 million devices globally where Nokia's NetGuard Endpoint Security product is deployed.

Adoption of IoT devices, from smart home security monitoring systems to drones and medical devices, is expected to continue growing as consumers and enterprises move to take advantage of the high bandwidth, ultra-low latency, and fundamentally new networking capabilities that 5G mobile networks enable, according to the report.

The rate of success in infecting IoT devices depends on the visibility of the devices to the internet, according to the report. In networks where devices are routinely assigned public facing internet IP addresses, a high infection rate is seen. In networks where carrier-grade Network Address Translation is used, the infection rate is considerably reduced because the vulnerable devices are not visible to network scanning.

THE REPORT HIGHLIGHTS COVID-19-THEMED CYBERCRIMINAL CAMPAIGNS AIMED AT EXPLOITING USER DATA

The Threat Intelligence Report also reveals there is no let up in cybercriminals using the COVID-19 pandemic to try to steal personal data through a variety of types of malware. One in particular is disguised as a “Coronavirus Map” application – mimicking the legitimate and authoritative Coronavirus Map issued by Johns Hopkins University – to take advantage of the public’s demand for accurate information about COVID-19 infections, deaths and transmissions.

But the bogus application is used to plant malware on victims’ computers to exploit personal data. “Cybercriminals are playing on people’s fears and are seeing this situation as an opportunity to promote their agendas,” the report says. The report urges the public to install applications only from trusted app stores, like Google and Apple.

Bhaskar Gorti, Nokia Software President and Chief Digital Officer, said: “The sweeping changes that are taking place in the 5G ecosystem, with even more 5G networks being deployed around the world as we move to 2021, open ample opportunities for malicious actors to take advantage of vulnerabilities in IoT devices. This report reinforces not only the critical need for consumers and enterprises to step up their own cyber protection practices, but for IoT device producers to do the same.”

Commenting on this, Boris Cipot, senior security engineer at Synopsys, said "The Nokia Threat Report is a welcome confirmation for security professionals that mobile platforms are not something that can be disregarded as a risk. If we think about it, today we have more processing power and memory in our smartphones than we did just a few years ago on our laptops and desktops. Most individuals now jump on their phones or tablet to browse the internet or read their emails. Use cases have shifted from traditional desktop/laptop to mobile device and as such, it is normal that cyberthreats have followed this trend. Nevertheless, that is not to say that individuals should disregard standard PC threats. While mobile threats are rising, this does not imply that PC threats are decreasing. On the contrary, these threats are growing in number too.

"In fact, we are now entering a new era of technology; that is the 5G era, which brings along with it another set of threats. New threats are to be expected with new technology. One has to be prepared for them and to take appropriate action to build resilience. The world of IoT is evidence that we are still a long way from achieving this. Breached baby monitors, video cameras, cryptocurrency mining… all of these are recent incidents we have faced and continue to face. Whether it is the Android platform or the RTOS of an IoT device that is under attack, the root of the matter typically comes down to vulnerabilities in the software. Therefore, secure development and the Security by Design principle needs to be at the foundation of every software development process. The use of tools such as SAST, SCA or IAST are mandatory to keep the whole ecosystem safe. The reason being that even the smallest security hole delivered by the smallest application in a mobile phone or PC could be responsible for a whole device becoming exploitable.“

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Further Reading:

• Read the Nokia Threat Intelligence Report @ www.nokia.com/threat-intelligence-report
• Read more about Digital Transformation @ www.fieldservicenews.com/digital-transformation
• Watch Nokia's video 'Vulnerability of IoT Devices' @ youtu.be/ume8OldqvUY
• Watch Nokia's video '5G Can Help Secure Devices' @ youtu.be/XghAvFgTv2k
• Follow Nokia on Twitter @ twitter.com/nokia

BT and Belfast Harbour today announced a landmark partnership to build a state-of-the-art 5G ecosystem within the Port.  The partnership will deliver a series of 5G-led innovations to accelerate Belfast Harbour’s digital transformation and help deliver its smart port strategic ambitions.

In a UK and Ireland-first, BT will build and manage a live 5G Private Network designed specifically to achieve the highest levels of ultrafast mobile connectivity, coverage, reliability and security across the Port’s main operational areas. The highly secure and scalable network will enhance safety, security and sustainability across the Harbour Estate and is expected to go live across large parts of the 2,000-acre site early next year. 

Belfast Harbour is an important gateway to trade and a significant contributor to the regional economy. Every year, more than 1.75 million people and over half a million freight vehicles arrive and depart through the Port, while 24 million tonnes of goods are managed and carried by ferries, container ships and general cargo vessels.

A PARTNERSHIP TO STIMULATE INNOVATION ACROSS TRANSPORT, LOGISTICS, PUBLIC SAFETY, PHYSICAL SECURITY AND SUSTAINABILITY

The deployment will allow Belfast Harbour to drive operational efficiencies and accelerate its digital transformation through optimising processes across transport, logistics, supply chain and shipping, as well as boosting productivity through the smooth-running of the Port’s operations. The partnership will also explore how 5G and other emerging technologies such as AI, IoT and Connected Autonomous Vehicles can be used together to enhance public safety, physical security and address climate change across the Port and other parts of Belfast City.

For example, the partnership will explore how 5G-led capabilities can help Belfast Harbour to ensure a safe and secure environment for businesses, employees and the wider public. The two organisations will work on improved productivity and safety measures by enabling 5G remote controlled inspection technology to reduce the need for staff to work at height. Meanwhile, the roll out of 5G enabled sensors to monitor air quality and other environmental factors will support Belfast Harbour and the wider city in achieving its green recovery and sustainability ambitions.

The strategic partnership follows a successful UK-first trial of 5G technology by BT and Belfast Harbour last year and supports Belfast Harbour’s ambitions to become the world’s best regional smart port.

Gerry McQuade, CEO of BT’s Enterprise unit, said: “Our UK-first 5G trial with Belfast Harbour last year was a powerful illustration of how 5G-led technology can transform port operations, propel the success of local businesses and drive economic growth. Today’s deal with Belfast Harbour will make these benefits a reality, with the creation of a sophisticated digital ecosystem comprising of 5G, AI, IoT and Connected Vehicles. This will act as a springboard for Belfast Harbour to achieve its ambition to be the world’s best regional smart port and an innovation hub for the region.

“Ports are fundamental to the UK economy, and Belfast Harbour is responsible for roughly two thirds of Northern Ireland’s trade. With the rising demands on transport and logistics, and the growing need for operations to be safe, secure and sustainable, we’re excited to work with Belfast Harbour as its technology partner, building 5G-led innovations to unlock the productivity benefits for the port and contribute to the region’s green recovery ambitions.”

Joe O’Neill, Chief Executive of Belfast Harbour added: “One of Belfast Harbour’s key strategic ambitions is to become a smart port that engages creatively and effectively with customers, visitors and employees. Following a successful test programme last year, we are pleased to have engaged BT to bring 5G technology into Belfast Harbour and delighted that this private network is a first for the UK and Ireland.

“The smooth and efficient running of our Port logistics network relies on the accurate tracking and integration of data gathered from multiple sources.  We believe the increased capabilities of 5G technology can have a beneficial effect on our operations, helping us for example to capture, process and interpret data in real time and giving insights that will speed decision making, better manage vehicle traffic through our Harbour Estate and improve productivity across our operations and services.”

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Further Reading:

• Read more about Digital Transformation @ www.fieldservicenews.com/digital-transformation
• Learn more about BT @ www.bt.com
• Find out more about Belfast Harbour @ www.belfast-harbour.co.uk
• Read more about 5G on Field Service News @ www.fieldservicenews.com/5G
• Follow BT on Twitter @ twitter.com/bt_uk

The human factor is widely recognized as an essential component to digital transformation success. In fact, over a quarter (27 percent) of companies acknowledge that despite being key, people are often overlooked when planning and executing transformative projects, according to a research study from global enterprise applications company IFS.

The study goes on to identify poor change management as one of the key reasons digital transformation projects fail. When implementing new digital transformation projects, businesses are focused on implementing the key technology and solutions but aren’t considering the importance of staff buy-in and acceptance of the project, which is intrinsically linked to its overall success.

INNOVATION IS THE KEY TO BUSINESS RESILIENCE

When asked about the reasons for failure in past projects, businesses also cited lack of employee engagement among the top four reasons. In addition, respondents named past experiences of low employee buy-in as one of the top two reasons for hesitating to launch new digital transformation projects. This can potentially have a great impact on the overall development of a business, as in times of downturn many believe innovation is the key to business resilience.

The broad focus on people-related considerations among companies goes hand in hand with a widely held concern for soft values such as vendor culture and ethics, which was revealed by a previous IFS study.

Although one third of respondents identified involving the human resources (HR) department from the beginning to ensure employee awareness as key to digital transformation success, one quarter of companies admitted that they have been guilty of not doing so in the past. Furthermore, 21 percent of companies expressed that employee engagement is more of a “tick-box” exercise, as opposed to being critical for success, revealing an obvious mismatch between recognition and actual execution.

 

 

From an HR perspective, there is ample proof that digital transformation makes good business sense. 29 percent of respondents stated that employee retention would be higher if the business could offer more exciting technology to its people, indicating that technology does have employee retention possibilities. Furthermore, 39 percent said that technology provides the ideal opportunity to retrain and upskill existing staff, thereby bridging the skills gap that is a major pain point in many industries.

“Through continuous dialog with our customers as well as first-hand experiences from our own digital transformation, we have always known that people can act as both an enabler and a barrier in transformation projects,” IFS Chief Human Resources Officer Jane Keith said. “This report drives home the point that if digital transformation is kept human centric and if change management is handled effectively and employees are aware and inspired to support the transformation, the business is much more likely to reap success. Staff involvement should not be seen as a just a tick-box exercise but as the secret sauce that will ultimately determine the outcome.”

 

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Download a complimentary copy of Digital Transformation Investment in 2020 and Beyond: The Undeniable People Factor.

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Further Reading:

• Read more about Digital Transformation @ www.fieldservicenews.com/digital-transformation
• Learn more about IFS @ www.ifs.com
• Download a complimentary copy of the IFS study here
• Read more about IFS on Field Service News @ www.fieldservicenews.com/IFS
• Follow IFS on Twitter @ twitter.com/ifsuk

Lytx^®, a leading provider of machine vision- and artificial intelligence-powered video telematics, analytics, safety, and productivity solutions for commercial, public sector, and field service fleets, today announced several new technology capabilities that build upon its ability to quickly, comprehensively, and accurately identify driving risk.

Using precise, cutting-edge technology, this new driver-powered approach to safety is a simple, but powerful way for drivers to be more proactive and accountable for their own improvement, while giving management the necessary visibility and data to effectively monitor and intervene if needed.

THE NEXT GENERATION OF DRIVER-POWERED SAFETY

Lytx is adding a number of new capabilities to its safety offerings in support of this driver-powered approach, including:

• "Inattentive" trigger, which uses proprietary machine vision and artificial intelligence (MV+AI) to detect when the driver's attention may be unfocused or the driver may be experiencing a condition such as fatigue or drowsiness without the reliance on an accelerometer event
• Real-time in-cab alerts for five different risky driving behaviors: cell phone use, eating and drinking, smoking, no seatbelt, speeding, and inattentiveness
• Behavior duration reporting, which uses MV+AI to track and quantify both the duration and percentage of drive time a driver was engaged in a risky driving behavior, providing a more holistic view of persistent risk

With these new MV+AI-powered updates, when an event is detected, the DriveCam^® Event Recorder will issue a real-time in-cab alert to help drivers recognize and address their own risky behaviors and self-correct in the moment. Depending on the behavior, the alert will include a light and/or spoken phrase. With Lytx's ability to detect more than 60 driving behaviors with greater than 95% accuracy, its in-cab alerts are some of the most precise and actionable in the industry.

Drivers will also have access to new check-in tools allowing them to review their own video and performance after-the-fact, including behavior duration. This gives a new perspective on past events and supports long-term retention on lessons learned during a drive. If desired, managers can stay informed by subscribing to push notifications and reports on pertinent information.

"Fleets today are looking for reliable technology that allows drivers to quickly improve in the moment and with little or no manager intervention," said Lytx President Doron Lurie. "A driver-powered approach to safety empowers drivers to take charge of their own safety, while freeing up precious manager time that can be redirected to other areas of the business. Backed by award-winning technology and a proven strategy that has helped hundreds of thousands of drivers safely navigate billions of miles, fleet managers can be confident in this approach and can track progress along the way to respond to any critical events or incidents and intervene as needed."

THE RISK DETECTION WITHOUT RECORDING VIDEO

Lytx is also broadening its safety solutions with Risk Identification Without Recording, an innovative new configuration for its already best-in-class DriveCam Event Recorder. Using Lytx's ultra-precise MV+AI, DriveCam is now able to detect patterns of distracted or unwanted driving behaviors inside the cab without recording video of the driver.

This new configuration is designed for fleets who opt to disable in-cab video recording, allowing them to benefit from significantly greater in-cab risk detection, while respecting driver privacy. Drivers can receive the added benefit of Lytx's expanded in-cab alerts based on risky behaviors that are detected, but not recorded, enabling in-the-moment action for greater safety overall.

"For more than 20 years, Lytx has made an unwavering commitment to developing cutting-edge technology, and we are continuously innovating to incorporate that technology for greater safety and productivity enhancements," said Lytx Chief Technology Officer Rajesh Rudraradhya. "Leveraging our unmatched scale, deep expertise and advanced AI architecture, we have evolved from using AI to provide only video snippets and counts of risky driving behaviors to offering a full view of each and every drive with precise continual behavior reporting. The advanced driver first innovations announced today will help fleets and drivers identify and eradicate risk at levels never seen before, while ensuring every fleet can take advantage of the power of Lytx MV+AI to cut through the noise and focus on what matters."

These new capabilities announced today are part of Lytx's safety solutions and are configurable to suit each fleet's unique workflows and priorities. To learn more about driver-powered safety and see in-cab alerts in action, watch this new video.

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Further Reading:

• Read more about Managing The Mobile Workforce @ www.fieldservicenews.com/managing-the-mobile-workforce
• Learn more about Lytx  @ www.lytx.com
• Find out more about Detect and Prevent Risky Driving with Lytx @ youtu.be/F1B1jEWcLAY
• Read more about Lytx on Field Service News @ www.fieldservicenews.com/lytx
• Follow Lytx on Twitter @ twitter.com/lytx

Leading online vehicle remarketing business, Copart UK, is gearing up for the introduction of DVS regulations by installing connected technology on its 250-strong transporter fleet over the next few months.

The business, which has 18 nationwide locations across the UK, has implemented an integrated solution which combines Webfleet Solutions’ fleet management platform WEBFLEET and connected cameras from VisionTrack.

The connected technology is being rolled out to the company’s existing and new transporters, in preparation for the introduction of The Direct Vision Standard in London, where around 20 per cent of Copart’s fleet operates.

The Direct Vision Standard, which measures how much an HGV driver can see directly through their cab windows, is part of the Mayor of London's Vision Zero plan to eliminate all deaths and serious injuries on London's transport network by 2041. It will come into force from March 2021.

AN INTEGRATED SOLUTION TO COMPLY TO THE NEW DVS AND SAFEGUARD DRIVERS AND OTHER ROAD USERS

“This comprehensive solution ensures that we are complying to the letter when it comes to the Direct Vision Standard, but it also brings a wealth of other benefits,” said Phil Briggs, Copart UK’s Director of Operation Centres, Transport & Engineering.

“We can gain powerful insights into driver style and behaviour and implement targeted training and education, which can lead to improved driver safety and security, enhanced fleet sustainability and a reduction in fuel and maintenance costs. The camera integration also provides irrefutable evidence in the event of road traffic incidents, giving us a complete picture of what has occurred and why.

This not only provides peace of mind for the driver but can also help avoid protracted legal proceedings and rebut bogus damage or injury claims. All this using one single software interface.”

WEBFLEET’s OptiDrive 360 functionality helps to empower drivers to be greener and safer by giving them real-time feedback and advice on their performance behind the wheel, while profiling them based on incidents such as harsh braking, sharp cornering or speeding to enable issues to be immediately addressed. VisionTrack’s connected cameras, meanwhile, provide associated video evidence for every event, offering context and insights into why incidents occurred.

To help protect the safety of vulnerable road users, VisionTrack DVS kit will be retrofitted on the fleet’s existing London-centric vehicles and will be fitted as standard on 150 of Copart’s new-build transporters, regardless of which area they are being deployed to - meaning the connected forward, rear and side-facing vehicle cameras have been supplemented with side sensors and left-turn warning alarms.

VisionTrack’s camera system also captures footage of vehicles being loaded and unloaded from the transporters to monitor asset condition going on and off the vehicle.

“With eyes on every angle, we will now have full transparency over our fleet operations,” Briggs added.

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Further Reading:

• Read more about Fleet Technology @ www.fieldservicenews.com/fleet-technology
• Learn more about Webfleet Solutions  @ www.webfleet.com
• Find out more about Vision Track @ www.visiontrack.com
• Read more about Webfleet Solutions on Field Service News @ www.fieldservicenews.com/webfleet
• Follow WebFleet Solutions on Twitter @ twitter.com/Webfleetnews

ETELM, the radio communications infrastructure specialist, has entered the second phase of its work with the BroadPort consortium in developing a pan-European interoperable mobile broadband system for Public Protection & Disaster Relief (PPDR) users.

The BroadPort consortium is among three consortia awarded the prototype project based on the successful technical concept developed in Phase 1 of BroadWay, an innovative European Pre-Commercial Procurement project.

The BroadWay initiative was created by the public safety agencies from 11 European countries and is operating under the framework of Horizon 2020, a flagship EU research and innovation programme. Collectively, these agencies provide mobile communication services to around 1.4 million responders and deal with an array of crimes and disasters that are not limited to fixed geographical borders.

THE OBJECTIVE OF BROADWAY IS TO DEVELOP A UNIFIED SOLUTION TO  ALLOW FIRST RESPONDERS TO COMMUNICATE AND SHARE INFORMATION ACROSS DIFFERENT COUNTRIES

Where currently each country possesses its own separate system to handle mission-critical communications, the objective of BroadWay is to develop a unified solution that will allow European first responders to communicate, share and access information regardless of the country in which they intervene. This will provide operational mobility for public safety responders across Europe by linking national mission-critical mobile broadband networks to act as one.

By developing a pan-European broadband mobile network for PPDR, public emergency and security services across Europe can achieve seamless interoperability and operational mobility. In turn, this will enable agencies to keep populations safe by allowing them to collaboratively respond to cross-border crimes, natural disasters and public safety incidents more efficiently and with the highest possible levels of continuity and security.

Nicolas Hauswald, CEO of ETELM, said: “We are truly inspired by the ambition of this great project to connect public safety organisations across the continent and create one of the world’s most advanced and secure mission-critical communications networks.

“Our experience in delivering professional radio communications infrastructure over the last 40 years has taught us that a reliable communications system is the key to handle complex transmissions and remove any barriers that could delay a response. We’re delighted to be able to contribute this expertise as part of the BroadPort team that are working towards the removal of ‘barriers’ in pan-European mission-critical communications by leading with innovation.”

He continued: “By offering greater bandwidth and flexibility when it comes to data-rich applications and video, LTE networks enable emergency services, first responders and critical national infrastructure operators to integrate data seamlessly with their voice communications.“Our agility when responding to fast-developing emergency situations in this way can mean the difference between life and death, so this is a project of immeasurable significance. There’s a great challenge ahead, and we are looking forward to getting stuck in.”

The BroadWay solution prototypes will be tested and evaluated in Spring 2021. After which a subsequent competition will be held where two remaining consortia will be tasked with deploying final pilot systems by Spring 2022 for Phase 3 of the BroadWay project (Pilot Phase).

The full BroadPort consortium, led by Frequentis, consists of the following partners: ETELM, Crosscall, Halys, Municipality of Málaga, Nemergent Solutions SL, and Universidad de Málaga. The subcontractors are Arico Technologies, Eutelsat SA, PrioCom B.V., Telefónica I+D, T-Mobile Netherlands B.V., and Virtual Fort Knox AG.

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Further Reading:

• Learn more about ETELM  @ www.etelm.fr
• Read more about Managing the Mobile Workforce @ www.fieldservicenews.com/managing-the-mobile-workforce
• Read more about ETELM on Field Service News @ www.fieldservicenews.com/etelm
• Follow ETELM on Twitter @ twitter.com/ETELM2

 

As one of the most severely affected places by COVID-19, the Government of the Piedmont Region in Italy requested that the B-LiFE (Biological Light Field Laboratory for Emergencies) service was deployed in the area since June to carry out vital COVID-19 diagnostic tests.

Using its advanced mobile laboratory, the mission of the B-LiFE department was to carry out a large number of COVID-19 tests for first responders, civil protection, health personnel, police and volunteers.

The deployment of B-LiFE is led by the Centre for Applied Molecular Technologies of UCLouvain (Catholic University of Louvain) with the support of ESA (European Space Agency), the Luxembourg Government and its Ministry of Defence. B-LiFE's partners in this humanitarian mission are Belgian companies Eonix and Nazka Mapps, Luxembourg companies’ SES and GovSat, and French company ETELM.

 

ETELM AND B-LIFE PARTNERED UP TO PROVIDE CRITICAL COMMUNICATIONS SUPPORT IN ONE OF THE REGIONS WORST AFFECTED BY THE PANDEMIC

B-LiFE was developed as part of the ESA Space Solutions programme (formerly known as IAP-ARTES 20), with the participation of Belgium and Luxembourg. The integration of satellite and terrestrial telecommunications, information management, earth observation, location management and real-time epidemiological mapping allows B-LiFE to be deployed very quickly, autonomously and as close as possible to a crisis zone.

Mobile laboratories have become extremely important during the COVID-19 pandemic. B-LiFE is one of the most advanced mobile laboratories in the world and has been operational since 2014 when it was successfully deployed in Guinea during the Ebola outbreak. It is integrated and certified in the European Civil Protection Mechanism (EUCPM)

ETELM, a partner of B-LiFE, has made a critical contribution to the initiative in supplying telecommunications services. It has enabled the integration of TETRA and LTE terrestrial telecommunications capabilities into the satellite terminal provided by SES, GovSat and the Luxembourg Ministry of Defence. This work was necessary to ensure full autonomy during a crisis situation and to enable interoperability with local emergency services.

ETELM's 4GLinked Unified Mobile Platform has been successfully deployed and tested to support B-LiFE laboratory operations, including PMR TETRA and LTE base stations. ETELM's participation in the B-LiFE mission in the Piedmont Region, and the successful use of its equipment and service, ensures the company’s ongoing partnership with B-LiFE.

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Further Reading:

• Learn more about ETELM  @ www.etelm.fr
• Find out more about B-LIFE @ www.blife.it
• Read more about Digital Transformation @ www.fieldservicenews.com/digital-transformation
• Read more about Covid-19 on Field Service News @ www.fieldservicenews.com/covid-19
• Follow ETELM on Twitter @ twitter.com/ETELM2