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Approximately one in three companies (32 per cent) believe the business use of artificial intelligence will be commonplace within the next decade, new research from TomTom Telematics has revealed.

The study found that 22 per cent believe virtual reality will be in common usage, while around one in five anticipates the prevalence of in-vehicle working due to the development of autonomous vehicles.

However, almost a third (32 per cent) fear they may struggle to keep pace with the rate of technological change. Furthermore, one in two (49 per cent) believe those that fail to embrace digitalised processes and the Internet of Things are at greater risk of going out of business.

“Complacency can sound the death knell for businesses,” said Beverley Wise, director UK & Ireland at TomTom Telematics.

“Companies should be mindful of the pace of change and keep a close eye on the solutions and processes that will help ensure a competitive future – from smart mobility and connected tech to advanced manufacturing and design systems. Many of today’s new emerging technologies will disrupt and revolutionise commerce, and in the process become the standard for tomorrow.”

Almost half of companies (46 per cent) believe remote working has or will become, the norm within the next 10 years. Remote working is currently proving more prevalent among larger companies (58 per cent) than their SMEs counterparts (37 per cent).

“The onus is on businesses, both large and small, to adapt to this new era of hypermobility and connected working that is being ushered in by advancements in areas ranging from telematics and the connected car to iPaaS and blockchain solutions,” added Wise.

“Such connected technologies and unified communication systems are unshackling workers from traditional working patterns - an empowering development that is set to significantly impact productivity and business efficiency.”

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A new TomTom (TOM2) Telematics study reveals UK businesses adopt disruptive technology to improve productivity and better manage employees but are discouraged by a lack of reliable information...

TomTom Telematics, a provider of fleet management and connected car services, found that more than two-thirds of businesses (68%) believe technology is important in recruiting, motivating and retaining employees. Meanwhile, increasing productivity (19%), increasing sales (11%), lowering business costs (11%) and improving customer service (11%) were the most commonly cited motivators for adopting new technology.

Half of businesses (49%), however, believe there is a lack of reliable advice for those looking to introduce new technology systems, with 24% citing a lack of information from providers as a major challenge to adoption. Other key challenges cited include a lack of expertise within the organisation (29%), an inability to find a provider that fits with the organization (31%) and cost (38%).

We’re now living in the connected world “We’re now living in the connected world...” said Beverley Wise, Director UK & Ireland at TomTom Telematics. “Businesses need to work with disruptive technology or risk being left behind by their competitors.

“We commissioned this research to paint a clear picture of the current technology adoption landscape for businesses, highlight the challenges they face when adopting and to advise on what trends they should be paying closest attention to.”

Despite the significant role technology plays in the workplace, just 41% of businesses say they are early adopters of technology innovations, with almost a third (32%) saying their use of technology at home is more advanced than at work.

“There’s a noticeable reluctance to adopting emerging solutions amongst many UK businesses,” said Wise. “This is particularly prevalent among SMEs, with these businesses 10% less likely to be early adopters of new technology than their larger competitors (37% vs 47%). But sitting on your hands while others make use of the latest innovations is a major risk.”

When choosing a provider, the research found that technological support and usability was the biggest consideration (32%).

“It’s vital for companies to do their research to ensure they are investing in systems that will be intuitive, supportive and well-suited to their business processes,” Wise added.

“At TomTom Telematics, we take this very seriously. From in-depth, hands-on information about our services, to strategically useful data like that revealed in this study, we believe in offering companies all the information they need to make the best decision.”

An illustrated report of the findings, including actionable insight and advice, is now available on the TomTom Telematics website here. 

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AD Bly has achieved savings of £100,000 after an investment in technology helped to reduce maintenance bills, improve driver behaviour and slash mileage

The Knebworth-based construction firm has implemented a joint solution combining TomTom Telematics WEBFLEET and FleetCheck to help boost efficiency across its fleet, with consultancy support from TomTom reseller Auto Electrical Services.

The integration of WEBFLEET and FleetCheck means service schedules can be managed based on up-to-date information drawn from the vehicle, including odometer readings. This helps AD Bly to conduct proactive maintenance work, calling vehicles in immediately when work is required to prevent problems from developing.

Meanwhile, improved mileage reporting has also allowed the company to cut down on out-of-hours use of vehicles, helping to reduce the number of miles travelled by around 5,000 over the course of a year. Reports on driving time and mileage per day also help AD Bly take greater control over the safety of staff.

Bringing different data streams together in one place has helped to change the way we work and allow us to gain greater insights into the operation of our fleetAdam Gamlin, Fleet Manager at AD Bly said: “Bringing different data streams together in one place has helped to change the way we work and allow us to gain greater insights into the operation of our fleet. As a result, the transport department is better able to support the growth aims of the wider business.”

AD Bly also targeted driver behaviour as an area of focus across its fleet of two HGVs and 169 LCVs. OptiDrive 360 – a key component of WEBFLEET – provides managers with weekly reports detailing incidences of speeding, harsh steering and harsh braking. This allows them to conduct detailed driver debriefs allowing them to target any performance issues that may have a negative impact on fuel efficiency and safety.

Meanwhile, the drivers themselves receive in-trip feedback and predictive advice, empowering them with the information needed to make positive changes.

Gamlin added: “By unlocking a wealth of data on driving performance, we are now in an even better position to work with our drivers to improve their safety and help the business operate more efficiently. Our employees reacted well to the introduction of the technology and improvements to performance happened very quickly.

“Now, we are quickly able to identify the root causes of any performance issues and address these with individual drivers, providing the support, advice and training needed to help them improve.”

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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 been announced as the 2016 European Fleet Telematics Company of the Year in the latest Frost & Sullivan Awards.

The Frost & Sullivan panel commended the company for its successful implementation of industry best practices to innovate and meet changing customer needs. Its open telematics service platform, Webfleet, is enabling partners in different verticals to create applications suited to their individual sectors, which are available to TomTom Telematics customers through the .connect portal.

This allows fleet owners to incorporate a range of software applications that are specific to their industry, enabling them to make smarter decisions to achieve their business goals. Moreover, OptiDrive 360 fulfils the green requirements of customers, helping them reduce idling times, speeding and vehicle maintenance. The technology provides a complete approach to assist drivers in adopting a responsible driving style.

Sathya Kabirdas, Research Manager at Frost & Sullivan, said: “TomTom Telematics has strongly positioned itself in the European fleet telematics market on the strength of its expertise in developing diversified solutions that can help ensure optimum driver efficiency and contribute to operational cost savings for clients.”

Thomas Schmidt, Managing Director at TomTom Telematics, added: “It’s an honour to receive the Company of the Year Award as it is the most prestigious award that Frost & Sullivan bestows on any company. It has been an amazing year for TomTom Telematics and we look forward to driving ahead with our business in 2016, and helping our customers achieve even more.”

 

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Have reduced road accidents by 14% following its initial deployment of CTrack vehicle tracking to 750 vans, Anglian Water is now rolling it out to a further 500 vehicles.

Since 750 vans were fitted with Ctrack vehicle tracking solution a year ago, UK water company Anglian Water has seen the number of road accidents across its commercial fleet operation fall by 14 per cent, fuel efficiency improve by 10 per cent and carbon emissions drop by 4 per cent.

The latest agreement, takes the total number of Anglian Water vehicles tracked by the CTrack Online system to 1,750. Ctrack was originally appointed in 2014 to implement a web-based tracking solution across Anglian Water’s treatments, waterworks and waste water operations. This included the adoption of the Driver Behaviour Indicator (DBI), an in-vehicle device that alerts drivers to any infringements when on the road by displaying a series of traffic-light coloured warning lights.

Anglian Water uses Ctrack Online’s reporting tool to capture management information regarding driver performance and driving exceptions. This has enabled the company to identify areas of improvement and maximise its driver training initiative, resulting in an almost fifty per cent reduction in the number driver exceptions – such as speeding and harsh acceleration, braking and cornering – from 25 miles per event to 49 miles per event.

As part of the driver behaviour programme, Anglian Water also operates a zero tolerance to speeding, so a bespoke speed band reporting tool has been created to enable the company to monitor where any issues are occurring.

 Ctrack will continue providing a consultative service to support the ongoing success of the vehicle tracking solution. A dedicated professional services team analyses all available data to provide guidance on how best to drive operational improvements and help realise maximum value. This has included monitoring vehicle usage to identify any areas of underutilisation, so Anglian Water can take steps to right size its operation or implement fleet rotation, which will he reduce costs and improve residual value.

 Stewart Lightbody, Head of Fleet Services at Anglian Water commented: “We have worked closely with Ctrack to develop an effective tracking solution that supports our commitment to Duty of Care. The safety of our staff, other road users and pedestrians in the areas we operate is our biggest priority, so we are delighted to see such positive changes to driver behaviour. Moving forward we are targeting a 25 per cent reduction in accidents as well further improvements in fuel efficiency.”

 John Wisdom, Managing Director of Ctrack said: “We are using our expertise within the utilities marketplace to develop a highly effective partnership with Anglian Water. By understanding their business and operational priorities, we have been able to use our industry-leading tracking solution to help achieve significant improvements in terms of fleet safety, efficiency and utilisation.”

 

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TomTom Telematics has been identified as Europe’s largest, and fastest-growing, provider of commercial vehicle fleet management solutions by Berg Insight, the M2M/IoT market analyst firm.

Berg Insight has just published the tenth edition of its Fleet Management Europe report. CEO Johan Fagerberg commented: “Our report shows that the European fleet management market has entered a growth period that looks set to last for several years. The number of fleet management systems in active use is forecast to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 15.1 percent from 4.40 million units at the end of 2014 to 8.90 million by 2019. TomTom Telematics was the fastest growing vendor in 2014 and has now emerged as the clear leader in the European fleet management market.”

Official statistics from 2011 reveal that of the 36.1m commercial vehicles on European roads, 29.5 million are  light commercial vehicles (LCV) used by mobile workers for activities such as service management and deliveries.

A group of international aftermarket solution providers have emerged as the leaders on the European fleet management market, says Berg. TomTom Telematics was the fastest growing vendor also in 2014 and has climbed to the number one spot in Europe ahead of Masternaut. Other significant players include European companies such as Trakm8, Transics, Microlise, Quartix, Tantalum Corporation, Orange Business Services, Vehco and Finder and international players like Trimble and Navman Wireless from the US, Astrata Europe from Singapore and the South African telematics providers DigiCore and MiX Telematics.

TomTom Telematics services more than 520,000 vehicles worldwide 60 countries, giving it the largest installed base of subscriptions for fleet management services in Europe. At the same time, it is one of the world’s leading telematics solution providers.

“We believe firmly in the power of leadership in combination with continuous innovation,” said Thomas Schmidt, Managing Director at TomTom Telematics. “Our open telematics service platform WEBFLEET lies at the heart of this success, offering high performance and efficiency gains, security and quick return on investment for our customers.” WEBFLEET includes ISO 27001:2013 certification - one of the most stringent certifications for information security controls.

The Berg report also highlights the vendor consolidation trend in the fleet management sector, noting  numerous M&A activities in 2015. Fleetmatics acquired Ornicar in February 2015 – a local FM solution provider in France adding around 15,000 vehicle subscriptions. In March 2015, a decision was made to merge the two Danaher Corporation owned companies Navman Wireless and Teletrac. Later in April, Orange Business Services acquired OCEAN that now operates as a subsidiary with the OCEAN brand name. Novatel Wireless announced a bid to acquire Digicore in June in a deal worth US$ 87 million. In the same month, Viasat announced to have acquired a controlling interest in Cefin Systems. Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking Division and GRO Capital announced the acquisition of Trackunit from the founders of the company in July. Thermo King acquired Celtrak in October. The latest transaction was done in November when Fleetmatics acquired Visirun in Italy adding 28,000 subscriptions amd 3,000 clients.

TomTom Telematics has also been named Best Vehicle System Integrator by TU-Automotive in recognition of its open platform which now has more than 350 partners. Available third-party software solutions and apps include those for CRM and ERP, planning and scheduling, route optimisation, temperature control, mobile printing and lone worker safety.

 

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TomTom Telematics and Shell are to co-operate to offer businesses in Europe a complete fuel management solution using the TomTom Telematics fleet management platform WEBFLEET alongside Shell fuel management services.

As a result of this agreement, TomTom Telematics will launch a service that integrates euroShell Cards data into its WEBFLEET software-as-a-service platform, making fuel transactions and fuel management information available for users in one system.

“TomTom Telematics has a strong portfolio and high performance standards to help fleets improve fuel efficiency, which fits well with the expectations of Shell customers,” said Thomas Schmidt, Managing Director at TomTom Telematics. “Furthermore, the integration of euroShell Cards fuel data within WEBFLEET provides a more complete picture for fleet managers, enabling them to optimise and manage all aspects of fuel efficiency.”

Parminder Kohli, General Manager Business Development at Shell Commercial Fleet, added: “This deal provides customers with a complete solution combining one of the telematics industry’s richest reporting suites with Shell’s fuel card expertise and one of the largest petrol station networks in Europe.”

“Fuel is amongst the biggest cost factors when running a vehicle fleet. However, by providing businesses with driver, vehicle and fuelling data insights, areas for improvement can be more easily identified and acted on, helping these businesses to reduce their costs and carbon footprint."

TomTom Telematics has over 500,000 subscribers in 60 countries.

Magenta Technology, the developers of the Maxoptra routing and scheduling system, has launched an online application that automates job despatching for users of TomTom’s telematics and fleet management solutions. The app, called Planndit, links job details from Maxoptra directly to TomTom WEBFLEET, eliminating the need to manually type in job details. This makes job despatch and sequencing quick and easy, saving time and eliminating errors.

It means being able to despatch routes to any TomTom Pro device in less than 30 seconds per route, and that includes verifying the overall route on a map and optimising the route sequence within the process before it is sent. The app simply connects to the TomTom service and pools the devices in use so jobs can be sent to the correct operative.

The Maxoptra app automatically calculates distance and driving time for the route and each individual address. The route sequence can be optimised for the best cost by re-ordering stops with a simple drag-n-drop. Notes for the driver can be added and sent with the address to the driver's TomTom Pro with a simple click.

Maxoptra is a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform designed to enable quick decision-making within ever-changing operational environments such as service management. The Planndit app is a module available as a low cost, pay-as-you-go service and includes a simple 3-step wizard to take the user through the process, eliminating the need for any training.

Stuart Brunger, Business Development Director for Maxoptra, commented: “In talking to TomTom users it was clear that, although telematics promised big benefits, there was something missing. What they needed was an integrated system; a seamless link between their job management system and TomTom. With the Planndit app, we have addressed this with a solution that transforms job despatching and customer service delivery by linking Maxoptra and TomTom WEBFLEET to create an integrated operations system.”

 

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