CAR FLEETS
Edition: October 2024 — P.58-61
Media family: Professional media
Periodicity: Monthly
Audience: 74,000
Media subject: Auto-Moto-Cyclo
TELEMATICS FILE
TOOLS
Telematics specialists are constantly improving their tools, in particular by relying on artificial intelligence. Their objective is to support companies in their projects related to the management or greening of their fleet, but also to make their resources accessible to partners beyond fleet managers alone.
By agreement with the manufacturers, telematics specialists can directly retrieve all the useful data of a vehicle: driving behavior, consumption, dashboard information, etc., without having to install their own boxes.
To find out which vehicles in a fleet are already equipped and for which it is possible to collect information, Geotab has developed a specific interface.
“After entering the vehicle's VIN number, it is possible to check whether the vehicle is equipped with a compatible box. We can then activate this box, which simplifies the manager's task,” says François Denis (see box below).
VOLKSWAGEN GROUP DATA FOR GEOTAB
As fleet engines are diversifying, the volume of data to be processed by managers is expanding.
To assess the cost of a fleet, you no longer only need to be informed about fuel consumption but also electricity consumption, as well as the costs of recharging while roaming and at home.
Managers must also closely monitor the consumption of plug-in hybrid vehicles to ensure their proper use, or organize car sharing to optimize the fleet.
In this context, all the initiatives of the various providers to simplify data reporting and analysis are invaluable aids. Telematics specialists have understood this and are working to make their indicators more readable, while facilitating the customization of tools according to everyone's problems.
Boxes to wind up data
This desire to facilitate the daily life of fleet managers is evident right from the stage of installing the boxes in vehicles.
For small businesses, the process can be quick.
“But for large companies that are starting to implement telematics, it is necessary to organize schedules and interventions in order to immobilize vehicles as little as possible and not to harm productivity”, recalls Barbara Tron, marketing and communication director at the telematics company Ocean.
This installation can be accelerated thanks to the boxes installed in the factory by the manufacturers. In recent years, these “end of the line” installations have become more and more common.
“There have been many effects of manufacturers announcing in the past on the factory assembly of these boxes, but now it has become a reality”, confirms François Denis, General Manager France at Geotab.
And under conditions
The Volkswagen Group has signed an agreement with Geotab. Thus, the telematics boxes mounted at the factory on Volkswagen, Audi, Audi, Skoda, Cupra and Seat vehicles can now feed their data into the Geotab platform.
The communication bridge set up between Volkswagen Group cars and this platform is already active in France.
With this agreement, Geotab enriches its catalog of manufacturers with which it has established connections: BMW-Mini Group, Renault, Dacia, Ford, all Stellantis brands, and Mercedes-Benz.
As Christoph Ludewig, Vice President of Geotab, points out, creating such gateways is also beneficial for builders. By allowing communication between their boxes and platforms like Geotab, manufacturers “do not have to build or maintain their own technological infrastructure for processing, analyzing and visualizing this data.”
PERSONALIZED FLEET TRACKING REPORTS
This desire for simplification is also evident in the efforts made on the ergonomics of interfaces.
“We are looking to make our tools even more intuitive and easier to use,” says Barbara Tron for Ocean.
As the volume of data collected increases and as the problems of fleet managers evolve, telematics specialists are putting forward numerous indicators.
“Today, the wealth of data leads to an increase in analyses, but these analyses must be clear”, summarizes Barbara Tron.
Simplifying and clarifying
For the sake of clarification, SuivideFlotte has modified its interface for eco-driving scores.
A tool that is increasingly used by companies, according to Julien Rousseau, CEO of this telematics company, both for CSR and cost optimization projects.
If until now, fleet managers had access to a ranking of drivers on the interface, they now benefit from an analytical table of these scores.
This presentation better isolates risky behaviors, without consulting the list to find out the details of each person's scores.
The editor also offers the possibility to export the results in Excel files.
“Customers have been looking forward to this feature, especially large fleets,” notes Julien Rousseau.
Making daily life easier
Telematics specialists also market a module Antai, intended to speed up the processing of tickets.
“These fines sent to companies concern speeding, but also defects in the presentation of papers or non-compliance with traffic lights”, specifies Julien Rousseau.
SuivideFlotte has therefore added, among its indicators, statistics distinguishing the nature of the offense.
“And we reformulated the wording to make them more readable,” the manager continues.
Fuel card tracking
SuivideFlotte has reworked its fuel card management module, offering in particular the possibility of reporting all invoices.
Customers then retrieve this data from the fuel card publisher's site to integrate them into the Fleet Tracking tool, which can automatically search for this data.
“The customer can manage all fuel cards via the interface, to find out which cards are available, lost, etc.”, details Julien Rousseau.
Based on this data, SuivideFlotte will soon launch a module to detect abnormal behaviors around fuel intake and prevent fraud.
Towards complete management
This multiplication of indicators reflects the desire of telematics specialists to position themselves not only as telematics providers, but also as publishers of complete solutions for fleet management.
For 2025, SuivideFlotte is also announcing the possibility of integrating the information provided by toll card publishers.
This data will make it possible to establish indicators to avoid excessive use and optimize the management of this expenditure item.
OCEAN IS SHARING
The telematics company Ocean announces the upcoming launch of an assistance service for users of carsharing vehicles.
This support, available 7 days a week and 24 hours a day, must take over from the fleet manager to respond to user requests.
“When companies offer carsharing to their employees, they need peace of mind and do not want to provide the service with an on-call for users,” explains Barbara Tron.
Other similar services should soon complete this offer, in particular a device for carpooling.
“We are going to launch a catalog of services and services aimed at supporting customers in their projects”, announces the manager.
GEOTAB: AI AT THE SERVICE OF THE ENERGY TRANSITION
The growing diversity of data from vehicles is forcing telematics specialists to refine their analyses, in particular via artificial intelligence (AI).
Geotab has developed a range of indicators called “ACE” to support the monitoring of driving behavior, energy transition, charging management, etc.
François Denis, General Manager France at Geotab, explains:
“The new version of AI that we are using is much more advanced, with a memory of previous requests. This way we know where the fleet manager wants to go and can provide precise answers.”
Sustainability Center
Among the ACE services, Geotab offers a “sustainability center” that evaluates vehicles likely to switch to electric, taking into account kilometers traveled, break times and recharging, while maintaining the same use.
The tool also highlights models to replace internal combustion vehicles, thanks to an analysis of data collected from millions of connected vehicles in Europe.
Behavioral analysis
AI is also used to predict collisions by analyzing driving behaviors.
“These forecasts make it possible to act in advance to reduce accidents”, underlines François Denis.
Predictions are possible thanks to the data collected on speed, braking, acceleration and risky behavior.
Charge and recharge
The management of electric recharges is another field where AI provides high added value.
Analyzing charging costs, planning charging sessions, as well as reducing energy costs by avoiding peak hours, are among the features.
Conclusion
Faced with the rise of electrified fleets and the complexity of data, telematics specialists are providing ever more efficient and intelligent tools, allowing fleet managers to optimize their management and support the energy transition of their companies.
#gestion_de_flotte, #covoiturage, #antai, #rapports, #IA, #plateforme
