Imagine a world where a fleet of connected equipment is scattered across the globe, all transmitting valuable data to the cloud. This data paints a vivid picture of the fleet’s activity: equipment productivity, usage patterns, fuel consumption, and even operating speed.
Now contrast that with a scenario where travel and physical access are needed to gather this information. The competitive advantage gained by having all these data signals unified and readily accessible is undeniable. This is where telematics is game-changing, empowering businesses to look across the global state of individual pieces of equipment and the broader fleet at large in real time.
At its core, telematic systems use data to optimize routes, enhance safety, improve productivity, and gain valuable insights into fleet operations. This invaluable data then serves as the foundation for delivering meaningful solutions to end customers. Let’s dive deeper into the ways that telematics delivers impact, and how you can dive into this transformative technology.
In this blog, we’ll discuss the three pivotal components essential for constructing a successful telematics platform and explore how businesses are leveraging this powerful technology to revolutionize their operations and drive transformation.
01 Start With the User
The key to unlocking the potential of telematics lies in understanding your customers and their needs. By thoroughly analyzing user requirements and identifying areas where efficiency can be maximized, you can ensure that all data collected serves a purpose. Instead of simply acquiring data for the sake of it, you can use it to address and fulfill specific customer needs.
For instance, a factory worker may need to understand how a piece of equipment is operating in the field in all the different circumstances it can be used, while a maintenance technician may require insights into which pieces of equipment are at highest risk of failure and require servicing.
By asking the question, “What is limiting or causing pain for this customer?”, or “How can their processes be more efficient?”, you can leverage the data collected from their vehicles and equipment to provide transforming value.
Adopting a human-centered approach is crucial for understanding your customers and uncovering their unmet needs. By immersing yourself in their day-to-day work and operations, you can gain valuable insights into their pain points and inefficiencies. This understanding empowers you to deploy technology solutions that seamlessly align with their specific requirements.
02 Keep an Eye on the Data
Once you have a clear understanding of your customers, it’s essential to examine the technology solutions available and assess the suitability of the data you have. Consider whether the data is readily available, of high quality, and accurately represents equipment health and performance.
- Data availability is crucial for real-time applications, such as fleet management and emergency response, where immediate access to data can save lives and prevent accidents.
- Data quality is essential for generating reliable and actionable insights, making informed decisions, and improving operational efficiency.
- Data timeliness is important for applications that require immediate action, such as traffic monitoring and incident response.
For example, an ambulance transporting a patient to the hospital may require access to real-time data. The patient’s vital signs, medical history, and current health status need to be immediately available to the attending healthcare professionals to ensure quick decision-making regarding treatment options and prioritizing patients based on the severity of their condition.
By examining these data needs and characteristics carefully, you can understand how to leverage it for transformative outcomes.
03 Assess the Tradeoffs
Planning and executing a telematics project requires evaluation of critical trade-offs and decisions to be made. To start, you must decide whether to build a custom telematics platform or integrate off-the-shelf components and solutions. A range of options exist, including hardware, software, web and mobile apps, each suited to different needs and preferences. Consider what will add the most value to your end customers. Does a web interface suit their needs well, or is mobile app support a better fit? Are real-time notifications important for the end user? Tailoring your solution to meet these preferences is essential for a successful telematics initiative.
As you progress further into the telematics journey, you’ll need to create a roadmap for deploying and launching your solution. Assess the diversity of your fleet and determine whether launching a subset of use cases or functionalities first is feasible to keep a focused scope. Each decision you make will impact the success of your telematics platform.
Example Use Case
A global manufacturing company that operates a large fleet of industrial and agriculture machines sought to optimize productivity, minimize downtime, and enhance service capabilities.
By embodying a human-centered approach, the company recognized the importance of understanding their stakeholder needs and conducted extensive research to uncover their challenges and pain points. These insights enabled the company to better understand how to leverage their machine data effectively to develop an intuitive and robust telematics platform that precisely addressed user requirements.
As a result, machine owners and operators are now empowered with improved visibility into performance data, enhanced ability to see upcoming maintenance needs, greater insights into current state location and history of equipment, and customizable notifications on location and service needs.
Read the full case study to learn more about how the build of a telematics platform drove greater efficiency and productivity for Vermeer, a leading global manufacturer of industrial and agricultural equipment.
Ready to Get Started?
Telematics presents a transformative opportunity for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to enhance efficiency, improve safety, and gain a competitive edge. With careful planning, data-driven insights, and a tailored approach, businesses can harness the power of telematics to revolutionize their operations and achieve unprecedented success.
Our team brings extensive experience in crafting tailored telematics solutions for OEMs across various industries. We’re committed to understanding your unique challenges and goals, creating a customized roadmap, and providing ongoing support to ensure your success with telematics.
Don’t let telematics complexity hold you back from achieving your business goals. Let’s explore how telematics can drive innovation for your organization!
Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
Ben blends his time between supporting current and prospective customers with their cloud needs, while leading, developing, and growing the team and their capabilities.
