Current and future trends in telematics
Mix Telematics look at four European markets to identify current and future trends in the commercial vehicle industry
MiX Telematics has conducted a detailed telematics study across UK, France, Germany and Spain looking at five key areas – Telematics in a Mature Market, The Value of ‘Big Data’, Road Safety, Telematics and Future Vehicles and Systems Integration in the Future.
Summarising the study’s findings, MiX Telematics Marketing & Operations Director Steve Coffin says, “There’s no doubt in today’s world that the fuel efficiency gains provided by telematics solutions is a given. Progressive operators are therefore now looking beyond fuel savings alone by seeking to derive additional value from their telematics systems. To succeed in this aim, bespoke solutions need to be developed for specific operational issues. Here, the greatest benefits are unquestionably realised when operator and suppliers collaborate and work in partnership – this, in our view, represents the way forward for our industry.”
The key findings of the study are as follows:
1. Telematics in a Mature Market
In each of the four European countries studied, the adoption of telematics solutions has been steadily increasing throughout the 21st century and consequently the potential of telematics in terms of fuel savings is now well known, understood and recognised. While the French market continues to be generally ‘costs’ orientated compared to the UK, Germany and Spain, operators in each market are now beginning to actively seek innovative ways of adding-value by integrating their telematics solutions with other onboard systems to eke out further efficiency, operational and safety gains.
The maturity of the market is also reflected in the fact that vehicle manufacturers are now beginning to include telematics as part of their offering. While this is a step forward in terms of exposing more operators to the advantages of telematics, the limitation is that solutions provided by manufacturers tend to be marque-specific and limited in scope, especially when it comes to integration with other onboard systems.
2. The value of ‘Big Data’
Big data is a commonly used term today, and nowhere exemplifies this better than the telematics industry. In total half-a-million vehicles worldwide are fitted with MiX Telematics solutions, with the 4,500 MiX Telematics-equipped vehicles belonging to the UK’s Go-Ahead Group – they alone generate £3bn GPS position updates and 46-million other events annually.
The challenge for companies is to draw out the data which will enable the greatest gains to be made in all areas of operation – fuel savings, environmental benefits, safety and so on. Each market agrees that achieving this demands input from the telematics supplier, this is because these efficiency gains inevitably demand a bespoke approach likely to include both software and hardware development.
All markets agree that the days of ‘fit and forget’ suppliers are numbered.
3. Road Safety
Road safety continues to ride high on the agenda for Europe’s transport operators. In the UK there has been considerable focus on cycle safety throughout 2014, while in France a survey found that 68% of operators now actively consider ways to reduce road risk, compared to 42% in 2010.
Operators in each market studied agree there is a link between telematics solutions and a reduction in accident rates. One measurable example is that bus and coach operators using in-cab driver aids such as the MiX Telematics RIBAS system (Revving Idling Braking Acceleration Speeding) have reported a reduction in personal injury claims since adopting the system.
4. Telematics and Future Vehicles
It is theorised that the composition of the European vehicle parc in 2050 will be 40% internal combustion, 20% electric and 40% hybrid.
While capable of measuring parameters such as fuel usage and driving style, regardless of the power source utilised, telematics can also play an important role in terms of validating the performance of electric and hybrid vehicles. Currently such vehicles tend to be used conservatively due to concerns over range but by modifying the parameters monitored by the telematics system to include discharge rate, charge remaining, and ‘distance-to-flat’, it is possible to map the performance and capabilities of electric and hybrid vehicles with confidence. This application for telematics is currently in operation in the UK.
5. Systems Integration and the future
Each market studied agrees that the relentless drive for ever-greater operational savings will lead to a far greater integration of onboard systems, with the vehicle’s telematics solutions acting as the central hub. The scope for integration is broad and varied – anything from engine overheat warnings to onboard accelerometers which monitor adverse road conditions will become progressively more prevalent.
Key to the growth and development of integrated systems will be the consultancy services provided by telematics manufacturers. As the German study noted, “While the readiness to invest in innovation may not be that high, a key factor for the future will be the understanding of the customer’s needs.”
