Telematics, the Future of Remote Diagnostics
Computerization is changing commercial vehicles in ways many fleets never thought possible. One of the emerging technologies is remote diagnostics, which allows fleets to analyze vehicle data from anywhere without having to physically touch the truck. In a growing number of instances, a fleet can even remotely fix the problem.
With so many new tools and methods of performing diagnostics popping up, it’s easy to get lost and overwhelmed. Telematics is a fairly new and constantly evolving part of the market. Different manufacturers are looking at different telematics solutions and this is something that will continue to change over time as new solutions are launched to the marketplace to help provide more information to equipment managers.
This article will help introduce you to world of telematics, briefly explain various use cases for telematics, and give you the info you need to make the best decision for your fleet or company.
The History of Telematics
The term telematics was first coined back in 1978, but it wasn’t until the last 15 years that innovation in this field really started taking off. With great improvements to internet speeds, connectivity, and GPS tracking, users are now able to do more with telematics than ever before.
Large corporations such as UPS and Amazon were quick to adopt the technology for use on their vehicles and haven’t looked back. Meanwhile, it is estimated that approximately 80% of new cars come stock with some form of telematics system.
What Does It Do?
The simplest explanation of telematics is that it transmits vehicle information through the internet to your computer. Depending on the software and hardware set up, some companies use telematics to track and locate their vehicles. Some use it to monitor speed and driving habits, and some use it to remotely connect up to vehicles and diagnose issues.
The main use that we’ll be talking about in this article is running preventative maintenance. This capability has the greatest potential to save you money and reduce vehicle downtime.
Long Distance Diagnostics
All fleet managers know the cost and stress unscheduled downtime can put on their daily operations. Getting ahead of maintenance issues improves revenue generation and customer satisfaction while reducing your company’s rolling cost per mile.
Whether your truck is a few miles away or a few hundred, through the use of telematics, you are able to stay on top of any potential issues without having to have the truck at your location.
As an example, let’s say one of your trucks starts showing a fault some 400 miles away from your facility. Telematics give you the tools needed to assess the situation and make better decisions for your fleet.
Remote vehicle diagnostics will allow you to avoid unnecessary costs by anticipating imminent repairs. Only choose the repairs your vehicle needs and avoid long term costs by quickly fixing vehicle health issues. The prevention of breakdowns means avoiding downtime of your fleet as well as avoiding unnecessary costs. Repair your vehicles on time in order to avoid higher costs on the long term.
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