“Industry leaders can help change misconceptions that the motivation of connected technology is a form of disciplinary action,” said Colin Sutherland, Executive Vice President, Geotab and sponsor of the 2020 Global Fleet Survey. A survey that confirms the importance of telematics, with 80% of respondents saying they’ll be using telematics in three years’ time.
Based on the input of no fewer than 113 multinational companies, together representing 8.5 million employees and over 1 million vehicles, the Global Fleet Survey analyses fleet and mobility policies those companies have implemented or are planning to implement.
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Colin Sutherland, Executive Vice President at Global Fleet Survey sponsor Geotab, shared his views on some of the findings in this survey.
Looking at the main fleet management priorities, 2020 is the year of right-fuelling, closely followed by the topic of EHS (Environment, Health & Safety). How can connected technology play a role in this?
“The transition from combustion to alternative fuels is an essential shift that fleet managers must understand to achieve fuel consumption efficiency as well as CO2 sustainability targets for their fleets. Measuring analytics such as trip counts, trip durations and urban and rural road conditions are vital when managing fleets. Managers can utilise those analytics and Geotab’s Electric Vehicle Suitability Assessment (EVSA) to identify candidate vehicles for electric as a fuel source within their fleet. Data access by API enables businesses to combine data from fleets with supply chain logistics shipment information to understand trip data.”
“This data includes the cube and weight capacity of the vehicle along with other supply chain parameters to help specify models of electric vehicles that are best suited for the business’ purpose. Fleets’ business models have become easier to examine and evaluate options to reduce dependence on heavy duty commercial vehicles and rethink the role of medium and light duty vehicles to bring goods and services closer to final mile delivery.”
More than 80% of the respondents to the Global Fleet Survey 2020 state they will have telematics to manage their fleet and drivers in three years’ time. How do you see the use of telematics evolve on a global and regional level?
“Fleet managers’ adoption of telematics will evolve differently based on laws in their region related to governing data privacy and sustainability targets. All business use of telematics will be for the purpose of automating and solving particular business objectives. While some regions prioritise sustainability and carbon neutrality, other regions focus on driver safety and vehicle uptime reliability. OEMs continue to increase their focus on launching fully electric or hybrid vehicles to prioritise sustainability moving forward. Europe, North America and Asia’s 2023 model year will include a full slate of fleet vehicles that most regions in the world are poorly equipped to charge at a business, in-field or home level.”
“Whether fleet managers have a sustainability plan in place or not, alternative fuel vehicles are a reality for most within the next three years. Utilising telematics data is essential to managing fleets with alternative fuel vehicles and charging strategies. Geotab currently leads the electric vehicle sector of the telematics industry by supporting the highest number of electric vehicle models.”
Those that are still reluctant to adopting connected technology often cite data privacy concerns and works council pressure. How can a fleet manager and the industry as a whole change this?
“Transparency is essential for any connected technology’s purpose. Fleet managers must ensure that company policies are well documented in order to utilise their vehicles’ data to accomplish business objectives. The COVID-19 pandemic has taught the fleet management industry that “we’re all in this together”. This statement of inclusivity has been earned through industry leaders being transparent throughout the pandemic about the data related to essential deliveries and services.”
“Our industry as well as individual fleet managers can help build trust by acknowledging that the proper usage of vehicle data can provide insights that assist in planning and rebuilding businesses. There are a large number of fleet professionals within our industry that want to achieve a safe and sustainable future through the use of connected technology.”
“Individuals may have concerns about how their personal data is handled, but industry leaders can help change misconceptions that the motivation of connected technology is a form of disciplinary action. Leaders must continue to state that connected technology prioritises personal data privacy.”
