Fleet Management systems are designed to assist the flee iot owner or manager in making the most profitable decisions. Low cost of operations, appropriate route supervision, and well-timed deliveries of goods are what everyone desires.
A network of sensors, software, and other physical things which are capable of delivering relevant data to be processed is IoT (Internet of Things).
The rate at which IoT is transforming the industry is truly remarkable. Tons of data from a single node point is available to be processed because of IoT.
IoT gathers all data about the route, traffic, vehicle speed, etc. These systems generate alerts that help fleet managers in planning their routes and journeys.
Automatic trip planning, remote fleet tracking, and automation of a lot of other tasks have resulted in fleet managers adopting smart IoT based Fleet Management Systems over time.
Table of Contents
How IOT Is Revolutionizing Fleet Management
Connectivity
Vehicles in the fleet remain connected to the central hub, exchanging data in real-time. The fleet manager has access to the fleet’s location and whereabouts at all times.
Even if there are changes in the planned route, it can be intimidated to the drivers immediately. Ecommerce giants now use this feature and allow you to cancel your order even at the last minute.
In case of a truck theft, the vehicle can be easily tracked down and retrieved too. Not only the location, but other data like fuel levels and health of the vehicle can also be sent to the center to be acted upon instantly.
Remote Asset Maintenance
Maintenance is essential for any vehicle, be it a car or a truck. Small maintenance issues can pile up and turn into a major crisis. Remote asset maintenance helps the managers reduce that.
It tells whether everything in the asset is working correctly or not. It even predicts how much time we have before it turns into a catastrophic event. Not only a time-saver but also prevents accidents and makes sure the vehicle meets the deadlines and deliveries are made on time.
Hence, this shall be the first goal of a company to ensure that the system always runs properly and downtime gets reduced.
Autonomous Decision Making
IoT enabled Fleet management systems are capable of making informed and accurate decisions on their own. Actionable insights, too, are drawn from the data collected by the system.
It helps in analyzing the driving pattern, estimated delivery time, and even suggests delivery routes. It not only helps in recognizing problems but also suggests solutions.
IoT has made us re-imagine the whole fleet management system holistically. The true potential of technology is unlocked when it is bundled with the right analytics and decision-making system.
Reduced Idle Time
Resources are scarce everywhere, so available resources must be used judicially. Fuel is a scarce resource that should not be wasted, or else the cost of operation might be up.
IoT based fleet management systems help reduce the use of available resources, thereby reducing the cost of operation overall. Optimizing routes to avoid fuel wastage can be suggested by IoT components in the system.
Also, a vehicle sitting idle in the fleet is an under-utilized resource. It can be utilized if the fleet manager decides to rent or lease the vehicle to others. Thus, the idle time of a fleet can be reduced greatly with the use of IoT in fleet management systems.
Weather Predictive Systems
IoT sensors in the vehicles and along routes can feed you real-time updates on the weather condition of the chosen route. You can then course-correct your driver and ask him to change course as a preventive measure.
Not only this, but some sensors also provide real-time satellite imagery of traffic. The drivers can avoid a jam-packed road, and the delivery doesn’t get hampered.
A very simple but effective solution to recurring problems of fleet managers, IoT has become very helpful for the industry and businesses.
Video Analytics
No one wants rash drivers in their fleet because it risks the company’s image and policies, not to forget the danger of accidents too. Vehicle Analytics, like dash-cam, help fleet managers to ensure that their fleet is driving responsibly.
Other video analytics components like drowsiness detectors can detect if the driver is feeling sleepy while driving and can ring an alarm to wake him up.
The possibilities with IoT is endless. Many fleet managers are looking towards it to run efficient operations with the lowest cost of running.
Autonomous Driving Assist
Although we are nearing a future where we can see autonomous driving vehicles, it is still a developmental model. However, Autonomous Driving Assist is a reality nowadays. It employs IoT sensors to help drivers in having a smooth drive adequately.
Automatic braking assistance, cruise control, and similar other technologies have piloted the playfield and are proving to be very effective.
This technology provided by IoT can assist drivers while parking. It can even deploy emergency brakes in case of an accident and help avoid hitting pavements or pedestrians too.
In Closing
It is inescapable that IoT is disrupting the whole industry of fleet management. It can provide valuable data and analytics to help the managers operate their fleets better.
Fleet managers can now provide their customers with real-time tracking of their packages to be delivered. In the past, it was routine for some vehicles to be missing from the fleet.
Even airplanes went missing from their fleet a while back, but not anymore. IoT and Smart Fleet Management Systems have made it all possible. Fleets can now run more profitable services with optimized maintenance and logistics.
They now better comply with environmental and safety regulations, thanks to remote asset management. Samsara is a great Fleet Management System that employs world-leading IoT solutions to help you scale your business and run it more profitably.