Author: Bharat Bhushan, Business Head – Digital, Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles
Why a connected telematics platform is key in optimising fleet management
Amidst our collective journey as an industry towards building an efficient transportation system for tomorrow, the value of technology, sustainability, safety and connectivity has emerged as paramount. The commercial vehicle sector, within India and globally, has determinedly treaded towards embracing digital technology and other emerging innovations to expedite its functioning and maximise productivity and profit. The emphasis for our sector has always been on integrating the entire ecosystem, including manufacturers, drivers, fleet owners and mechanics, to maximise functional output, facilitate quick and safe transportation of goods and services, and in the process, boost profitability.
In the Indian context, there have been some pertinent concerns regarding vehicle and consignment theft among fleet owners, besides a general eagerness towards desiring robust, durable trucks that come with the potential of maximising productivity. A one-stop solution for this rising demand can be found in the deployment of a superior telematics management system. Such an advanced connected platform can vitally help in fleet management, enabling safety, operational efficiency and vehicle maintenance. Indeed, trends suggest that the telematics market within commercial vehicles is only set to rise, with a CAGR of over 15% between 2022-2027. Against this backdrop, it might be valuable to glance comprehensively at how telematics works, and how it can transform productivity and profitability for fleet operators.
Decoding the process
At their core, telematics systems combine communication modules and data analytics to power a range of tools essential for improved fleet and business efficiency. These systems leverage GPS technology, sensors, diagnostic codes and internet connectivity to provide real-time data on engine diagnostics, location tracking, fuel usage, driver behaviour and overall vehicle activity. Taken together, these features within the system enable it to generate rich, data-driven real-time fleet insights that can help make substantial changes for improved efficiency.
Telematics also provide specific interventions towards improvement in utilisation, but on one, single unified platform. This makes it easier for both fleet owners and drivers to help run the business more efficiently. Smart digital features inherently automate several tasks such as optimising routes, ensuring compliance or scheduling and keeping track of maintenance due dates, allowing customers to focus on their business and end customers.
Making logistics more efficient
Because telematics systems are built with exhaustive features and leading technology, they extend a multi-axled, holistic focus to help improve efficiency, maintain vehicles, and manage fleet health.
Besides safety, telematics also helps the vehicle and the fleet at large, stay at its best. It keeps track of vehicle and engine health, provides maintenance insights, and pre-empts breakdowns. This, along with driver behaviour monitoring, saves costs on maintenance considerably. Keeping in mind business needs, a telematics platform maximises uptime and increases productivity, using real-time data pool to optimise time and travel in a manner that is most efficient and least wasteful. It utilises its diagnostics to produce actionable insights, swiftly identifying opportunities for cost saving and areas that require corrective action. At large, it helps the entire value chain.
Envisioning the future
When we think of modern trucking and transportation, we must think of intelligent mobility solutions that take care of the well-being of the vehicle itself, the driver, as well as the business. Tata Motors’ own connected telematics platform, Fleet Edge, offers advanced features for better fleet utilisation. Such an integrated, seamless platform can go a long way in taking away the hassle of manually overseeing every detail of fleet operations.
Digitisation has become a core of future mobility and hence the commercial vehicles of tomorrow. Much in line with its theme for Auto Expo 2023, Moving India, the indigenously developed solution is aimed at enhancing value across the logistics chain. With more than 3 lakh Tata trucks already plying on the road integrated with the state-of-the-art Fleet Edge system, telematics will only gain more emphasis in the years to come. Further sophistication and advancement in technology should be complemented by remaining consistently in touch with customer needs to address all pain points. Ultimately, our aim should be to ensure better visibility and management across stakeholders, from owners, and drivers, to consigners and consignees. A well-built telematics platform can indeed revolutionise the trucking industry in the future, improving efficiency across the entire transport value chain, and helping Indian transporters scale new heights.
Published: 06 March, 2023 | The Hindu Business Line
