By Andrew Rossington, Vice President – Next Generation Platform, Teletrac Navman
There’s often an assumption that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is just for the big players in the transport industry – either because the technology isn’t considered appropriate for smaller operators or because it’s considered out of reach financially and technically.
This couldn’t be further from the truth.
Transport businesses of all sizes, even smaller fleets that operate with few vehicles or assets in rural areas, can achieve several benefits for their business with the adoption of AI-powered telematics platforms.
Managing workloads
Small businesses obviously operate on smaller budgets, with leaner teams running them. In fact, you often have one person wearing many hats – driver, manager, accountant and more. With so much responsibility on so few people’s shoulders, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed trying to handle compliance, safety, paperwork and driving.
AI-equipped telematics platforms simplify most of these tasks. It brings important insights about your operation to the forefront, without forcing you to spend time you don’t have digging through line after line of confusing information.
Thanks to AI, discovering these important business insights is simple. By using search queries such as “show me the drivers with the most speed events this month” or “show me the total trip duration compared to the total idle duration for the last month, daily”. An AI-powered telematics platform present you with the information you need in an easy to understand way. This ultimately allows you to uncover the data you need to make decisions with confidence.
Data drives decision making
Machine Learning (ML), an element of AI, is also useful in uncovering important information. It scrutinises the data collected by the telematics installed across your fleet in real-time. It looks for previously unrecognised patterns that can yield increased efficiencies and savings across the business. Examples include a vehicle using an unusually high amount of fuel, idling more than usual, or registering more speed events than normal.
All this data is especially helpful when it comes to keeping operators safe on the road. By monitoring and compiling information on speed and fatigue and providing real-time reminders, a driver’s wellbeing is kept front of mind.
By instantly sifting through mass amounts of data to find the most relevant nuggets of info, fleet management solutions that leverage machine learning technologies also help drivers prepare for any unexpected events. Data such as road and traffic conditions, weather and environmental hazards can be leveraged to predict incoming risks, allowing back office workers to guide drivers through dangerous conditions as they unfold.
Empowering small businesses
Accessible AI gives smaller rural operators access to a wealth of data that they might never see otherwise.
This data is where the real benefits of these platforms become obvious. Because while you’re getting help with managing the back-end of your business, you’re also getting the data that you need to deliver a better service. Optimise your routes, streamlining maintenance, monitor driver behaviour, and ensure compliance through the automated collection of data.
And armed with the right data, small businesses have the opportunity to save on time, money, and stress.