Innovations in connected car technology can now help prevent breakdowns and non-starts; enhance residual values; and improve service and maintenance regimes. For fleet management, leasing and hire companies, this new level of connectivity could provide value-added solutions for both their own operations and for their end customers.
In this two-part guide, we examine how new levels of connectivity from telematics can help strengthen customer loyalty and boost revenue streams in the highly competitive leasing and fleet management sectors.
How it works
Telematics devices connect to the CAN bus system, which is essentially the brains of a car or light commercial vehicle (LCV). This connectivity enables the telematics device to read and communicate any diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs). Extensive field trials have shown that telematics systems with DTC capabilities have the potential to substantially reduce vehicle breakdowns.
The AA conducted a 12-month trial with more than 10,000 vehicles – and the findings were remarkable. The data clearly showed that 38% of breakdowns were directly related to a DTC. If that information had been communicated quickly, the vehicle owner could have booked it in for a service or minor repair, saving time and money. Unscheduled vehicle downtime is a big business expense. Recent research by van hire specialist, Northgate, estimated that the average van spends four days a year off the road, at a cost of £3,200 per annum to the business which operates it.
For vehicle leasing and fleet management companies, DTC capability is an attractive service to be able to offer their customers. Firstly, it helps their clients to prevent breakdowns and the costly chaos they cause to a business. Secondly, it can help enhance revenues from service, maintenance and repair (SMR) activities. This could be a revenue share scheme with an SMR partner, or additional business for your own workshops and spare parts departments. Thirdly, for companies with large fleets, DTC data can also provide analysis of trends, such as identifying common faults within vehicles at a certain mileage.
Stay Energised
Along with reading DTCs, leading-edge telematics systems can now also provide real-time data on the status of a car or van battery.
Advanced battery algorithms run a series of checks every time a vehicle engine is cranked, to provide feedback on the health of the battery, and send notifications if it is suffering a fault or requires replacing. Non-starts due to battery failure are one of the most common causes of call-outs for breakdown and recovery companies. Therefore nipping battery issues in the bud has the same benefits for the vehicle operator and fleet management company as timely communication of DTCs.
One of the main issues faced by businesses is that their drivers don’t always communicate issues such as dashboard lights in a timely manner, if they communicate them at all. A telematics device with the ability to read and communicate dashboard warning lights back to head office can therefore be extremely valuable. This helps to minimise unplanned vehicle downtime for your clients, and also provides additional revenue opportunities in service, maintenance and repair (SMR) as well as spare parts.
Many telematics solutions offer GPS-based odometer estimates, however these rely on a constant GPS signal, which is a highly unlikely scenario. A true reading from the odometer, via telematics connectivity, delivers the most accurate possible information on mileage, helping to inform service schedules. For fleet management and leasing companies, it also enables you to pro-actively manage issues where a vehicle user is probably going to exceed their agreed mileage limit.
With fuel theft a growing concern for many businesses, the ability to read the actual fuel level in the tank is a big bonus. And for fleets containing vehicles which use the AdBlue additive, it is vital to monitor AdBlue levels to help ensure those vehicles don’t break down or go into limp mode.
Connectivity with the tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) also brings added safety and productivity benefits. Over-inflated tyres have reduced contact with the road surface, which impacts braking and handling, and increases the risk of aquaplaning when driving in wet weather. Conversely, under-inflated tyres impact fuel economy, increase the rate of wear on a tyre, and increase the risk of a blowout.
Having access to real-time data on all of these issues would place a leasing or fleet management company at the cutting edge of telematics and connected car technology. If you would like to gain that competitive edge over your peers, Trakm8 Connectedcare is the solution for you.
Trakm8 Connectedcare provides all of the features above, including:
• Real-time battery status reports and alerts on poor batteries
• Alerts on diagnostic trouble codes
• Push notifications on dashboard warning lights
• Detection of a rapid decrease in fuel levels caused by siphoning off fuel
• Providing alerts if the AdBlue level falls below a predetermined point
• Real-time tyre pressure data from the TPMS
• True ODO readings to enable condition-based servicing
Trakm8 Connectedcare enables fleet management and vehicle leasing companies to develop even stronger, more sustainable relationships with their customers. For further information on Connectedcare, visit www.trakm8.com/automotive/connectedcare. Alternatively email us at info@trakm8.com, or call 0330 311 5157.
Source: https://www.trakm8.com
CUT COTS OF THE FLEET WITH OUR AUDIT PROGRAM
The audit is a key tool to know the overall status and provide the analysis, the assessment, the advice, the suggestions and the actions to take in order to cut costs and increase the efficiency and efficacy of the fleet. We propose the following fleet management audit.
