Telematics provides a digital blueprint of every aspect of the vehicle's operation, helping fleet managers understand where improvements can be made in accident prevention measures and safety standards for drivers. Fleets can implement operational improvements by utilizing the help of telematics technology.

Lower fuel costs: telematics helps identify areas of waste like vehicle idle or fuel slippage and permits fleet managers to quickly address the issues. This improves fuel efficiency and reduces fuel costs. It also can help management plan the most efficient way for each driver to cut down on unnecessary miles.

Safety improvements Fleet managers are able to provide feedback on driving habits and styles to assist them in coaching their drivers and reduce bad driving habits like speeding and harsh brakes. Based on data-based actionsable reports that reveal the performance of drivers and support new safety targets and improvements that can be made.

Elevated productivity: With near real-time GPS system information drivers can assist in avoiding delays on the road and plan for weather conditions that could be unpredictable. Managers at the back office are able to swiftly attribute any new or subsequent site visits and advise drivers on the most efficient route to take.

Better management of payroll: By tracking the precise time a vehicle starts at the beginning of the day and ends at the moment it shuts down Fleet managers can keep an accurate and automated record of how long the employee was working. This helps business owners ensure that employees are paid the correct amount of time worked and eliminates unnecessary time spent in comparing timesheets and job tickets.

Is Telematics Expensive?

It all depends on your fleet management solution. Although it is relatively inexpensive, basic GPS tracking on a map provides little insight. The combination of a fully integrated telematics, solution with other technologies such as electronic logging devices, dashcams and smart route planning can yield a higher ROI. However, it's more costly upfront.

Better visibility of the fleet allows you to see the type of fleet you are using and where it is located at this moment. Customized dashboards can allow you to easily assess progress towards KPIs and budgets. This is done with near-real-time fleet analytics provided by the system for tracking fleets. In the long run, GPS fleet tracking is a great investment, as it can reveal hidden costs and reveal potential for improved efficiency and productivity across an entire organization.

The future of the telematics industry

As new applications and GPS devices are used widely, telematics will continue to grow exponentially. Fleets are increasingly realizing the importance of monitoring fleet activity in order to lower costs, boost efficiency, enhance accountability, and adhere to all federal rules and regulations.

When owners consider going beyond the essential requirements in order to reach "increasing integrations with the wider business such as the management of mobile workers, ERP software, and business management software," telematics will become an integral element of modern fleet operations.