Digital technology continues to transform the transportation industry
The transportation has leveraged digital technology for years now. GPS has long been used to ensure drivers know the fastest and most efficient route to get them where to go, while various in-cabin digital technologies have helped fleet managers to achieve much-needed visibility over their assets, their cargo and their drivers. Now, however, a combination of legislation and technological innovation continue to transform the transportation industry. Providing greater visibility to companies and their clientele alike, helping to mitigate costs and making fleet service providers and logistics company more accountable.
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Digital Tachographs become mandatory
Digital Tachographs are not new to logistics and fleet management. Companies have used them for years now to track vehicles’ speed and distance and to monitor driver activity. However, in accordance with recent EU & AETR legislation Digital Tachographs are now mandatory. The law requires all vehicle that weight in excess of 3.5 tonnes to be fitted a tachograph. However, this doesn’t necessarily have to be Digital. Analogue models (though increasingly rare now) are also acceptable. All commercial vehicles registered on or after 1st May 2006 need to be fitted with a digital tachograph before users can drive them legally.
The universal use of this technology will no doubt result in better timekeeping, improved driver accountability and fewer driving infringements.
Data visibility becomes even more important
In the age of Big Data, fleet managers are more reliant than ever on access to data and quality operational insights gleaned from it. Fleet managers, after all, have very specific metrics and KPIs that must be considered for efficient and effective transportation. This necessitates a market for in-cabin tech that goes beyond simple telematics. Fleet managers cannot afford for the location and condition of vehicle assets to ever be left to chance, so efficient communication between Fleet Managers and drivers is fundamentally important.
This is why fleet managers have become increasingly reliant on service providers like Acertus, Autodriveway and Professional Automotive Relocation Services (PARS) to create partnerships that leverage technology to create more harmonious communications.
Knock-on effects for supply chain management
It stands to reason that more informed fleet management and better connected drivers will have a knock-on effect for the whole supply chain from manufacturer to end consumer. This means that consumers will inevitably have higher expectations, and the logistics and transportation space may well get much more competitive. And in an era where over 25% of logistics and transportation companies admit that they have no digital plan in place, we can expect the market for digital partnerships to grow exponentially in the coming years.
One step closer to autonomous vehicles?
For over a decade now, telematics have been leveraged to calculate safer and more time / fuel efficient routes. As telematics solutions grow ever more sophisticated and affordable it’s safe to say that we’re moving closer and closer towards the endgame of fully autonomous vehicles. As AI plays an increasingly prominent role in the telematics industry, the next challenge to the industry may be leveraging fully autonomous vehicles in a way that is safe, cost-effective and satisfactory to the client.
