?Before looking at the points you should consider while choosing a Telematics System, let us first define what fleet telematics is? Fleet Telematics can simply be described as the technology that lets you monitor a wide range of information relating to an individual vehicle or an entire fleet. With the help of Telematics you can gather data including vehicle location, fuel management, driver behaviour, engine diagnostics and vehicle activity, which will help you manage your resources better.
As awareness about Telematics System and its advantages is growing, it has become a determining factor that sets businesses apart from their competitors. The use of telematics facilitates progress in terms of improving customer service, increasing fleet productivity and decreasing operating costs – all the while creating opportunities to expand your operations.
Not all fleet management solutions are built the same. Thus, it is important to evaluate your requirements and objectives, and what you are trying to achieve with the help of the Telematics. So that you can focus on finding a provider that offers what you need. The focus of this blog is therefore to help you understand the important things you should consider while choosing a Telematics System.
As we know that fleet tracking systems are made up of a number of systems like real-time vehicle tracking, fuel management, and engine diagnostics etc. which all provide useful fleet data. It is therefore important to settle for a fleet telematics system with consolidation capabilities to ensure you get the most accurate fleet data and reports. Ignoring this important factor will expose your fleet to losses and will undermine your ability to reach maximum potential.
Every fleet manager would want their vehicles on the road rather than deal with technicalities of installing a telematics system. The best telematics systems are those that are easy to install and use. Any solution that a fleet manager chooses should be easy for all users; from the drivers on the frontline, to those analysing the data. Since you will have access to endless number of data, you should make sure that your telematics system is tailored exactly how you want it, giving you only that information which will make a difference to you.
The first priority of every fleet manager is to have oversight on his entire fleet at all possible times. Therefore, while choosing a telematics system you must always consider opting for the provider that gives you the best network coverage. Telematics systems work best only when they are in an area with adequate network coverage. Losing access to relevant and important information due to bad network coverage while you are on the move may put you in a blind spot. This consideration becomes all the more important for fleets which cover wider areas and travel for a longer duration of time. Thus, if you want to maintain total control of your fleet for effective management, you must consider hiring fleet telematics providers who offer the best coverage.
This is another top consideration when looking into fleet telematics systems and providers. If you want to avoid the hassle of maintenance costs, poor capabilities etc. it is better to spend a reasonable amount initially. In this context it is significant to note that the best systems/providers are usually expensive. The cheapest systems/providers may look attractive at first however they usually end up costing more. It is important to note that buying fleet telematics systems or hiring fleet telematics providers is the first step. Additionally, you may also need to consider other costs such as installation fees, future upgrades, data fees etc. Therefore, it will be a wise decision to pay for a quality telematics system upfront and save yourself money and peace of mind later.
As times are rapidly changing, so are the demands of customers and businesses. As technology is increasingly becoming more dynamic, one more important consideration while choosing a telematics system can be scalability. Before you choose a telematics system you need to ask yourself, can your provider scale up as your fleet demands change? For example, if you need to upgrade your system, you will need to make sure that there are no delays and nothing is holding up your operations. Having one provider that can meet all of these needs will save you time and money.
Before choosing your Telematics partner, make sure you do your due diligence and research the market to find the best available and most suited option for you. Choose a firm which is well respected and is considered best in the industry. The company should demonstrate a commitment to embracing new technology and newest innovations so that you can have the latest solutions at hand whenever you need it.
The best fleet telematics providers understand that the nature of the fleet manager’s role can demand high level of support. Because fleet tracking draws numerous logistical challenges, and with a system/provider that offers support in terms of immediate solutions in cases of emergencies will prove to be the most beneficial. With a telematics systems provider that offers you 24x7 support should be one of the deciding factors for any fleet manager. Finding a good and reliable fleet telematics provider is simple but also very crucial to managing your operations.
Hence, if you are a fleet operator looking for a Telematics System, you should consider the above-mentioned points before making a decision. And in this context it would be pertinent to mention the state of the art Telematics Technology that the XTRAPOWER Fleet Card Program provides. With amazing features like Fuel Management, Trip Management, Enterprise Integration, Driver Management, Fleet Analytics and so much more, you can gain total control of your fleet with the tap of a finger.
CONSOLIDATED FLEET TELEMATICS DATA:
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