Telematics taking off

Ekim Saribardak summarises things perfectly in his piece for Forbes*. “Though it has been around since 2010, vehicle telematics has moved to the forefront of the transportation industry, particularly during the pandemic. In fact, advancements in GPS tracking technology and telematics are continuing to evolve with paradigm shifts, improved efficiencies and minimised costs – all while improving driver safety“

Saribardak adds that the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic compelled the fleet industry to adopt vehicle telematics systems to monitor their fleets, reduce asset theft and loss and improve driver behaviour. “This truly demonstrates how technology can transform the future of fleet management. These systems are also making the management process more streamlined with the advent of the Internet of Things (IoT). With continuous developments in external sensors and embedded systems, it is crucial for decision-makers to capitalise on new trends in vehicle telematics to gain an edge,” he points out.

“By using fleet management systems, users can take control of critical business operations such as order and shipment management, compliance and mileage reporting, better routing, lower fuel consumption and reduced CO₂ emissions.”

Thanks to a partnership between Webfleet Solutions, known as TomTom Telematics until October 1 2019, and Bridgestone, tyre pressure monitoring can be added to the benefits that telematics provides to fleets. TomTom Telematics was acquired by Bridgestone Europe (a subsidiary of the Bridgestone Corporation) in 2019. Webfleet Solutions has over 50 000 customers worldwide and services drivers in more than 100 countries. The company was also recognised as the 2021 European Fleet Telematics Company of the Year by Frost & Sullivan.

The joint development between the telematics provider and its parent company Bridgestone, known as Webfleet Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), provides predictive tyre management integrated into the award-winning Webfleet fleet management solution.

Designed for heavy commercial vehicles, such as trucks and buses, Webfleet TPMS uses sensors that continuously monitor tyre pressure levels and tyre temperature.

The information is sent to the Webfleet telematics service platform for analysis. When an issue is detected, Webfleet alerts the fleet manager in the office and/or the driver in the cab in real time. This allows them to take action before the issue evolves into a more serious problem that could lead to accidents, disruptions and costly vehicle downtime.

Paul Verheijen, vice president of product management at Bridgestone Mobility Solutions, says: “The majority of heavy truck breakdowns on European roads are caused by tyre-related issues such as underinflated tyres.” (It’s a problem on South African roads as well.)

“Manual pressure checks are time-consuming and slow leaks are difficult for drivers to detect. Webfleet TPMS is not only digitising and automating this entire process, but it also directly enables the fleet operator to make fast, informed decisions to improve road safety and reduce tyre-related costs and downtime.”

The instant notifications that are triggered when abnormal tyre pressure or temperature is detected are colour coded. The colours reflect the severity of the issue, which helps users to determine the right course of action.

It is also easy to install, as the tyres don’t have to be removed during installation. The sensors enable the TPMS solution to detect under or over inflation before it’s visible. “With Webfleet TPMS, we are reinforcing our market leadership in connected transport solutions,” says Jan-Maarten de Vries, CEO of Bridgestone Mobility Solutions.

“By adding real time tyre insights to Webfleet, transport companies have control and visibility over their entire fleet operation – all from one interface.

“For years, business fleets have been using telematics solutions to understand and leverage their vehicle data. Now, we are using this telematics data to optimise tyre performance. Our TPMS solution is just the beginning of further innovations in connected tyre technology enabled by the combined strength of Bridgestone and Webfleet Solutions.”

Saribardak says: “GPS and telematics developments will continue to expand in 2022, improving management and efficiency of businesses with a vehicle fleet. However, with the growing amount of data from internal and external sensors, securing it all is a huge challenge. Hence, we can also predict the need for future solutions that focus on data security in-vehicle telematics and GPS tracking systems.

“Nonetheless, embracing new trends will help decision-makers to remain competitive and keep track of vehicles so they can improve efficiency, driver performance and offer real-time updates to customers.”

* “2022 And Beyond: New Trends in IoV and Vehicle Telematics Systems” was published on the Forbes Technology Council’s page. Saribardak is the chief technology officer at Rewire Security, based in Bristol, United Kingdom.