Telematics trends: from AI to V2X
With a few exceptions, telematics applications for logistics have developed dramatically. There is no end in sight to this evolution. The most important trends, which will also be discussed at the NUFAM telematics forum, are as follows.
Telematics solutions are increasingly being integrated into fleet management. Telematics systems are no longer isolated solutions, but part of a comprehensive fleet management system – FMS for short. The aim is to get a comprehensive overview of the entire fleet. This includes vehicle data such as fuel consumption, tire pressure and maintenance status, but also driver behavior. How often and intensively are the brakes applied? How fast is the vehicle traveling?
DO YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT TELEMATICS AND DIGITAL SERVICES? THEN VISIT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL.
But route optimization is also increasingly the task of telematics systems, which monitor whether the planned route is being followed and document any deviations. Live tracking is the classic and self-evident component of all telematics projects.
Avoid breakdowns with predictive maintenance
Another telematics trend is the collection and transmission of real-time data on the vehicle's condition. With increasing data quality, predictive maintenance is becoming an everyday reality. Sensors provide real-time information on the condition of the brakes or the wear of the clutch. In this way, maintenance and workshop visits can be planned in advance and breakdowns and accidents avoided.
But sustainability aspects are also increasingly coming to the fore in fleet management. Modern telematics systems help here by balancing the CO2 emissions of individual trips and providing detailed consumption analyses for each driver and vehicle. On this basis, a sustainability report can be created for the client. Such functions are becoming more important for tenders. If a logistics service provider can document the CO2 values per shipment, this brings clear advantages.
Popular driver ranking
Another ongoing trend is driver-centered applications such as driver apps and feedback systems. Above all, these improve communication between dispatchers and drivers. A certain degree of “gamification” also ensures that driving behavior improves in a playful way. Internal competitions, including rankings with the aim of achieving the most economical driving style possible, are becoming increasingly popular. Not least, driver apps can increase convenience and simplify processes. One example of this is the integrated photo function for documenting correct delivery without a receipt from the recipient.
Of course, artificial intelligence (AI) has also found its way into telematics applications. Examples include automatic route planning based on live data or the detection of anomalies in driving behavior or vehicle condition. Forecasts for up-to-date delivery times, taking into account traffic and weather conditions, are already state of the art.
Keep an eye on the GDPR
When it comes to the further development of telematics systems, data protection and cyber security are also playing an increasingly important role. After all, with increasing networking, the importance of secure data structures is growing. TRENDS here include end-to-end encryption for data transmission and access controls for sensitive vehicle and driver data. And let's not forget that every telematics solution must be tested for GDPR compliance.
In the long term, the trend towards vehicle-to-everything communication – V2X – will be driven forward with 5G. This refers to direct communication between vehicles, infrastructure and cloud systems. This, in turn, is the key to automated driving, even more precise traffic forecasts and real-time warnings in the event of black ice, accidents or other unforeseen events.
Conclusion: Telematics is increasingly becoming a high-tech discipline that no fleet should be without. The solutions are available on the market. When we measure NUFAM, we provide an overview.