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Programme uses a multi-stage approach to enable vehicle manufacturers to connect with the TomTom Telematics Service Platform. 

After joining OEM.connect, manufacturers’ vehicles with line fitted connectivity will roll off the production line WEBFLEET and NEXTFLEET ready. The owners of these vehicles can then access the standard TomTom Telematics’ applications, which help boost the efficiency, productivity and safety of their fleet operations.

If a fleet is made up of cars, light commercial vehicles or trucks from different manufacturers, the data from each vehicle will be presented to the user in the same standardised way on the same interface. This makes comparison and analysis simple.Car manufacturers get the full advantage of TomTom Telematics’ experience in the connected car space and wide geographical scope.

“With more than 20 years’ experience in telematics and fleet management,” said Thomas Becher, VP Business Development, TomTom Telematics. “We have demonstrated through our work with leading car makers like Groupe PSA and Renault and the use of BMW CarData, that our expertise is the key to unlocking the considerable financial and end-user value of vehicle connectivity.”

Benoît Joly, Head of Services Business, Renault, added: “Because business users' requirements differ widely depending on their trade, because there are so many different industries and country-specific needs, Renault partners with TomTom Telematics as one of the best-known telematics service providers to meet each company's requirements. As part of the Renault EASY CONNECT for Fleet ecosystem of connected services, business users can simplify fleet management and reduce costs, with secure and affordable connectivity.”

The confidentiality, integrity and availability of connected car data processed on the TomTom Telematics Services Platform has been certified to ISO/IEC 27001 standards.

Global service platform closes loop in delivery security and custody, firm says.

 

Serve has announced the official integration of its patented facial recognition technology into its blockchain logistics platform

Users of the Serve Platform can now require facial recognition at every step of the delivery process.  With this enhancement, Serve’s technology can now be used to secure deliveries where chain of custody and proof of delivery are critical, such as with medical devices and pharmaceuticals. 

"The inclusion of our patented facial recognition system allows Serve to stand alone in modern, on-demand delivery and logistics technology,” says Shahan Ohanessian, CEO, Serve. “This combination of technology and forward-thinking will allow delivery providers across the world to secure sensitive products such as pharmaceuticals in ways previously unavailable to them.”

Serve has announced the addition of Las Vegas to its list of cities now offering Serve’s service platform based on blockchain technology.

Piloting its software, business processes and transaction protocols, Serve will bring residents, visitors, and businesses more options by increasing access to the products and services, the firms says.

"We are excited to pilot the Serve platform in Las Vegas, Nevada’s most populated city and globally renowned tourist destination,” said Serve’s CEO Shahan Ohanessian. “By showcasing the potential of our unique technology, which increases transparency and decentralizes the on-demand economy, Serve aims to empower users, service providers, and enterprises of all sizes to conduct business on one cohesive platform in a manner that benefits all participants.”

Verizon Connect has partnered with Iveco to provide customers with its comprehensive telematics and mobile workforce management software platform.

The Verizon Connect Fleet and Workforce offerings will provide vehicle and driver information that businesses of any size can use to optimize their mobile business. Iveco fleet management by Verizon Connect is available now in new Iveco Daily light commercial vehicles.

Iveco customers can select among three Verizon Connect plans at the time of purchase - Fleet Essential without tachograph driver hours, Fleet Essential with tachograph driver hours, and Fleet Enhanced with tachograph driver hours and tachograph remote download, which enables the timely download of driver cards and tachograph data according to legal requirements.

Verizon Connect Tachograph helps fleet managers stay informed of driver activity with weekly reports detailing driver and vehicle performance, fuel use and helps manage European tachograph regulation compliance. Verizon Connect’s mobile workforce management solution, Workforce Essential, is also available as an extension on all plans. 

“Integration of the Verizon Connect platform will extend value and benefits to Iveco customers beyond delivering an outstanding vehicle,” said Fabio Santiago, TCO services director at Iveco.  “By fitting Verizon Connect solutions in select new vehicles, we are able to help our customers run their businesses with better control of their operations.” “This level of customer services and benefits can only come with the deep integration that now exists between Verizon Connect and Iveco vehicles,” said Dan Levy, OEM business at Verizon Connect. “With Iveco fleet management by Verizon Connect, our common customers now have the solutions they require to help enhance the safety, productivity and efficiency of their fleets.”

Contract with GSA will see telematics tech rolled out to 217,000 US Government vehicles.

IoT and connected transport firm Geotab has announced a deal with General Service Administration (GSA) to equip over 200,000 of its vehicles with its fleet management technology.

The deal, which is the largest single-source telematics contract to date, will see the technology implemented into GSA Fleet, a division of GSA that provides vehicles to US Federal agencies.

Established in 1954, GSA Fleet conduct vehicle acquisition, leasing and disposal, maintenance control, accident management and loss prevention services and is one of the largest non-tactical fleets in America.

Commenting, Geotab CEO, Neil Cawse praised the US Government for taking the lead in fleet technology. "With GSA paving the way, we believe the U.S. government leads the world in the adoption of telematics in the public sector. Particularly within local, state and federal agencies where fleet vehicles typically account for a large portion of their annual budget, our intelligent integrated solutions have the potential to protect capital assets, reduce associated risk, improve accountability and decrease operating costs,” he said.

Application will enable Fleet Managers to monitor driver activity helping with tachograph compliance.

Verizon Connect has announced the launch of a digital tachograph tool that shares information with fleet managers including driving times and rest periods.

A digital tachograph is a device that records speed, distance and driver activity; data, which when used correctly, can ensure European Tachograph regulation is adhered to.When this data is used with Verizon Connect's fleet management platform users can save time, improve processes and remain compliant, the firm says.

“One of the biggest challenges for fleet managers is helping drivers understand their tacho status so customers aren’t losing time and money by pulling drivers off the road to manually download tachograph files from trucks,” said Derek Bryan, EMEA vice president, Verizon Connect. “Digital Tacho Live View provides the visibility necessary to access driver data quickly and easily, helping managers make quick and informed decisions, produce more accurate plans and receive advanced warning of infringements.”

Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) who use vehicles are aware of digitisation benefits but many still rely on manual processes.

New research from TomTom Telematics shows fleet-based SMEs are turning to digitisation to improve productivity, communication and cost.

The study, which canvassed over a thousand companies across the EU and USA, revealed 81% of those decision makers surveyed said they could get more jobs done if they could digitise more of their workflow.

However, the majority of those questioned admitted taking a manual-paper heavy approach to every day tasks such as expense management, customer updates and quoting and invoicing.

Beverly Wise, TomTom Telematics' UK Sales Director said the survey highlighted two key areas. "First, SMEs are frustrated by the costliness, time ineffectiveness and potential for error explained when handling essential tasks manually," she explained. "And two, managers want digital solutions to take care of these jobs."

You can download the full here.

 

Chris Ruff is the President and CEO of location-based technology outfit Glympse and was a recent a guest on The Field Service podcast. Here Deputy Editor Mark Glover cherry-picks some highlights from the interview including automotive technology, machine learning and a misty-eyed look at the hardware that inspired him.


Let’s travel back to 1999, the year of the Palm VII, seen as the first truly wireless handheld device. Chris was (and still is) a fan. “It was why I got into wireless,” he says with nostalgia. “The idea that we run little applications on mobile devices was hugely inspiring to me. It was amazing because, until that moment, most of our experiences were from a dial-up modem in hour homes and we’d sit in front of our PCs, and that was how we got content and communicated with people.

“Now all of a sudden with this mobile device we were able to view content and share things with people. It really became the beginning of mobility and mobile applications. Starbucks had an app where you could find stores. It was really amazing, you could find coffee on your Palm VII.”

Is it collecting dust in Chris’ loft? “I might have it in a box somewhere,” he says laughing. “I tend to keep all my devices. I know I have seven generations of BlackBerries up there. They soon became my addiction."

“Mobile device improvements have been modest ones,” he says when I ask him about the evolution of mobility hardware. “They are mostly around cameras and screens but the underlying tech has been pretty stagnant for several years and generations now. It means it’s becoming a pretty mature market, just like the PC,” he suggested.

Chris has been with Glympse just over a year now, prior, he spent a significant chunk of time – 18 years – at connected car technology and automotive telematics provider Xevo where he joined in its infancy, overseeing various executive positions and becoming its President, CEO and Chairman. He remains on the board.

"Starbucks had an app where you could find stores. It was amazing, you could find coffee on your Palm VII...” 

The potential of automotive technology, therefore, forms a good part of our conversation, most notably when I ask where he sees the next big disruption in field service. “I believe that in the big Iot space that autonomous driving will create a huge change in field service,” he says. “It’s going to make everything more productive, it will improve communications with consumers and it’s going to make it safer. I think this will re-shape the industry more than any tech enhancement than we have today.

He also cites machine learning as a significant enabler in the sector, providing service in real-time and pre-empting faults but he thinks another pinch point could be the way a product is delivered, syncing with the arrival of the technician.

“We’re currently looking at way of tracking two or more things simultaneously, in a healthcare scenario, for example,” he explains. “Here a skilled nurse and the drugs they need to administer need to be at the patient’s house at the same time.

“You could see that in some of the advanced field services and even big machinery cases; where the part and tech show up at the same time, assisted by machine learning that alerts the service company when the asset is about to break.”

I ended the podcast by asking what motivates Chris in his work. His answer is wide-ranging that touches on potential of technology as well as making a difference in society. “I’m motivated by two things,” he says. One is being able to continually push the envelope of what’s available using technology. Two is making a difference in the world.

Can he cite an example? “During the hurricane season, while the search and rescue operations were taking place, teams were using Glympse to keep track of each other, ensuring they wouldn’t lose touch while they carried out the task.

“That to me is super inspiring. That I can work on technology that actually makes a difference in people’s lives.”

Tool measures vehicles' health and performance by tracking fuel consumption, distance travelled and diagnostics.
Verizon connect has launched Engine Connect, a tool aimed specifically at Light Commercial Vehicles.

The tool works by gathering data directly from the engine to help prevent mechanical problems. The data is combined with GPS location information and can identify driver behaviour linked to fuel costs. Software automatically keeps VIN records updated and can receive diagnostics trouble code alerts, the company says.

Engine Connect gives fleet managers a complete view of their vehicles' performance, enabling them to identify potential vehicles' issues before they become costly," said Derek Bryan, VP EMEA at Verizon Connect. "With a better understanding of vehicle performance, we can help customers save time and money in the future and provide them with peace of mind knowing their vehicles are running optimally."

Synovia publishes new version of mobile app which includes tracking inoperable and lost/stolen vehicles and enhanced mapping functionality.

The fleet tracking technology company has launched the latest upgrade to its free mobile application designed for fleet managers to manage their fleet from anywhere with a smart device.

The latest version released to the Apple app store and Google Play will allow users to see multiple vehicles on simultaneously as well as filter vehicles shown on the map by groups. It will also allow for quick and easy navigation to broken-down vehicles to help personnel in the field get up and running more quickly.

Users will also be able to toggle between satellite views to provide greater understanding when vehicles may be off road or situated in a large parking facility.

“We continue to listen to our customers and invest significantly in our technology to better deliver the features and functionality they need to operate smarter and safer fleets, save money and provide improved customer service,” said Jon King, CEO, Synovia. “We recognise fleet managers require more information in a mobile application and will continue to innovate to enhance the mobile experience and deliver a more sophisticated user experience.”