IoT in Fleet Management - Role and Applications

How much attention are you giving to your car's tyre pressure? Perhaps when you visit the petrol station you may check this? But do you know that the tyre life may be dramatically affected by pressure and temperature changes? 

 

Although it may not have such an impact on the total costs associated with the maintenance of the vehicle for individual consumers, float operators, who have 100s of vehicles, understand the importance of the appropriate tyre pressure and its impact on the overall maintenance cost for tyres.

 

An IoT-enabled Fleet Management system provides a competitive edge for organizations via automating operations on a cloud-based platform and giving a real-time overview of the whole field. 

 

You may connect to your floating vehicle via installing telematics devices in combination with other reports and analytics that assist to optimise shipment, travel planning, and company operations, to their current GPS locations and activity status on a web map. This real-time view enables you to gain flexibility in the allocation of resources, better planning, and faster adoption.

 

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What is fleet management?

 

Fleet management practices are used to manage commercial automobiles, fleets, and trucks in order to guarantee optimal use, energy consumption, and maintenance. Fleet management and Fleet managers may also contribute to improving safety, compliance, and responsibilities for coach drivers. 

 

Fleet management may also involve the monitoring and control of assets from big cranes, bulldozers, to smaller equipment such as trailers, generators or dedicated tools in some industries, such as construction and construction contracting.

 

The management of the fleet seeks to promote efficiency, productivity, and safety for the vehicles and drivers of a business. This was often done with a mix of vehicle tracking, fuel usage reporting, driver behavior monitoring, and vehicle maintenance management. All these different duties are frequently administered using software for fleet management.

 

Managing a fleet is tiresome and difficult work – the management of a fleet requires a high degree of expertise, precision, and commitment. Fleet operators may empower themselves with new capabilities and enhance the overall operational efficiency with appropriate IoT solutions.
 

 

What is IoT and how is it making our lives easier?

 

The COVID-19 epidemic affects most nations and companies in the globe, changing the structure of society dramatically. Companies must modify their complete planning processes in order to continue to operate in accordance with new security rules and requirements.

 

The 'new normal' forces everyone to rethink and re-strategize the way their companies operate, and the Internet of Things (IoT) is a key element in connecting critical services workers who work remotely in the field as well as making home co-ordinators flexible and supervisory.

 

The internet of things, often known as IoT, has in recent years effectively altered our everyday lives to such an extent that even those who are not technologically inclined have begun to purchase the convenience and useful insights that it gives.

 

IoT allows us to function better, live smarter, and govern our lives, but it also contributes to our well-being behind the scenes. Often you already know how useful IoT is in your regular life from linked hubs, smart thermostats, door locks, and all the different app-controlled equipment.

 

The fact is that IoT is becoming increasingly important for industrial and daily use. It makes our lives better and probably will continue to improve in so many ways. In addition to the difficulties we know we face, we weren't even aware we were a problem to solve - until the answer arrived miraculously.

 

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IoT and Fleet management

 

IoT allows digitalization, and this is undoubtedly the essential component to enhance efficiency for business owners and managers. The time spent previously on manual activities, paperwork piles, logbooks, driver telephone checks, or even switches between software platforms may now be spent, for example, on making more shipping stops and supporting more clients all day long.

 

IoT in the field of fleet management operates through three key technologies – GPS, OBD, and RFID (Radio Frequency ID). The first two technologies give important information and statistics about cars in real-time, but the last helps to track and manage assets.

 

These sensors provide crucial vehicle data gathering even from remote places - information on speed, position, engine health, fuel efficiency, tyre pressure, and much more. 

 

This data is sent regularly over an ongoing local gateway and securely transferred to a cloud-based centralized database. On top of these databases web services automatically create reports and warnings for fleet managers, allowing management in real-time by measurement.

 

 

Role of IoT in fleet management

 

Although the main advantages are typically sufficient to persuade many that IoT helps their fleet, there are more benefits. For example, IoT may help you operate a more effective fleet by simplifying and improving all of your fleet management functions. 

 

It can also reduce your emissions to make your operation more ecologically aware. And your compliance and customer happiness can be improved. Let's look at these advantages more closely.

 

1. Environment-Friendly Operations

 

Furthermore, driving or keeping the cars idle is damaging to the environment, aside from causing unnecessary wear and tear and additional fuel expenses. Using IoT, this firm could simply monitor driver behavior and obtain automatic warnings in real-time, which helped them greatly to minimize undesirable actions.

 

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It also uses route optimization to make drivers on the shortest route, while taking traffic and other factors into consideration. This also helps to reduce the usage of extra gasoline.

 

 

2. Preventive Maintenance

 

Automated signals and alarms can be sent if a portion of the automobile requires repair or is near to failure by vehicles fitted with sensors. Predictive automotive maintenance on an Iot-based basis prevents any vehicle component abrupt breakup. 

 

In addition, low battery alerting, regular motor maintenance, temperature control, and other services assist cars to operate safely for a longer period of time.

 

 

3. Reduction of Maintenance Costs

 

Regular maintenance and inspections are necessary for each float and every asset. It's a question of preventative maintenance, thorough inspection, and improved driving practices to save maintenance expenses. 

 

IoT telematics capture vehicle diagnosis data such as pneumatic and hydraulic data. These technologies utilize predictive maintenance to keep your fleet in shape with constant monitoring.

 

 

4. Safety

 

On the road, security is always a problem, but drivers are hard to monitor while on the road. IoT Telematics provides insights into fleet management they had never previously and helps minimize hazards and save lives at far cheaper costs. 

 

The first method is driver surveillance, which warns managers about things like speed, harsh braking, and more. These conducts might raise your driver's risk and your company's liability. 

 

These insights enable fleet managers to modify training to suit the driver's particular needs. In order to guarantee cars stay safe, compliant, and dependable, safety has also been enhanced through the monitoring and maintenance of diagnostics.

 

 

5. Automation

 

IoT helps fleet operators to automate several procedures and tour planning for their fleet operators. This lowers administrative strain, saves time spent on tiresome paperwork, and lowers the chance of misplacing documents. 

 

IoT automatically schedules maintenance and different processes along the whole route of a vehicle. For example, if a truck falls off its path, telematics sends a signal for towing or service immediately. Drivers also receive automated weather or emergency warnings.

 

 

Automated connected cars

 

IoT can automate tour planning and numerous other operations for fleet operators and management. For example, the IoT-enabled system sends automated warnings to tow trucks and the closest service stations when the car breaks down. Drivers receive automated weather warning messages and re-route advice. For smart cities, IoT genuinely delivers smart innovation.

 

IoT's self-driven automobile connections provide secure and dependable driving functions. Connected vehicle communication is broken down into the following categories:

 

Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I): Diagnostic data transmitted to a car service centre for the identification and reservation of car parks. In general, the infrastructure consists of road signals, interchangeable pitches, and lanes. It helps to keep traffic flowing and prevents huge waiting lineups at gas pump stations or peak stores.

 

Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V): A high-speed bandwidth link on the vehicle network, cameras and radar prevents crashes and streamlines traffic. It supplies information about the speed, dynamics and position of vehicles.
 

Vehicle-to-Pedestrians (V2P): People can link the CV2X (Cellular Vehicle with All) network using mobile applications. It helps to track and find taxis and monitors the expected arrival time for transport. In addition, it enables communication and transfers traffic signals through the road with a pedestrian walking system.

 

Vehicle-to-Network (V2N): It connects to the weather forecast system and the Intelligent Transport System to notify drivers to the crucial weather or road incidents. Automated driver support for self-driven cars makes the most possible use of the IoT connections. 

 

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How does IoT work in fleet management?

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How IoT works in fleet management

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1. Data Capturing and Filtering

 

The IoT devices gather huge quantities of data, which data should be gathered on the basis of particular business requirements. Data is collected from the vehicles via GPS and OBD II sensors. While the automobile is on its way, data from all sensors are regularly forwarded through a mobile connection to the local gateway.

 

 

2. Data Transmit

The collected data is transferred to the cloud through the Internet for additional action to be taken by storage or other devices. The data transport medium changes based on the user's choice. Communication means include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, RFID system, NFC, GSM, LoRaWAN, etc.

 

 

3. Performing analytics

 

In order to acquire actionable information on vehicle speed or leisure, driving behavior, etc, the big data from vehicles and transportation is currently analyzed. Instant improvements may be made by analyzing real-time data in rapid choices. In addition, these insights are of significant benefit for efficient supply chain management.

 

 

4. Take action

 

The final stage is to act on the basis of IoT application data. The smart air conditioner, for example, automatically acts and adjusts the temperature when the sensor sends an alarm to lower the temperature level.

 

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Applications of IoT in fleet management

 

1. Driver management

 

With backup cameras and blind-spot helper alerters, High tech driver management systems enable things that are obstructing the way and individuals crossing the road, or dangerously driven cars. In addition, in-cab cameras can warn drivers and advise them when necessary to stop and relax. Video footage can aid in error detection in the event of an accident.

 

 

2. Fleet maintenance

 

When changing the oil, brake pads, batteries, or tyres, a vehicle's integrated sensors can be detected. Fleet operators may obtain data quickly to monitor several vehicle-related metrics.

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Applications of IoT in Fleet Management

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3. Vehicle monitoring

 

IoT-connected vehicles and integrated sensors assist to identify moving persons, objects, and other vehicles with a clear view of the environment. These devices can also function as a driving trainer and notify the driver of accidents.

 

 

4. Asset and cargo management

 

IoT helps to preserve the cargo of a truck at a specified temperature and keeps food products, medicines, immunizations, and other goods perishable fresh and consumable.

 

Cargo monitoring, an inside and exterior evaluation of vehicles allow operators to guarantee what should and what order should be on the truck. The surveillance also confirms whether any goods are lost or stolen. The vibration sensors keep fragile products safe and ensure they do not shatter during movement.

 

 

5. Passenger information

 

Passenger vehicles such as buses and other cargo vehicles that are interconnected with passenger information systems can enable Wi-Fi connectivity to give useful routes and other service information. 

 

Systems equipped for IoT can also recognize and inform the standards for social separation to be followed by each passenger. The video monitoring system can monitor the use of the mask in the car and report it. In addition, a touchless billing mechanism in the buses enhances the passenger experience.

 

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Benefits of IoT in fleet management

 

• Run more effective operations with better logistics and maintenance.

• Better compliance with rules on environment and safety.

• Improving fuel economy via improved routes and maintenance of vehicles.

• Driver performance monitoring for improved safety.

• Keep vehicle health and enhance vehicle assessment through preventative maintenance.

• Improve processes, enhance timing, increase the accuracy of invoicing, improve time management and minimise red tape.

• Improve corporate visibility overall through reporting and efficient vehicle monitoring.

• Improved client satisfaction via delivery and improved service quality.

 

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Conclusion

 

IoT is not something in the future — it's occurring at the moment. It is now a standard. A lot of parts of our lives have already started. IoT is indeed the cradle of a related ecosystem.

 

Technologies like IoT serve as a facilitator, reducing and encouraging the communication gap between suppliers and customers. IoT is the technology that reinvents fleet management in the holistic way possible. Indeed, intelligent fleet management is a significant instance of IoT application that brings forth a real technical promise.

 

The future improved fleet management system depends on IoT-enabled telecommunications. By adopting IoT-enabled solutions, fleet managers and other stakeholders have a more trustworthy technological solution. 

 

The IoT alters functionality in several businesses, but IoT and Fleet Telematics have the biggest value in the fleet business. Based on this highly linked environment, companies are given enormous potential, and IoT is certainly the backbone for this.