The Benefits of AI in Telematics

The Benefits of AI in Telematics

Artificial Intelligence, or AI, seemed like just a buzzword five short years ago, but as technologies scale and AI finds its way into new and exciting areas of industry, there has been an explosion of AI-powered or augmented platforms that are helping make management and operations more streamlined. One industry that is already seeing a renaissance, and will certainly continue to see incredible developments over the coming years, is the telematics industry, and specific to your work, the fleet management industry.

So what is AI? How can a robot sidekick help a fleet manager? What are some specific upsides to a digitally-connected fleet? We will get into all of that and more here.

But first, let's establish some basic definitions for two major concepts that will be discussed: Artificial Intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT).

What Is AI?

AI is a term that applies to a variety of computer functions related to cognitive abilities, including machine learning, reasoning, and problem-solving. In practical use, it refers to a machine’s ability to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence, such as recognizing objects and voices or understanding natural language.

What Is the Internet of Things?

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a term used to describe a network of physical objects or "things" that are embedded with electronics, software, sensors, and network connectivity, which enables these objects to collect and exchange data. The IoT allows objects to be sensed and controlled remotely across existing networks, creating opportunities for more intelligent and efficient operations across a variety of industries.

Fleet Management, AI, and IoT

Now that we have a good understanding of AI and the IoT, let's explore how they are impacting the telematics industry and, in particular, fleet management. Fleet management is a field that stands to benefit immensely from the incorporation of AI and the IoT.

The use of AI telematics has a number of potential benefits for fleet managers, and the marriage of AI and IoT (the Internet of Things) is a complete paradigm shift in fleet management systems. Processes, like route planning, which was once performed manually, can now be fully optimized using complex algorithms based on millions of data points collected by internet-enabled monitoring systems on a fleet's vehicles. The result is a more efficient, lower-cost operation with a smaller environmental footprint.

The main benefits can be summarized into three key areas:

Route Planning

One of the most significant is its ability to help with route planning and optimization. AI-powered telematics systems can take into account a variety of different factors to create optimized routes for fleets, including real-time traffic data, weather conditions, and even construction zones. This can lead to significant time and fuel savings for fleets, as well as increased customer satisfaction from faster delivery times.

Resource Allocation

With the help of AI, managers can allocate resources and drivers more efficiently and react quickly to changes in demand. This also includes the ability to predict maintenance needs and schedule repairs in a more proactive way, before a small issue becomes a larger and more costly problem. If you have ever scrambled to adjust a fleet plan to account for unexpected downtime, you know how valuable this can be.

Monitor Driver Behavior in Real-Time

Another benefit of AI in telematics is its ability to monitor driver behavior. By tracking things like acceleration, braking, and cornering, AI-powered systems can detect when a driver is exhibiting risky behavior behind the wheel. This information can then be used to provide coaching and training to help improve driver safety.

You may discover that behaviors that were once considered 'best practices' for your fleet may actually be wasting time and money. For example, a driver who idles a truck's engine while making a delivery may be doing so out of habit, without realizing that the fuel cost and emissions from idling outweigh the time saved by not having to restart the engine. With an IoT-connected telematics platform, you will be able to see the exact cost and benefit of each of these minor habits.

Improved Customer Service

AI can also be used to improve customer service in a number of ways. For example, this technology can be used to predict customer demand and route vehicles accordingly. AI can also be used to provide customers with real-time updates on their shipments.

Furthermore, by monitoring driver behavior with the help of your ever-watchful AI, you can correct driver behaviors in real-time that may reflect poorly on your company. With AI-powered safety suggestions for drivers, you can help reduce the chance of a negative customer service experience before it ever happens.

Improved Maintenance Scheduling

Using AI can also improve maintenance scheduling for fleets. By monitoring vehicle data in real-time, AI-powered telematics systems can detect potential issues before they become a problem. This can help prevent costly downtime and keep vehicles on the road running smoothly. When your fleet is operating at maximum capacity and maximum efficiency, everyone benefits.

Reduced Emissions

Finally, AI can also be used to help reduce emissions from fleet vehicles. By optimizing routes and reducing idling times, AI can lead to a reduction in fuel consumption and emissions. This is not only good for the environment, but it can also lead to decreased operating costs.

With the use of AI-powered telematics, you can focus on sustainability for your fleet without sacrificing efficiency.

In conclusion, AI in telematics offers a wealth of benefits for fleet managers. From improved route planning and resource allocation to reduced emissions and improved customer service, AI can help take your fleet to the next level. If you are not already using a telematics system with AI capabilities, now is the time to consider investing in one. Your fleet, your drivers, and your bottom line will thank you.

Video Telematics: An Overview

Video telematics is a type of telematics system that uses video footage instead of vehicle data to monitor driver behavior. Before AI integration, video telematics required hands-on monitoring and was typically used to look back at the details of an incident. With artificial intelligence monitoring, every video stream is in real-time, meaning that video telematics can now be used to detect and prevent incidents before they happen.

One of the main benefits of AI-powered video telematics is its ability to improve driver safety. By monitoring things like acceleration, braking, and cornering, AI-powered systems can detect when a driver is exhibiting risky behavior behind the wheel. This information can then be used to provide coaching and training to help improve driver safety. When a driver is alerted about risky or undesirable driving behaviors in real-time, this tool can be used to instill a greater focus on safety and address ongoing issues without requiring a manager to watch the feed like a backseat driver (or, in this instance, a dashboard-mounted driver).

The future of video telematics and artificial intelligence for fleet management is exciting. As AI technology continues to evolve, so too will the capabilities of video telematics systems. We can expect to see even more advanced features and functions in the years to come, making video telematics an increasingly valuable tool for fleet managers.

The Internet of Things

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a term that is used to describe a network of devices that are connected to the internet. These devices can include anything from a wearable device to a car or a refrigerator. In the case of fleet management, IoT devices could monitor a vehicle's engine, a GPS unit, or a tire pressure sensor.

The IoT has a number of applications in the automotive, healthcare, and retail industries, for example. In the automotive industry, the IoT can be used to connect cars to the internet, which allows for a number of features, such as remote diagnostics and tracking. In the healthcare industry, the IoT can be used to connect medical devices to the internet, which allows for a number of features such as remote monitoring and data collection. In the retail industry, the IoT can be used to connect physical stores to the internet, which allows for a number of features such as real-time inventory tracking and customer analytics.

IoT and Fleet Management

IoT integration into fleet management systems — especially with the additional benefit of AI — has enormous potential perks for fleet managers.

IoT-enabled telematics systems can help fleet managers in a number of ways. For example, these systems can be used to monitor vehicle diagnostics and maintenance needs in real time. This information can be used to improve the efficiency of a fleet by reducing downtime and maximizing the utilization of each vehicle.

Additionally, IoT-enabled telematics systems can be used to track the location of vehicles to optimize routes and improve customer service. Finally, IoT-enabled telematics systems can be used to collect data on driver behavior. These metrics translate to actionable insights that identify risky driving patterns and prevent accidents from happening.

Overall, IoT-enabled telematics systems offer a number of benefits for fleet managers. These systems can help to improve the efficiency of a fleet, reduce downtime, and improve customer service. Additionally, these systems can help to prevent accidents by identifying risky driving patterns.

AI and Telematics: A Perfect Match

The automotive and shipping industries are under pressure to meet a number of challenges, including the need to reduce emissions, improve safety, and increase efficiency. Telematics systems can help to meet these challenges by providing a continuous data stream to an intuitive dashboard where fleet managers can review the performance of their fleet with incredible granularity.

AI can take telematics to the next level by providing a number of additional features, such as predictive maintenance, driver behavior monitoring, and customer service improvements.

If you're ready to take your fleet to the next level, Contact MiX by Powerfleet today. Our experts can help you find the perfect telematics solution for your business needs.