The connected vehicle: turning insights into action to increase fleet security

Businesses who rely on fleets to conduct daily operations are no different – staying connected to drivers and vehicles while out on the road is critical. By having connected vehicles and utilising a fleet automation solution, fleet managers can see a vehicle’s location and status while gathering insightful data that is strategically used to help ensure drivers, vehicles, and the cargo they transport remain safe throughout their journey.

THE POWER OF CONNECTION

Just how connected are vehicles today? And how does that level of connectivity and the information collected help to keep fleets secure?

In 2021, 236 million connected vehicles graced the roadways around the world. By 2035, the connected vehicle market is expected to grow to over 863 million vehicles, 261 million of those existing in the EU. And with Europe currently accounting for an estimated 30% of the global connected car fleet, the cars on our roadways are getting smarter than ever. With the help of the data connected vehicles reporting in real-time, and a versatile mobility management platform, fleet managers are able to extract credible information, turning insights into actions to keep their fleets secure in several ways.

PROVIDING THE RIGHT ACCESS AT THE RIGHT TIME

A physical key is something we automatically associate with any type of vehicle – without one, the vehicle won’t operate. In today’s technology-rich world, that simply isn’t true. For businesses who rely on fleets for daily operations, managing physical keys can become cumbersome, requiring manual work and increasing frustration.

With the use of a digital keyless access solution, fleet managers can virtually and automatically assign keys to their drivers, ensuring the right driver is in the right vehicle at the right time. The use of digital keys also provides an enhanced level of security. With the ability to lock and unlock doors based on driver proximity and immobilise vehicles to prevent theft or potential harmful use of the vehicle, keyless technology helps to enhance digital fleet control, serving as a virtual security system that never sleeps.

STOPPING THEFTS BEFORE THEY START

Throughout the world, vehicle theft is on the rise. In 2020, over 810,000 vehicles were stolen globally, resulting in a total loss of $7.4 billion. In fact, the rate of stolen vehicles also rose in the UK during 2020 with DVLA figures showing 74,769 cars reported stolen, which is almost 20,000 more than in 2019. Furthermore, with the introduction of BSi PAS-29000 guidelines, fleet operators need to focus increasingly on sufficiently securing their vehicles against malicious use – all easily done through the effective use of connectivity.

Of the many powerful features of a strong fleet automation solution, one earns the top spot – vehicle immobilisation. Having the ability to disable a vehicle remotely and automatically whenever authorised access occurs not only helps stop a theft in progress, but also assists in preventing future thefts. This feature also helps fleet managers easily see what vehicles need to be immediately immobilised without waiting for a call from the driver and allows for collaboration with local law enforcement to quickly recover a stolen vehicle, reducing recovery time from days to hours.

COMPLIANCE IS KEY

It can be challenging to keep up with the ever-changing compliance regulations and standards that not only impact fleets but overall business operations as well. Your fleet is an extension of your brand serving as a mobile advertisement for the services you provide. And having the wrong driver behind the wheel can cost you more than just money – it can potentially compromise your company’s reputation, integrity, and customer service. By using a fleet automation solution, a driver’s licence can be digitally scanned to easily verify the driver’s identity while conducting a background and driving record check to ensure the right person is behind the wheel.

Compliance also touches another incredibly important area of fleet management – vehicle roadworthiness. Putting vehicles on the road that may not be labelled safe is a risk that has many impacts including increased accidents, insurance claims and costly maintenance repairs. The right fleet automation solution includes damage reporting, allowing drivers to scan the vehicle for damage before their shift begins and report any findings immediately. Maintenance alerts can be configured to automatically report and fix service issues before they become serious problems, keeping vehicles healthy and increasing up time.

TURNING INSIGHTS INTO ACTION

With the help of a fleet automation solution such as Ridecell, fleet managers can easily and quickly turn what were once manual tasks into automatic workflows, freeing up time to focus on what matters most. By using the intelligent data connected vehicles collect, the insights gathered are turned into actions, helping increase productivity, efficiency, and profitability. For more information on Ridecell’s solutions and how they help fleets around the world, click here or reach out to Kenneth Malmberg, kenneth@ridecell.com.

*www.ridecell.com

Published On: 26/05/2022 16:00:40

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