Despite the concept being around for almost two decades, the last few years have seen incredible developments in video telematics for the monitoring of vehicle fleets. Integrating telematics with onboard camera systems have given companies a chance to boost the efficiency, productivity and safety of their fleets, while still reducing costs. Research has found that implementing video telematics into your fleet management systems can help save – up to 20% – on things like fuel consumption, brakes, tyres as well as maintenance.
Traditionally, vehicle telematics have been used to determine the location, movement and other basic data of a particular fleet and its vehicles. Today, video telematics services have led to a wealth of additional, actionable information to support and monitor the vehicle – and its driver – while on the move. Video telematics have afforded fleets offline and real-time driver coaching; to enhance driver skills and lead to improved driver safety and productivity.
How do video telematics work?
The primary function of any vehicle telematics is to record and send data about the performance of remote objects, like a vehicle. The advancements in video telematics, typically, incorporate the installation of multiple onboard cameras with in-cab, road-facing, load monitoring, blind spots and other, backup camera options. The additional data provided using video telematics gives fleet companies access to video footage that can back up or verify the driving data captured about their vehicle.
Video telematics systems work by combining video footage with the vehicle data, usually, by connecting the camera system to the vehicles telematics black box or diagnostics, through a hard-wired connection, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. The cameras capture real-time footage and the system incorporates other vehicle data, such as location, time, speed, routes, g-forces and more into it through the vehicle’s diagnostics port. All data is fully encrypted and uploaded from the onboard modem to the cloud for retrieval and storage via satellite communications or cellular networks – on demand.
The benefits of video telematics for fleet management
Overall, the benefits of video telematics are affording fleet managers the opportunity to see information about their vehicles that were impossible before. Conventional telematics answer the questions of when and where, while the addition of video, answers the how and why around accidents and other incidents or mistakes. Video telematics systems give fleet managers the ability to sit in the driver’s seat – along with the driver – ensuring their safety and security as well as the vehicle’s.
Reaching a new level of efficiency, productivity, safety and savings is made possible by this technology, with the following benefits:
- Insights into What Drivers Do in Vehicles
By installing road-facing and in-cab cameras, fleet managers are given detailed information and visual proof that is backed using regular GPS tracking. This shows managers things like: speeding, harsh breaking, hard cornering, strange route choices and other hazardous behaviour. - Better Driver Coaching
Heavy vehicles (and their drivers) are known to cause most of the accidents that happen on national highways and freeways. Including, a major factor in light vehicle accidents too; understanding and monitoring the movements and habits of drivers are vital to improving the quality of their work. Fleet managers are able to collect footage of general practises as well as specific incidents to facilitate driver coaching or training in order to improve their awareness of risky driving. This can also be helpful in establishing better driving behaviours and better safety compliance. - Ensuring Driver’s Road Compliance
Simply being monitored can help ensure drivers remain more compliant with road rules and safety standards. From using mobile devices to driving under-the-influence and wearing a seatbelt to having the headlights on; there are variety of mistakes made whilst driving that can be deterred by video observation. By adopting video telematics systems, managers are given a new safety tool that can be used to nurture better driving behaviours and safety compliance on the road. - Improving the Operational Efficiency of Fleets
In addition to ensuring safety and compliance, video telematics, provide various means that help improve the operational efficiency of a company’s fleet. By offering managers a clear view of driver motion, video telematics gives them an opportunity to manage and monitor drivers remotely while tracking and guaranteeing their deliveries in real time. This makes maximising operation potential easier than ever before. - Evidence to Review Accidents and Other Disputes
Driving can be a hazardous business at the best of times. There is, unfortunately, a high likelihood of something going wrong on the road. An accident or incident – of any kind – can leave a fleet vulnerable and possibly liable to legal action. Video evidence provides incredible insight that a fleet manager can use to understand the events that led to a given incident. If a driver is falsely blamed for causing the accident, a manager has the factual evidence needed to exonerate their driver and minimise the risk.
The future of fleet management
The impact and significance of these advancements are being reflected in its market trends over several years; showing the future is strong for vehicle telematics. Market research has projected that the revenues of the dashboard camera market will have grown to over $4 billion by the end of this year (2020) from the $1.4 billion revenues made, just a few years ago (2013).
Combining traditional telematics with on-board camera systems are fast-becoming the new normal in all commercial fleet spaces – and for good reason. The future of video telematics is made so much brighter by the real-time control and monitoring possibilities made through the advancements in general artificial intelligence; that will create 360-degree fleet management. Video telematics have been game-changing in the vehicle telematics industry for years already and it show no signs of slowing down.
