With telematics and proper driver training, fuel costs can be reduced while road safety can be improved, said MiX telematics head of sales (Middle east
and asia) Niels Kirn.
“With telematics, unsafe or aggressive driving behaviours such as excessive speeding, over-acceleration and idling time can be detected. These behaviours can be prevented or improved with proper training,” said Kirn in an interview with Cars Bikes and trucks (CBT).
He said telematics was frequently used in fleet management as a method of monitoring a company’s assets such as cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles and heavy equipment.
“By using global Positioning System (gPS) and onboard computers, it monitors vehicles’ locations and the drivers.”
He added that the MiX telematics solution had proven to help with fuel efficiency.
“Our clients were seeing fuel consumption rate improvements of five to 15 per cent.”
Kirn said with the help of technology, accidents could also be prevented.
“MiX telematics has helped our clients in different parts of the world to improve their drivers’ driving skills as well as road safety. We like to replicate this in Malaysia.”
He added that apart from improving road safety and monitoring vehicles’ locations, telematics could enhance a fleet’s overall efficiency.
“With the data recorded, the solution is able to keep track of the vehicle’s health and remind or notify the fleet managers on their scheduled maintenance. When a vehicle is kept ‘healthy’, it is able to perform at its best (reducing downtime, improving uptime).
“In addition, telematics can be used to optimise vehicle’s routes, which can lead to reduced wear and tear overtime,” said Kirn.
“The technology is charged on a subscription basis per unit and installed into vehicles. It meet the needs of fleets of all sizes and can be tailored to suit specific requirements. Our customers usually see return on investment in 12 to 18 months,” said Kirn.