CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
CONNECTED MACHINES DRIVE PRODUCTIVITY AND PERFORMANCE
Telematics provide real-time visibility into machine health and construction operations By Peter Gibbons
C
onstruction companies using technology to drive performance are winning more bids and completing projects with greater insights, collaboration and efficiency. Telematics technology has also made huge inroads in the last decade, providing advancements in connectivity that allow companies to stay connected, train operators, manage projects and keep them moving forward, often remotely, safely and successfully. Telematics, once reserved for larger equipment and primarily used to locate machines and alert operators of fault codes, now play a key role in monitoring and managing an entire fleet’s movements and health, increasing efficiencies and keeping costs down. Yet, for a large part of Canada’s construction sector, we’re just beginning to see the potential for telematics to revolutionize the way construction companies work – from back-office integration to onsite execution. This is a big opportunity but also a big challenge. Companies need to trust the technology will help them manage their businesses more effectively and allow operators to do their job better, safer and faster.
Connectivity the starting point
At the most basic level, telematics provide real-time intel into what is happening on the jobsite from machine hours and location to what equipment is operating. This all helps to effectively manage the fleet, but it’s really just the beginning. Connected machines pay off right from the start at the design phase of
a project. Design files can be downloaded to the machine instantly via the cloud from anywhere, versus manually downloading files into the machine before work can begin. Not only does this save time, it also enables accurate planning, data capture and monitoring of the work. Drones, now a standard means of site surveying, provide the ability to share data in real-time, accurately tracking the amount of material moved and providing oversight on the project
progress and operator performance. The data analytics captured help manage projects from planning through completion, from reduced maintenance and downtime through health monitoring to overall improved effectiveness and increased productivity at each stage of the project. Access to technology is also becoming less of a barrier for companies of any size. Manufacturers are focused on making machines smarter with new models coming loaded with telematics
technology straight from the factory. Telematics integrated into the machine can simplify operations to ensure more operators are using the technology rather than avoiding it. Imagine an operator going from a 10,000-hour piece of equipment to a state-of-the-art 20-tonne excavator or track-type tractor with touchscreen monitors and semi-autonomous functions, which help get to grade with the push of a button. This change can be overwhelming. But increasing operator acceptance by making adoption as easy as possible is key to gaining the full benefits of the machine.
Dealers aid in telematics integration
Starting with connected machines, you can integrate telematics into all aspects of the business, using data-driven analytics as the foundation for planning and management of every aspect of your operations. Accuracy of your month-end billing and reporting is dependent on data pulled from the machines. Maintenance and scheduled parts and services are tied to analytics from the data and can be timed to prevent downtime, operators can be trained with the push of a button and site managers can identify productivity problems before they become costly mistakes. The right technology partner can help you integrate telematics into your operations to meet your specific business needs. Telematics can also be a training tool, using the data as a benchmark for performance. This isn’t limited to onsite training. Operators can train remotely with the support of their technology dealer who can log into the machine and go through every function and feature with the operator over JULY/AUGUST 2020
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