INTERVIEW II

One to One with Mervyn O’Callaghan, CEO CameraMatics

Since establishing CameraMatics, how has the company evolved?

The fleet management marketplace has long been fragmented and fleet managers have historically been poorly served by a crowded patchwork of hardware, telematics and dashcam software providers.

Commercial drivers and fleet managers were getting a raw deal. They weren’t being served by suppliers that valued their user experience or that were tapping into the enormous potential of new technologies.

The developments of the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence, for us, was an opportunity to speed up, deepen and enrich the critical collaboration between often remote and mobile teams. But they weren’t being harnessed to empower drivers and fleet operators.

That’s why in 2016 CameraMatics was born with the aim to automate safety and performance for companies who operate vehicles and a mobile workforce.

When we started, road safety, customer service and user experience were the three key watch words for us. I would now add sustainability as central to that list. We see ourselves supporting drivers, fleet managers and the transport sector in their move towards a sustainable transport future.

Our vehicle operations cloud platform is defined by the needs of the drivers, fleet managers, and safety and training managers who use it to collaborate and digitise manual processes and deliver on the transformational promise of these cutting-edge technologies.

What are the main benefits of vehicle camera systems and how is the acceptance of their use?

The CameraMatics system utilises advanced telematics data and HD video footage to establish a collaborative relationship between fleet manager and driver.

Our vehicle operations cloud is used to: n Centralize fleet performance data n Digitize insurance claims and risk management n Automate driver coaching n Warn drivers early of collision hazards n Alert drivers to distracted driving behaviour caused by fatigue, smoking or phone use

In the early days some drivers understandably had concerns about vehicle cameras, related largely to privacy, however those have dissipated over the years as it became clear how these systems are being deployed by fleet operators to improve driver safety and exonerate them from frivolous or fraudulent insurance claims.

How do your systems comply with TfL’s Direct Vision, CLOCS & FORS regulations?

Humans, their safety and quality of life, are the heart of CLOCS, FORS and Direct Vision standards. Humans are also at the heart of everything we do at CameraMatics, it’s the reason we began this journey in the first place – to help make life for those who work in the transport industry, and for the rest of us road users a safer and more sustainable experience.

Our all-in-one platform records 360-degree surround vehicle video footage complete with essential data such as time and date, GPS location, vehicle speed and g-sensor readings. Our AI (artificial intelligence) powered cameras can be positioned anywhere on the vehicle to eliminate blind spots and accurately identify and alert drivers to vulnerable road users and other hazards. UHD In-cab monitors give drivers a vibrant HD view of any cyclists and pedestrians along the side of the vehicle.

When you combine these cutting-edge capabilities in the way we have, with the human at the heart, you have one of the most advanced risk mitigation tools available on the market. It is through this we can support drivers, site foremen and fleet managers to minimise risk, and to maximise safety to operate their vehicles in a sustainable way in compliance with CLOCs, FORS and Direct Vision.

What is the vehicle driver experience? How is the footage recorded, monitored and accessed?

Our system has been designed to empower commercial drivers and enhance the driver experience. Vehicle cameras are discreet and unobtrusive, AI triggered alerts and warnings provide

them greater response times to road hazards, while HD in-cab monitors and cameras ensure crystal clear visibility.

Our driver app enables drivers to complete paperwork and report road incidents remotely, and auto-captured video footage of harsh driving events provides independent evidence of any road incidents or near misses to accelerate training and incident investigations.

Footage of road incidents is stored on our cloud, with notifications being sent to the fleet manager on the case of an incident.

By exhibiting at trade and public events, what are the main benefits, besides sales?

The main benefit is the opportunity to engage with customers and the wider industry and raise our profile as a company.

How did your involvement with truck racing come about and what is the feedback from there?

Transport and professional driving can be a tough but very rewarding industry. For example, it was hugely impressive to see some of our very best drivers and commercial fleet operators step forward, not without taking some personal risk, to deliver humanitarian aid to Ukraine this year.

Commercial driving is demanding on both drivers and their vehicles. They need rugged, resilient and reliable technology and personally I couldn’t think of a better way to showcase our technology than in the tough, adrenaline fuelled world of truck racing.

Truck racing is a fast-paced reactive sport, the crystal-clear HD quality cameras, gives pit-crew members a clear view of what the driver is seeing, allowing for more critical pit-lane feedback and in the moment, decision making by the driver. Steve Powell is a great advocate and ambassador of our product, and we use our partnership with Powell’s Motorsport to make sure we are always innovating and leading our industry in innovation.

What are the costs involved – are they mostly fleet related/packaged?

Our prices are very competitive but will vary depending on the number of vehicles. We offer an all-in-one solution that includes hardware and our cloud software platform on a monthly contract.

How significant is the Catalpa Underwriting deal?

The fleet insurance industry is undergoing a radical digital transformation and insurers are taking the opportunity to digitise their claims process and applying new technology to facilitate customer engagement. Smart brokers and agents like Catalpa are moving quickly to integrate new technologies into their operations resulting in higher customer satisfaction, a leaner process with reduced follow-ups and recalculations or litigation. Through our partnership with Catalpa, we are able lower the risk profile of fleet operators which in turn delivers them lower insurance premiums and operating costs. With Jarlath Sweeney

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