PRODUCTS & SERVICES
Market insights a look at telematics
Fleet management isn't a one size fits all activity. Fleet management best practices take into account an equipment fleet's operational efficiency; operational cost-effectiveness; operator management; equipment maintenance; and equipment safety and compliance. Monitoring and tracking these five factors on each machine in a rental fleet may seem like a daunting task, but through the use of telematics, it is easy to gather, read and understand the information machines are providing. Below are insights from Jonathan Shapiro, Senior Manager, ClearSky Telematics Sales and Business Development, JLG, on today’s telematics market... Current telematics offerings Today’s telematics systems typically combine GPS technology, diagnostics and monitoring sensors to track, log and report data on the performance and operation of construction equipment, including aerial access machines like mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) and telehandlers. The data can provide high-level, or finite details, on several machine systems, including equipment location, fuel consumption, idle times and machine alerts. For example, JLG offers ClearSky™ 36
Lifting Africa - Mar/Apr 2021
fleet management solutions for its equipment, entailing an easy-to-use telematics platform giving access to actionable data and reports. The system can be used to track fleet productivity and uptime, while proactively monitoring fleet health and security. ClearSky combines multiyear service plans and several hardware options, providing equipment owners and operators flexibility for access to critical engine and equipment operational data. Data points, including location, engine hours, usage, fuel and battery levels, and maintenance schedules, are conveniently available in real-time and accessible from a desktop or mobile devices. The dashboard, settings and a library of widgets can be edited and prioritized according to customer preferences. The system also monitors fault codes and other critical alerts, which can be sent via text and email. Additionally, ClearSky data can be integrated with customers’ enterprise resource planning
(ERP) software for seamless fleet management. New telematics technologies coming in the future Using ClearSky telematics for fleet management can help get the information necessary to better optimize equipment and help customers be more productive. That said, information (data points) is only helpful when it's put to good use. Fleet managers need to work with the OEMs to get the right data, integrate it into useful reports and then utilize it consistently to help make critical fleet management decisions. “It is important for fleet managers to work with the OEMs to get the right data, integrate it into useful reports and then utilize it consistently to help make critical fleet management decisions.” Keep in mind, while it’s helpful to know every machine’s unique status, that data needs to also feed the bigger picture where it can contribute to long-range business
