TRANSPORT TECH TRENDS SHAPING SA

Technology has played a pivotal role in the transport sector this past year. Fleet management and logistics continue to digitally transform as we navigate through the post-Covid era.

BY CHARNDRÉ EMMA KIPPIE

As the world embraces more and more transport technology innovations, and younger generations develop a knack for apps and mobile payment solutions, South Africa has been prompted to pay more attention to mobility and tech upgrades - even in the midst of a global pandemic.

With lockdown implications, service providers have taken quite a knock which has affected service delivery. The transport and logistics industry was no exception. Companies that offer transportation and logistics services were forced to pivot and make necessary technological upgrades to keep business going in the ‘new normal’.

The Transport and Logistics industry feeds into many other sectors throughout the country, acting as a ‘feeder-network’ to a variety of industries, including agriculture, manufacturing, retail and so forth etc.

Without streamlining our industry, the fundamental economic principles of ‘supply and demand’ cannot be fulfilled. Thus, technological adaptation and innovation plays a huge role in keeping our economy going.

6 TRANSPORT TECH TRENDS SHAPING SA

1. SIMPLIFYING BIG DATA

The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), with its many innovative technologies, has assisted in shaping a bright future for South Africa’s logistics industry. No matter the size of any given operational fleet, be it 5 or 10 vehicles, logistics companies find themselves in need of appropriate telematics tools for limiting expenses incurred, whilst driving productivity and the overall success of their fleets. Fleets in South Africa are now able to gain better insight into their vehicle activities, thanks to a newfound capacity for producing and simplifying Big Data. This development currently enables our fleet managers to recognise and address shortcomings found in their fleets.

2. INNOVATIVE ACCIDENT - PREVENTION FEATURES

Parking lot crashes are one of the biggest causes of accidents experienced by our transportation fleets. With the help of new proximity detection technology, such as CSIR’s Smart Mobility technology and Geotab Africa’s Advanced Fleet Management Solutions, fleets are now able to decrease risks that occur in parking lots, ensuring the safety of drivers. We now have access to technological solutions for detecting in-reverse vehicle movement, which aids drivers with oncoming traffic awareness.

3. DASHBOARD CAMERAS FOR QUALITY CONTROL

Distracted driving is a common occurrence in all societies. Unfortunately, many drivers behave irresponsibly, using mobile phones, eating and drinking whilst on the road. In today’s day and age, businesses are able to eliminate distracted driving by implementing dashboard camera surveillance measures. For example, a local company called FleetCam SA provides Vehicle Camera Systems throughout the country. Whilst giving fleet managers more insight into bad driving behaviours, the integration of these cameras will provide fleet managers with quality video footage geared towards identifying risky behaviours exhibited by drivers that, otherwise, would not be documented by telematics.

4. IOT APPLICATIONS IN TRANSPORT

Telematics have proven great with gathering data on fleet management. However, customer requirements are becoming more complex, making it difficult to run an efficient fleet with only the help of telematics. We’ve seen much innovation in IoT technology, with the integration between telematics and other platforms. This has expanded the use and value of telematics, but has also allowed fleets to foster better data quality and obtain an extensive understanding of fleet behaviour and requirements.

5. CYBERSECURITY ENHANCED FOR DATA PROTECTION

Cybersecurity is highly important for securing digital infrastructures, devices, and identities. According to the Cybersecurity Exposure Index (CEI) 2020, South Africa took 34th place in the rankings, with a score of 0,417 out of 1 (The higher the score, the higher the exposure). The index also revealed that Africa has the highest exposure score per country (0.643). In order for our fleets to offer clients complete authority and control over their data, SA has seen the adoption of intensive security audits, vulnerability scanning, multi-factor authentication services, and advanced, real-time fortigate reporting.

6. THE RISE OF E-HAILING TECHNOLOGY

Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) is a trend that is gaining momentum in the country. We are moving from traditional, personally-owned types of transport, towards new mobility solutions that consumers are becoming increasingly fond of. The South African minibus taxi industry is experiencing this shift the most. Public transport has become the cornerstone of ‘technology-driven mobility solutions’, with ‘ride-sharing services’ becoming popular in areas where public transport is a predominant source of travel. Here, tech is revolutionising transport infrastructure for low-income earners. As South Africa moves towards the creation of Smart Cities with Smart Technologies, transportation networks should see further upgrades as of W2025 and beyond.

MOST-WANTED FEATURES OF MOBILITY TECH:

App Travel

Design Control Frameworks

Real-Time Route Optimization

Track and Trace Capabilities

Secure Mobile Payments

Digital ID Ecosystems

User-friendly Navigation Portals

Always-On Connectivity