Internet of Things is gaining popularity at a rapid pace and we are moving towards a truly connected world. Ericsson predicts that by 2020, human population will grow to 7.6 billion, with 50 billion devices connected to the Internet.
Such widespread adoption of IoT will revolutionize many industries. New connectivity options and devices will allow companies to discover innovative ways to work. One such potential beneficiary of IoT is the fleet management industry.
How IoT Works for Fleet Management
In logistics, the supply chain is made up of various stakeholders including manufacturers, transport companies, and retailers. Information sharing and connectivity is essential for all of them. Therefore, IoT has an important role to play in this industry.
Internet of Things in fleet management currently works through 3 main technologies – RFID, GPS and OBD II’s. RFID helps control and track products while GPS and OBD II’s make it possible to obtain real-time information on routes, vehicle maintenance and driving conditions.
Benefits of Internet of Things
Easier and Efficient Operations
Although logistics companies have had connectivity options like mobile phones, GPS sensors etc, IoT offers many new tools, like in-vehicle streaming camera, driver mobile apps etc. making communication easier and prompt. Scheduling, load management, driver and vehicle tracking, and effective routing are some additional benefits offered by Internet of Things.
Besides these GPS and RFID based tools, IoT also covers advanced applications such as weather APIs, traffic reporting, smart parking, maintenance monitoring, driving behavior monitoring etc.
Automated Processes
Another major benefit of IoT in fleet management is the ability to automate various processes. As devices are interconnected and work as part of an integrated process, companies can setup an automatic flow of daily logistics processes and trip planning. Internet of Things also allows logistic companies to move daily operations into the cloud and helps remote tracking of fleets at any time from any place.
Process automation through IoT is not restricted to scheduled system. It also helps automate scenarios like broken down vehicle that send automatic tickets to towtrucks; driver receives weather warning notifications, automatic rerouting etc.
Better Analytics
Internet of Things has the ability of derive collectivity data from various sensors. This enables fleet management companies to get useful insights into driver behavior, adherence to laws, vehicle speeding and idling etc. These sensors don’t just help in tracking data; they also play an important role in improving performance and diagnostics of problems related to processes and equipment.
Competitive Advantage
Early adopters of Internet of Things in fleet management will enjoy a distinctive technological advantage over the competition. Proper implementation of IoT reduces overall costs by optimum utilization of resources and improved performance. Collecting, sharing, and acting on real time information helps a company make quick decisions and instant improvements.
These benefits will definitely get any logistics industry excited about using of Internet of Things in fleet management. But the technology is still evolving, and as companies find more and more use cases, Internet of Things will become the lifeline of the fleet management industry.