First in a Series on the Benefits and How to Select, Implement and Optimize
By Randy Read, President, EnVue Telematics
Editor’s note: Randy Read, with his partner Susan Johnson, founded EnVue Telematics in 2011. Randy has been involved in the commercial fleet industry for more than 25 years, the last 12 working in the rapidly growing telematics technology business. EnVue sells and supports a number of different GPS/telematics products along with a variety of complementary solutions like dash cameras, non-vehicle asset trackers, dispatch software and work-order management solutions. This approach has enabled EnVue to create a successful business helping commercial and public sector organizations throughout the US and Canada, and soon in Mexico, to evaluate and deploy transportation technology solutions with the goal of running safer, more productive, and more profitable and cost-effective enterprises.
In this, his first in a series of articles to follow, Randy offers his general outlook and identifies topics for future discussion.
I’d venture to say everyone reading this article is at least somewhat familiar with “telematics”, colloquially referred to as “GPS”. It is impossible to avoid exposure to this technology, as it is being promoted by scores of companies who want to sell their version of a product to businesses and organizations that depend on vehicles to conduct their business.
“GPS” has become an increasingly important tool for those of us involved in the business of managing transportation assets and the employees assigned to operate them. Proof of the increasing adoption/use of the technology is evidenced by the prevalence of marketing efforts targeting all types and sizes of fleet user groups. My takeaway on all of this is that there is irrefutable evidence that the technology can provide substantial and sustainable value to those that elect to deploy it.
Yes, I am one of those persistent, some might say inescapable, advocates for the use of telematics. It is, after all, how I earn my living. But beyond my income-dependence on selling telematics, I am an advocate, no – an evangelist — for the tremendous benefits the use of this technology can deliver, not just to the companies that elect to deploy it but for all of us who spend time behind the wheel of a vehicle or as a passenger in one. The effective use of telematics promotes safer driving behavior, which benefits us all.
Many good products to choose from
There are many good telematics products in the marketplace today. The basic platforms of most of these products have more similarities than they do differentiators. The “secret sauce,” if you will, is in how we use telematics to produce and optimize value — value that is quantifiable and sustainable. My focus will not be to promote any particular product but to share my experiences and best practices; ideas I have gathered from working with companies of all different sizes in all types of business verticals and with products from a number of different providers.
The purpose of my article today, and the subsequent ones to follow are to share some of the proven strategies for how to create sustainable, maximum value for your organization with the use of telematics and complementary technology products, and how to enhance the values your existing technologies can deliver. Here are some of the topics I will address in future articles:
- Risk management
- Reducing fleet operating expenses
- Regulatory compliance
- Selecting the right providers: which fits you best
- Integrating telematics with other systems
- Complementary and alternative technologies to consider
My goal is to create a forum for us to pose questions, share experiences, and collectively gain a better understanding of how we can bring value to our respective organizations. Please let me know what topics you’d like to see us address: [email protected]
