The benefits of connected cars for fleet operators are being restricted due to a lack of access to real-time data.
So says epyx as it warns that such data is being processed by decades-old methods, creating a gap in the overall process.
The fleet e-commerce specialist points to the game-changing benefits of connected cars, such as being able to diagnose their own faults or know when a routing service is due, which it could then notify fleets of through the mobile network, enabling everything service booking and fault prevention.
But Nazma Meer, growth strategy manager at the fleet e-commerce specialist, said this isn’t yet happening and the reason is that the data generated by the cars isn’t easily available.“For example, one manufacturer collects connected car information for leasing companies but then sends it by e-mail as a CSV file, meaning that it is not seen for days, by which time it is probably too late. This is processing 2019’s data using 1999’s methods,” said Meer.
“What is needed is a single source or small number of sources that collect this data and make it available to fleet operators.”
Meer said that the situation was frustrating for epyx because its 1link Service Network platform was already used by nearly all major leasing fleets in the UK to manage their SMR needs.
“Our platform is essentially ready to receive connected car data. Once it was collected from the vehicle, we would be able to use it as part of a holistic solution that seamlessly takes that information, contacts the driver, books the car in for work and then controls the whole service and maintenance process end-to-end.
“It is a way of handling SMR that benefits the driver, the fleet and the service centre and, with access to data, we could do it soon.”
Fleets using 1link Service Network total more than four million company vehicles and Meer said that there was definite demand from leasing companies and other operators for the technology.
“When we talk to major fleet operators about this issue, there is a clear sense of frustration. We could take a substantial step forward in SMR management. The technology is essentially already there.”
