If you own a fleet of vehicles, you will know how important fleet data is if you want to cut down on fleet costs, reduce breakdowns, and also minimise vehicle risks. Luckily, fleet technology has come a long way in recent years. With the help of AI, fleet managers can now assess their fleet performance more reliably, and also save a lot more time and effort on fleet monitoring.

Below, we will explain more about how AI technology is being used in GPS tracking and fleet management systems.

Firstly, what is a GPS tracking system?

A GPS tracking system uses satellite signals to pinpoint the location of a specific device. In GPS tracking systems, GPS trackers are used to keep tabs on vehicles.

GPS tracking systems have three main components: a GPS receiver, a tracking device, and a monitoring system. The GPS receiver picks up signals from satellites and uses them to calculate the location of the tracking device. The tracking device is what’s attached to the vehicle you want to track. Meanwhile, with a fleet monitoring system, you can view fleet data that’s transmitted from the tracking devices to your web browser or mobile app. This data can then be used to determine the location of the tracked vehicle.

What is the role of AI in a GPS tracking and fleet management system?

Fleet management systems are able to provide fleet manager with visibility on their vehicles as well as lessen their time spent on fleet coordination. What AI does is further elevate fleet efficiency through intelligent data gathering and analysis, machine learning predictions, and simplified task automation.

AI is a powerful technology when applied to fleet management. It helps fleet managers plan the fastest routes based on factors such as traffic, weather, drop-off points. It’s useful for detecting dangerous driving behaviour, such as speeding, driver fatigue, carelessness and traffic violations. Plus, it’s also invaluable for helping fleet managers make informed decisions about their fleet business by helping them understand their vehicle utilisation, fuel consumption, vehicle health, fleet performance, and so on.

What do fleet managers stand to gain from utilising AI and GPS tracking for their fleet?

1. Reduce fleet costs

GPS tracking systems can capture fuel consumption data and help fleet owners analyse how much fuel is used per trip. With reliable knowledge of your monthly fuel consumption as well as vehicle utilisation thanks to data gathered via machine learning, you will be able to make informed decisions regarding your fleet resources, leading to lowered fleet costs.

GPS tracking systems also allow fleet owners to monitor their vehicles’ maintenance needs. Fleet owners can hence avoid unexpected repair bills and prevent vehicle downtime by ensuring the maintenance upkeep of their vehicles. To strengthen preventive maintenance, fleet owners can use AI to forecast vehicle faults before they happen.

2. Improve driver productivity

GPS fleet tracking systems which use AI for route optimisation are able to help fleet businesses find the best routes based on real-time factors such as traffic and road conditions. Other than cost savings, fleet owners can achieve higher fleet productivity without having to worry about impacting their fleet performance.

Machine learning in fleet systems can also automate tasks for busy fleet managers. For example, tasks like scheduling of trips and vehicle dispatch can be automated to save you time on day-to-day fleet management. With reliable data provided by an AI-driven fleet management system, you will be able to see how your drivers are performing and streamline your fleet operations.

3. Promote safety and security

Fleet tracking systems that make use of AI can gather reliable data on your fleet. Other than the location of your vehicles, you can glean insights on data such as vehicle speed, fuel levels, vehicle health diagnostics and more.

In fact, one of the most significant benefits of an AI-driven GPS tracking systems is that it can help you automatically detect risky driving habits and identify which drivers need more training. Additionally, equipping your vehicle with AI dashcams will give you video proof of what’s happening inside of your vehicle as well as its surroundings should you need to ensure your workers are complying with safety regulations.

4. Deter vehicle theft

Fleet security is a big concern in some countries like the Philippines or Malaysia. Vehicle theft and unauthorised use are problems which fleet managers face on top of busy days managing their fleets. When used together with AI dashcams, GPS trackers can help you recover a stolen vehicle and some will also automatically alert you in the event of vehicle tampering. By providing the police with video footage from the system, you can then greatly increase the chances of getting your car back.

Fleet managers can in turn protect their fleets using hidden trackers, which are installed out of sight in the vehicle. With this, you will be able to prevent thieves from removing the GPS trackers and still track your vehicle locations quickly in the event of theft.

5. Improve customer service

An AI-powered fleet tracking system can gather intelligent data and provide fleet managers with a deeper understanding of their fleet operations. GPS tracking further helps you to track the location of your vehicles in real-time, meaning you can always know where your drivers are and how long it will take them to get to their destination.

Such data can be used to plan better routes and service or delivery schedules, and provide your customers with more accurate ETAs. Using intelligent fleet analytics, fleet owners can confidently make decisions which are both cost-efficient yet performance-driven.

6. Monitor inappropriate driver behaviour and vehicle usage

AI-enabled fleet tracking systems allow fleet managers to monitor driver activity closely and identify issues such as excessive idling, vehicle usage after work hours, and vehicle misuse. You can know where your vehicles are at all times – even when drivers are not working. By increasing your fleet visibility, you can then improve route efficiency, reduce after-hours driving, and also catch dishonest drivers who are misusing your vehicles.

In addition, fleet managers can detect if drivers are following regulations by collecting real-time data using smart vehicle sensors. You can know if a driver has left their vehicle door open when they are not supposed, view livestream footage of your vehicles via its dashcam, and setup automatic alerts for any vehicle risks.

Final thoughts

As we venture further into the future of connected vehicles, we are starting to see more applications of AI in the transportation industry. AI is being used to improve road traffic and driver safety for the public. At the same time, it is proving incredibly beneficial for fleet owners.

If you want to push your fleet efficiency to the max, gather critical insight on your fleet operations, and improve fleet security and maintenance measures, the best way to do so is to utilise AI.

At V3, we are capable of developing AI-enabled, tailor-made fleet solutions to increase your fleet’s productivity and safety. Talk to us if you’d like to know more.