Tomtom Telematics: Next-Generation Fleet Management
Harold Goddijn, CEOMaking the Real Difference
TomTom spearheads in solving complex business problems with the help of technology and data-driven processes. Centered on this idea, TomTom Telematics offers TomTom WEBFLEET®, an online fleet management solution that connects businesses with their drivers and vehicles. TomTom's innovative Software as a Service (SaaS) solution acts as a single pane view, providing secure access to all the relevant information required to manage the entire fleet operation effectively. By allowing organizations to harness detailed insights on the fleet processes from multiple sources all in one interface, WEBFLEET helps clients to improve vehicle performance, save on fuel, and drive business efficiency.
Besides, it features accident tracking, GPS tracking, dispatch and driver management, fuel management, maintenance scheduling and tracking, routing, work order management, and more. The simple and purposeful WEBFLEET interface offers a superior user experience and architecture, which enables faster core feature development. Additionally, it allows for easy adaptation and evolution with the customers’ future requirements. WEBFLEET’s newly enhanced feature enables managers to use an increased range of criteria to pre-plan specific routes, helping drivers to follow specified routes, and avoid certain locations if deemed necessary. The new TomTom PRO driver terminals can then be used to send these directions directly to the drivers, adding tremendous value for industries such as waste management, where drivers are required to follow pre-defined routes. The customizable maps and reports of WEBFLEET can readjust to individual preferences, deliver faster fleet insights, and offer greater support for flexible working, accessible now on any screen, anywhere.
Webfleet maps and reports can be more extensively customized to suit individual preferences, delivering fleet insights faster
TomTom WORKsmart fleet management solution enables dispatchers to schedule and send orders to drivers in real-time. The drivers have an option to update the status of the orders and send back a notification back to the dispatcher. Dispatchers can also modify, cancel, and update orders, all in real-time. WEBFLEET can then provide reports, which can be used to measure fleet efficiency. WEBFLEET also consists of a dashboard feature that can be used by fleet managers to configure various fleet key performance indicators (KPIs). These KPIs can be viewed online for near-real-time fleet efficiency tracking through the in-vehicle navigation device. While the actual communication is done over a standard GSM connection, the navigation device—GO 7000—included with TomTom WORKsmart fleet management solutions provides for added memory. Although this feature is not available through TomTom's consumer and retail channel, dispatchers can use WEBFLEET’s text messages for communicating with the drivers. The WEBFLEET solution's in-built text message enables users to have up to 500 characters for every message. Additionally, the messages can contain information such as a service type (service, delivery, pickup), identifier, time of execution, as well as address and contact details of the receiver. This information ultimately helps organizations to improve their operational efficiencies.
The drivers use the GO 7000 device to communicate with the dispatcher primarily through text messages. In addition, the drivers can append additional information to any of the messages, allowing for a clearer communication. Although the same holds true for order messages, the GO 7000 can also store up to 15 pre-defined Order Status messages that the driver can then choose from a list and send to the dispatcher. Order status messages, on the other hand, are tied to that particular order for reporting purposes, and can only be sent when a driver is working on an order.
Reaping the Results
TomTom's fleet management solution customers realize average savings of 25 to 35 percent. This results primarily from fuel savings due to more efficient navigation to the customers and from time savings through more methodical dispatching, which allows additional jobs per day/week to be completed by drivers. Additionally, TomTom is committed to helping customers lower their environmental impact. WEBFLEET calculates the vehicle mileage and fuel consumption (miles per gallon) and provides a dashboard report on daily fleet carbon footprint. Several clients use this information to implement an internal carbon footprint reduction program to meet external incentives established by local or national governments.
One of the clients that gained tremendous benefit from TomTom's fleet management services was Danwood— an independent supplier of office related consumables, printing equipment, and associated management services in Europe. As a services-led company, engineer productivity was crucial to Danwood’s reputation and cost-effectiveness.
The client set a two-year project window to create a total solution which enabled accurate route planning, vehicle tracking, and efficiency monitoring while driving up the number of calls per day in the process. TomTom Telematics was selected as a partner from a shortlist of 12 companies. TomTom Telematics recommended the LINK 300 tracking device, which allowed for remote tracking and connection to the WEBFLEET fleet management software for producing automated reporting. For the next stage, TomTom plans to integrate its system into the client's existing back office system that will provide resource planning and automatic scheduling capabilities without additional tools.
"Tomtom's fleet management solution customers are realizing average savings of 25 to 35 percent primarily from fuel savings due to more efficient navigation to the customers and from time"
Once installed, the company noticed results almost immediately, with the average number of customer visits per day increasing from 4.5 to 4.8, i.e. a growth of 7 percent. With a service-driven business, this increase has had a significant impact as it enabled the client to witness faster and accurate timeframes for driver response. Better route planning has also ensured that engineers are utilizing their working days for maximizing their visits and effectively encouraging a more conscious driving style. The company has achieved an average increase of 10 percent in miles per gallon over a six-month period and noticed a 23 percent reduction on their CO2 emissions year on year. The system will also streamline mileage reports, with the introduction of automated mileage sheets which, coupled with fuel card information, have enabled any private mileage to be reclaimed directly from salaries. Thomas Schmidt, the Managing Director of TomTom Telematics also mentioned that their client experience shows that Webfleet today saves business organizations of all sizes around the world an estimated €80 million a month and 11.5 million liters of fuel every single day.
The Road to the Future
TomTom Telematics has developed its next-generation products by incorporating feedback from its 49,000-strong global customer base and more than 18 years’ fleet management expertise. As a direct result of its enormous efforts to align products and associated services along with the delivery of an exceptional end-customer experience, TomTom is experiencing a commendable growth trajectory in the European market with an on-going commitment to innovation and dependability. Combining its R&D expertise with technology and business partnerships, TomTom Telematics continues to shape the future, leading the way with autonomous driving, smart mobility, and smarter cities. Currently, the new WEBFLEET is available to all TomTom Telematics customers across 60 countries, in 13 languages—serving as a truly global solution. As of today, the company is working closely with their software partners to add additional functionality such as route optimization, commercial vehicle routing, and fuel-tax reporting. They are also looking at adding other devices that connect via Bluetooth to in-vehicle telematics box and vehicle data that can communicate and transmit working times and vehicle fuel consumption information to WEBFLEET. This belief, combined with their relentless focus on reliability and product quality has made TomTom the market leader in Europe and one of the world’s leading players in vehicle telematics and fleet management.
"Tomtom's fleet management solution customers are realizing average savings of 25 to 35 percent primarily from fuel savings due to more efficient navigation to the customers and from time"
Once installed, the company noticed results almost immediately, with the average number of customer visits per day increasing from 4.5 to 4.8, i.e. a growth of 7 percent. With a service-driven business, this increase has had a significant impact as it enabled the client to witness faster and accurate timeframes for driver response. Better route planning has also ensured that engineers are utilizing their working days for maximizing their visits and effectively encouraging a more conscious driving style. The company has achieved an average increase of 10 percent in miles per gallon over a six-month period and noticed a 23 percent reduction on their CO2 emissions year on year. The system will also streamline mileage reports, with the introduction of automated mileage sheets which, coupled with fuel card information, have enabled any private mileage to be reclaimed directly from salaries. Thomas Schmidt, the Managing Director of TomTom Telematics also mentioned that their client experience shows that Webfleet today saves business organizations of all sizes around the world an estimated €80 million a month and 11.5 million liters of fuel every single day.
The Road to the Future
TomTom Telematics has developed its next-generation products by incorporating feedback from its 49,000-strong global customer base and more than 18 years’ fleet management expertise. As a direct result of its enormous efforts to align products and associated services along with the delivery of an exceptional end-customer experience, TomTom is experiencing a commendable growth trajectory in the European market with an on-going commitment to innovation and dependability. Combining its R&D expertise with technology and business partnerships, TomTom Telematics continues to shape the future, leading the way with autonomous driving, smart mobility, and smarter cities. Currently, the new WEBFLEET is available to all TomTom Telematics customers across 60 countries, in 13 languages—serving as a truly global solution. As of today, the company is working closely with their software partners to add additional functionality such as route optimization, commercial vehicle routing, and fuel-tax reporting. They are also looking at adding other devices that connect via Bluetooth to in-vehicle telematics box and vehicle data that can communicate and transmit working times and vehicle fuel consumption information to WEBFLEET. This belief, combined with their relentless focus on reliability and product quality has made TomTom the market leader in Europe and one of the world’s leading players in vehicle telematics and fleet management.
September 11, 2018
