Final month, Geotab signed a cope with Volvo Group to combine the producer’s automobile knowledge API into Geotab’s telematics platform. It’s the most recent in a current onslaught of such offers between telematics suppliers and OEMs that begs the query: what’s in it for the OEMs?
Nearly all fashionable automobiles and vehicles are “related” not directly. Ford, for instance, started becoming the FordPass Join modem on all its autos within the 2020 mannequin yr, and the automobile (and driver) knowledge gathered powers the Ford Professional fleet administration platform and permits choices like the corporate’s E-Swap Help, which permits Ford fleet managers to determine which of its ICE-powered F-150 and Transit property are able to make the swap to EV.
“Good instruments knowledgeable by knowledge like E-Swap Help are opening up many new conversations with our business prospects massive and small about EV readiness; we’re already utilizing E-Swap Help usually in consultations to assist organizations decide if electrical vehicles and vans are proper for them,” says Nate McDonald, EV technique and cross automobile model supervisor at Ford Professional. “The significance of those instruments and applied sciences goes past promoting a buyer a brand new automobile—it modifications mindsets about whether or not electrical autos will work for his or her enterprise whereas probably saving them money and time.”
So, it is sensible for producers to construct that connectivity into their autos and makes much more sense to make use of that knowledge connection to populate a fleet administration dashboard that makes it painless for fleet managers to observe their property inside a trusted ecosystem. Suppose Android vs. iPhone, and the ache that may go into switching from one to the opposite after a decade or so of fixed interplay – as a result of that’s how the OEMs are taking a look at it.
Why, then, would an OEM open up that knowledge stream to a 3rd occasion like Geotab?
The reply, presumably, is that that knowledge sharing is a two-way avenue: the producer’s are opening up their APIs to Geotab, and Geotab is sharing no less than among the knowledge from different producers with their trade companions.
And Geotab has loads of companions:
- In 2019, Geotab started working with Ford to combine Ford’s telematics knowledge into its fleet administration platform
- In 2020, Geotab started integrating with GM and its OnStar telematics in North American markets
- In 2022, Geotab started partnering with Stellantis’ Free2move automobile sharing model, offering full telematics integration into the MyGeotab platform in North America
- In April of 2024, Geotab partnered with Mobilisights to combine knowledge from Stellantis’ European manufacturers, together with Opel, Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Citroën, and Peugeot
- In September of 2024, Geotab introduced a brand new partnership with VW Group Information Companies aimed toward bettering the corporate’s knowledge integration throughout its manufacturers
- A cope with Rivian, VW’s companion in a $5 billion joint software program enterprise, adopted quickly after
All of these gamers are satisfied that the information coming from their autos can produce sufficient worth to significantly influence fleet ROI.
Fleet managers appear satisfied, too. In a current McKinsey survey, practically 57% of EV consumers mentioned they have been keen to change manufacturers with a view to get higher connectivity options. And, when you’ve ever labored in “a Ford store” or “a Chevy store” you already know what an enormous that deal that quantity may be to an OEM.
McKinsey connectivity survey
In that standpoint, working with a trusted, common platform like Geotab who doesn’t have a canine within the automobile gross sales struggle is sensible. If the Ford Transit the fleet purchaser is taking a look at performs properly with their fleet auditing software program and programs and the Nissan NV doesn’t – properly, it doesn’t actually matter if Nissan’s fleetail man is supplying you with a greater deal at that time. It’s simply too painful to function a second dashboard for one subset of property.
The person-hours saved with a common and model agnostic fleet administration platform will not be the simplest to hint all the way in which to the underside line, however they’re there.
Moreover, the Geotab dashboard may be configured to gather and even analyze knowledge that’s particularly related to EVs. Data like charging historical past, and regenerative braking effectivity, and total battery well being – knowledge that, over 1000’s of autos, may give fleet managers actual perception into how lengthy the brand new electrical autos they’re contemplating will final in comparison with the gasoline and diesel autos they’ve expertise with.
Geotab analysis reveals that EV batteries may final 20 years or extra in the event that they degrade at a median charge of 1.8% per yr, as now we have noticed.
In accordance with our knowledge, the easy reply is that the overwhelming majority of batteries will outlast the usable lifetime of the automobile and can by no means should be changed. If a median EV battery degrades at 1.8% per yr, it’ll nonetheless have over 80% state of well being after 12 years, typically past the same old lifetime of a fleet automobile.
Telematics integrations may also assist optimize a fleet’s charging schedules, each by scheduling EV charging for decrease priced, off-peak hours and by figuring out probably the most reliable high-speed charging stations alongside common routes to attenuate down time for each autos and drivers.
Lastly, these data-driven platforms can present fleet managers instruments for monitoring and reporting issues like carbon emissions and total vitality consumption, which may streamline ESG reporting processes and make it simpler for the employee bees to get regulators, directors, and managers the form of charts, tables, and graphs they love.
One thing like that, anyway.
You possibly can try my Fast Cost with Nate McDonald, EV technique and cross automobile model supervisor at Ford Professional, who explores how Ford’s in-house telematics can assist fleet managers decarbonize, and head over to Geotab to search out out extra about their model agnostic fleet administration dashboard, under. Take pleasure in!
EV or gasoline – which is best for you?
SOURCES: Fleet Europe, Ford Professional, Geotab, McKinsey; add’l hyperlinks in article.
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