Business of all types depend on transportation. Whether it be a distributor for a manufacturer, a taxi service, or a shipping company, being able to properly manage a fleet of vehicles is essential to the sustained profitability of the endeavor. Turning to technology to accomplish this is easier than doing it manually. We take a look at a few technology solutions that can work to help a business that relies on transportation to be the most effective business it can be.
Internet of Things
One of the fastest-growing computing trends in history, the Internet of Things is the process of making products that typically had no relationship with technology, integrated with sensors that allow access to them over the Internet. IoT has helped revolutionize the way assets can be tracked and analyzed, providing more end-to-end knowledge for organizations than ever before.
IoT-enabled asset tracking provides the following features:
- Real-time data to adjust your business to build efficiency
- Theft and loss prevention
- Comprehensive inventory management
- Negative impact reduction through predictive analysis
- On-point customer service
IoT-integrated assets can work to boost efficiency, which saves time and money, and therefore improves revenue generation and consistency of delivery.
Fleet Management
Another technology that is innovating the transportation sector is the growth of comprehensive fleet management solutions. Fleet management is software that allows you to view and manage each vehicle on a dedicated dashboard. This provides users with the ability to manage:
- Work pending in priority order
- Any issues holding up progress
- Equipment status, permits, or other admin items
- Repair orders and repair status
- Employee information (Driver’s License, physical, and other administrative information)
- Approved and unapproved work orders
- Predictive maintenance schedules
- Predictive fleet schedules
A fleet management solution is designed to manage many vehicles and drivers, providing a comprehensive view of where your vehicles go, how they function, and how your drivers fare on the roads. It provides any organization with a cost analysis that delivers decision makers the information they need to run an efficient transportation business.
Autonomous Vehicles
On the eve of 5G, this innovation will likely be the most attractive for the business owner. With driverless cars becoming a major point of emphasis for multiple organizations, we’re are only a few years from the implementation of computer-controlled automobiles. The trucking industry has already seen the first short-range shipping controlled mostly by computers. While the systems aren’t quite ready for dock-to-dock runs, navigating the open road has proven to be no problem. In fact, a subsidiary of Uber called Otto successfully implemented a proof of concept of autonomous delivery, having a computer-driven 18-wheeler deliver beer from Fort Collins, CO to Colorado Springs, CO. It wouldn’t be a surprise that over the next few years it will be used by taxi companies, shipping companies and the like. Some of the main benefits of driverless vehicles include:
- Fewer traffic accidents
- Reduction in road congestion
- Cost reduction
- Lower product and service prices
Technology continues to drive the market in transportation. To learn more about how technology can work to drive your businesses operations forward, call the IT professionals at Macatawa Technologies today at 616-394-4940.
