Many companies are not using their telematics systems to their full potential, according to a survey
More than half of the respondents to a survey conducted by software-as-a-service company Teletrac Navman had no plans to implement Electronic Work Diaries at work, even when approved for use.
Teletrac Navman surveyed 268 Australia-based fleet owners and managers for its 2018 Telematics Benchmark Report in January this year, with 88 per cent of those respondents saying they did not use the EWD system.
However, when asked if they would consider using EWDs if they became a voluntary replacement for written diaries under Australian law, 55 per cent said no.
“Whilst the sample size was too small to be statistically relevant and is more anecdotal in nature, of the respondents who said they were planning on implementing EWD, the majority cited the need to comply with fatigue laws as the motivating factor followed closely by the desire to eliminate paper processes,” the report says.
“Of those who said they do not plan to implement EWD, nearly two-thirds said they don’t see a need.”
Fatigue management topped the list of compliance concerns among Australian fleet owners and managers for the second year running in the survey, with 69 per cent of respondents identifying it as a concern, followed by vehicle maintenance (52 per cent) and speed management (44 per cent).
Despite this, the company’s survey found 42 per cent of respondents said they were planning to invest in new technologies and systems in 2018.
“There appears to be a disconnect between how a telematics solution can help ease some of the top business concerns and whether or not companies would see a significant enough return on investment to justify the cost,” the report says.
It also came amid a rise of 15 per cent in companies citing risk management as a concern (34 per cent in 2018, up from 19 per cent) and a 16 per cent rise in concerns about finding, retaining and developing talent (24 per cent in 2018, up from 8 per cent last year).
The survey found that most companies used their telematics systems to track vehicles and equipment and monitor speed (89 per cent and 67 per cent respectively).
It also found that nearly half of all respondents who use telematics achieved a reduction in fuel costs, with nearly 10 per cent seeing fuel costs drop by 11 per cent or more.
Teletrac Navman transport solutions vice president Andrew Rossington says the survey shows the systems are not being used to their full potential – with only 37 per cent of respondents saying they considered meeting compliance requirements a benefit of using telematics systems.
“We see the industry leaders leveraging complex data to drive real change around safety, cost, and business transformation,” he says.
“It’s up to both the industry and technology providers to demonstrate these benefits so that more businesses embrace this technology and make it the standard.”