Fleet digitalization in the context of Video telematics

A GPS tracking unit, commonly referred to as a GPS tracker or simply tracker, is a device used as part of a tracking system to track the location of the asset it is connected to. It uses a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) to determine its geographic position. This location data, along with other vehicle or asset telemetry, is transmitted to an Internet-connected device or a central server using an embedded cellular, radio, or satellite modem. This enables the real-time monitoring and management of vehicles, assets, personnel, and animals from a remote location, and is used in intelligent transportation systems. The global market was valued at over $2.5 billion in 2022 and projected to grow at a CAGR of over 13% to reach $4.76 billion by 2027.

GPS tracking units are used by consumers and are a component of fleet telematics systems and fleet digitalization. Data collected by these devices is typically sent to specialized fleet management software platforms. While many modern vehicles are equipped with a factory-installed telematic control unit (TCU) from the manufacturer, aftermarket GPS tracking units are used to manage mixed fleets (with vehicles from different brands) and to equip vehicles that lack native telematics systems. Specialized hardware manufacturers produce these devices.

A dashboard camera or simply dashcam, also known as car digital video recorder (car DVR), driving recorder, or event data recorder (EDR), is an onboard camera that continuously records the view through a vehicle's front windscreen and sometimes rear or other windows. Some dashcams include a camera to record the interior of the car in 360 degrees inside camera, usually in a ball form, and can automatically send pictures and video using mobile connectivity. In commercial fleets, dashcams are a core component of video telematics systems, which are a key technology used in the broader trend of fleet digitalization and referred to as AI Dashcams.

EDRs and some dashcams also record acceleration/deceleration g-force, speed, steering angle, GPS data, voltage of the power source (vehicle's electrical net), etc.

Fleet management is the management of a company's vehicles and other assets. This includes commercial motor vehicles such as cars, vans, trucks, and specialist machinery, as well as ships, aircraft, and rail cars. The discipline is applied in various sectors, from commercial logistics and public transport to humanitarian aid operations. The scope of fleet management covers the entire lifecycle of these assets, from procurement and financing to operations, maintenance, and eventual disposal.

The primary goals of fleet management are to reduce costs, improve efficiency and productivity, enhance safety, and ensure compliance with government regulations. Modern fleet management often involves fleet digitalization, the process of using technology to transform operations from manual to data-driven methods. These functions can be handled by an in-house department or outsourced to a specialized fleet management provider.

Vehicle location data is the big data collection of vehicle locations, including automatic vehicle location data, a core feature of any vehicle tracking system. This usually includes times and often photographs as well, a practice known as video telematics. The process of collecting this data from remote assets via telemetry is a core component of telematics, often managed by a telematic control unit. Its application in the commercial sector forms the basis of fleet digitalization and is central to any fleet telematics system.

Common methods of data collection include automatic number plate recognition from cameras, such as a Dashcam, and radio-frequency identification (RFID) from transponders. In commercial contexts, a dedicated GPS tracking unit is often used for this purpose, forming part of a wider tracking system. Databases of this information are maintained by both government and private entities. For businesses, this data is essential for fleet management tasks like Track and trace, enabling vehicle repossession, and consumer profiling through methods like Driver scoring. Government databases have been subjected to legal orders for location data, and access may be granted in both criminal and civil cases.

A fleet telematics system is a method for managing vehicle fleets by combining in-vehicle hardware with a centralized software platform. This integration facilitates the real-time collection and analysis of data related to a vehicle's location, its mechanical health, and the performance of its driver. While it uses vehicle tracking for foundational automatic vehicle location, a comprehensive telematics system goes further by tapping into a vehicle's onboard diagnostic systems. It is a component of fleet digitalization, transforming raw data into insights for improving efficiency, safety, and lowering the total cost of ownership (TCO).

These systems are used in modern fleet management, providing data on everything from fuel consumption and engine maintenance to driver scoring and route planning. A common challenge that modern platforms address is the consolidation of data from a mixed fleet of vehicles and machinery from various manufacturers into a single, unified system. The technology is used in commercial industries and for consumer services like carsharing and ride-hailing platforms such as Uber and Bolt.