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One of South Africa's top fleet management solutions providers, Control Instruments, now known as CI-OmniBridge, has earned an international reputation for its products and services and recently received its SAIA approval. FleetWatch asked CI OmniBridge MD, Charles Tasker, for his take on current industry trends and news on recent developments within his organisation.

"Security is an important aspect of fleet management, going hand-in-hand with the management of driving behaviour to manage and reduce risk," says Tasker. "At CI, we are finding that companies do not want the responsibility of managing and maintaining their own vehicle tracking and management systems and so are turning to the bureau service to help them improve security for their assets and staff. Secondary benefits include cutting costs, increased productivity and improved efficiencies."


Outsourced reporting and monitoring 
CI OmniBridge, through its SiemensVDO FM200 Communicator fleet management solution, offers the transport industry a 24/7 bureau service. "Our bureau service, which has recently moved into a new 'control centre' in Stellenbosch, currently monitors thousands of vehicles on a round-the-clock basis providing all-inclusive support services to clients for a fixed monthly fee," says Tasker.

"For transport operators to remain competitive, they must look at ways of outflanking their opposition as well as adding value to their service offerings while minimising costs. Technology has come a long way within the transport sector and now offers operators a lifeline by managing a broad spectrum of parameters - from load mass to driver behaviour and fuel management - that impact on running costs. As a major spin off benefit, vehicle tracking helps to defeat those with criminal intent who prey on the transport sector."
 

BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE Fleet owners want much more than mere vehicle location information.

Giant leaps
From a technology perspective, there are two aspects that have delivered significant benefits to companies and consumers, explains Tasker.

"On the one hand, convergence and other advances within IT and communications technologies have resulted in lower costs - which have effectively given customers more value. On the other hand, the moves to open systems and easier integration between systems have resulted in customers benefiting from solutions that cover the full spectrum of fleet management - from tyre management to driver productivity, and from fuel saving to sophisticated real-time route planning. These trends are particularly evident in the communications aspects of fleet management and tracking systems, not only in terms of the technology - such as the GSM modules used - but also in terms of the cost of data which has dropped significantly."

He cites as an example GPRS services which now cost less than 5% of what they did a year ago, and this undoubtedly benefits customers who use systems featuring this technology for tracking vehicles, cargo and drivers.
 

HAVING A web interface is a standard requirement for FM systems nowadays

Integration please
Tasker believes the market is putting increasing pressure on the players in the fleet management and tracking industry to collaborate and provide answers to customers who demand the benefits of integrated solutions from a single source.

"Today, companies are not concerned with the sourcing of the various components of an all-embracing fleet management solution. For example, when buying a new truck, companies expect the delivered vehicle to be fully financed, with a full maintenance lease (FML) agreement in place and with a monthly payment scheme that is commensurate with the distance the vehicle travels. The customer also expects lower insurance premiums because of the tracking system installed in the vehicle - and potential to integrate into the company's route-planning system," he says.

CI OmniBridge meets these demands by providing on-board computer and Web-based services that communicate with various billing applications, providing accurate odometer readings on a scheduled basis to aid cost calculations and provide total transparency.

"Similar services also support tracking and recovery systems as required by the insurance companies, as well as real-time updates for the scheduling system, and vehicle management data for the truck manufacturer to monitor mechanical abuse and driver productivity. Companies can also use this information to motivate drivers to economise on fuel and emphasise safety in their driving while saving costs and improving efficiencies."
 

THE MOVES to open systems and easier integration between systems have resulted in customers benefiting from solutions that cover the full spectrum of fleet management.

Beware price
With so many systems currently available to fleet owners, Tasker warns against purchase decisions based purely on price.

"People often make the mistake of opting for the cheapest product up front but then paying for their mistake later when they face hidden network or maintenance costs - or unrealistically high costs associated with system upgrades and extensions," he says.

"In many instances, companies opting for 'bargain basement' products find they have no upgrade path to cater for fleet expansions or company growth. Ideally, users should opt for a solution that has a fixed monthly price and ensure there are no hidden costs. They should also demand full disclosure of the upgrade path to ensure an ongoing return on the investment."

Bundled offering lowers costs
The trend to outsource services is being enhanced by companies like CI OmniBridge with its bureau service, offering both vehicle tracking and fleet management services from the same platform.

"CI OmniBridge pioneered the bureau concept and its service has been formally endorsed by the South African Insurance Association (SAIA-Approved). This service has the potential to bring significant insurance and other benefits to companies who subscribe to it and is seen by the short-term insurance industry as the realisation of its efforts to improve service levels. Importantly, it provides the industry with a set of standards and a communications medium between clients and their service providers through which services can be improved and costs reduced," concludes Tasker.