Orchid gets
VESA
stamp

The Vehicle Security Association of SA (VESA) has given the stamp of approval to the Orchid Vehicle Satellite Tracking system under its Stolen Vehicle Recovery (SVR) category. As such, Orchid becomes the fifth tracking company to be accredited by VESA and only the 2nd company to achieve approval in both of VESA's certified categories.

The Orchid system, which was developed by the multinational ThalesTelematics group, is marketed both locally and internationally. In South Africa, the system is utilised extensively within the commercial fleet and haulage industry - and already has a VESA approval in the fleet management category.

Steven Lunn, MD of Global Telematics SA (part of the Thales Telematics group), says the VESA qualification means the company now enjoys the backing of the SA Insurance industry and the SA Insurance Association (SAIA). This VESA standard is directly quoted by insurance companies when certain vehicles are to be insured. The benefit of this, according to Lunn, is that by installing one of the five accredited tracking systems in high-value vehicles, consumers will generally save between 5%-20% on insurance premiums.

Conroy Oosthuizen, MD of VESA, says it is a boost to VESA to have such a professional organisation listed in both categories of SVR and fleet management. "The VESA measure isn't a technological evaluation. It is measured by repatriation of vehicles and the overall performance of the system in the field."

To qualify for VESA approval, tracking systems must go through a stringent approval process including inspection and vetting of all equipment and technology, proof that the company is financially stable, proof that there are at least 3 000 units in the field, and proof that the company has
recovered a minimum of 100 vehicles that have either been stolen or hijacked in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the equipment, personnel and infrastructure.

Orchid can pat itself on the back for having met all these criteria.