The future of telematics for OEMs

Telematics is the use of information technology to transmit and receive data between remote locations. It combines telecommunications and information processing to provide real-time communication and information exchange.  

Telematics is widely used in vehicle tracking and management, remote monitoring of industrial equipment, and safety. Telematics systems in vehicles provide features such as real-time tracking, remote diagnostics, and safety features. The data collected is processed and analyzed to generate reports and alerts, enabling informed decision-making. 

A telematics system consists of a telematics control unit (short TCU) connected to the CAN Bus device (Controller Area Network), a central communication system that gathers and transmits data from a vehicle’s network. It then processes and transmits this data to a central server. From there, it will be forwarded to the system or platform designated for accessing the data, for example, the cloud, web applications, or service tools.  

Telematics also has applications in healthcare, where it can be used to monitor patients and track vital signs remotely. In addition, it can improve safety in hazardous environments and provide real-time traffic updates to drivers. 

In short, telematics delivers important insights by collecting and transmitting information that could otherwise not be tracked without close human supervision, thereby making it an essential part of various industries and businesses. 

The off-highway OEM industry is highly competitive. To stay ahead of other businesses, OEMs need to constantly monitor and optimize the equipment performance of their machinery, which has led to telematics systems becoming an essential tool in this industry. They are installed in equipment such as construction machinery, mining equipment, and agricultural vehicles to provide a wide range of features.  

One key application of telematics in the off-highway OEM industry is remote monitoring and diagnostics. With the data collected via telematics, manufacturers can identify issues before they become serious problems and optimize maintenance schedules. Telematics can also track equipment usage, enabling manufacturers to understand better how their equipment is used and to develop more efficient models.

Another critical application in the off-highway OEM industry is safety. Since telematics systems can provide real-time information on equipment operation, they enable manufacturers to identify potential safety hazards and take corrective action. For example, a manufacturer can monitor driver behavior and provide feedback on safe driving practices to their customers.

Telematics can also unlock new business opportunities for OEMs and increase sales opportunities by offering its customers efficiency and productivity improvement, for example, by tracking equipment location and optimizing routes, reducing fuel consumption and costs. Additionally, telematics can support OEMs by automating equipment maintenance and repair processes, which reduces downtime and additional expensive on-site repairs. This process can also be tied to increasing sales of original spare parts, positively affecting overall revenue. To learn more about all the ways telematics can level up your service department, read our white paper on Service Excellence.

In conclusion, telematics has emerged as a vital asset for the off-highway OEM industry, providing various ways to improve performance and optimize processes. Because of this, this technology offers businesses a significant advantage in a highly competitive industry. 

Innovation is always a process. Many advanced technologies, such as automated driving and predictive maintenance, will benefit the off-highway OEM industry – and eventually, become the standard – are already being discussed. Though the details still need to be figured out, the basic tool necessary for each development is already well-known – data.  

Accurate data that is accessible in real-time is crucial for all machine and process innovations. They provide insights on what is and is not working, which process is initiated at what point, and, eventually, allow for precise prediction of machine behavior. Since it all comes down to data, there are three important steps to take in order to make the transformation towards advanced telematics solutions possible:  

Step one is collecting correct and clean data directly from the machine. This is the groundwork for everything that follows afterward, so it is useful only if the data collected is impeccable and reliable. Therefore, appropriate hardware in the form of a TCU (hardware) tied to a CAN Bus is essential. Incorrect data lead to incorrect analyses and predictions, which defy the entire purpose of the process and will not achieve the desired results.  

Step two is processing the data and making it available for analysis. This necessitates a proper infrastructure, which is able to process the amount of data collected in step one. Without the infrastructure capable of this in place, the full potential of the data collected cannot yet be realized because it is not fully accessible. 

Step three, then, is to visualize and manage the data in order to analyze and work with it. This requires some sort of portal or platform that makes the data assessable for the OEM, so that he can actually draw conclusions and make data-driven decisions.  

While the full potential of advanced telematics may not yet be available, the groundwork for these innovations is already in place through advanced data collection. For example, Proemion's advanced telematics solutions are built into machinery, allowing businesses to gather all the necessary data for future innovations. This data offers insights into machinery that not only pave the way for the future but also benefits businesses today. 

Data Science is an interdisciplinary field that involves extracting insights and knowledge from data using scientific methods, processes, algorithms, and systems. It encompasses several fields such as statistics, mathematics, computer science, and domain-specific knowledge to make sense of the complex data collected. By leveraging various techniques to identify patterns, trends, and relationships in data, it enables organizations to make data-driven decisions. These techniques include data mining, machine learning, statistical modeling, visualization, and predictive analytics. Data Science also involves data cleansing, processing, and preparation to ensure that data is reliable, accurate, and consistent.

Proper data science creates the baseline for the three following examples of beneficial innovations in the off-highway OEM industry.

Data analytics is the process of analyzing and examining large and complex data sets to extract insights and draw conclusions. It involves using various statistical and quantitative methods to identify patterns, trends, and correlations within the data, providing valuable information for decision-making. Data analytics encompasses several fields, including business intelligence, data mining, and predictive analytics. With technologies like real-time data analysis, organizations are able to identify and solve problems, improve operations, and optimize performance.  

Proemion offers the DataPortal as a means of visualizing and managing the collected data and making it easily assessable for OEMs. 

These topics discussed so far are already addressed in the industry and are the subject of various industry-relevant panels and exhibitions. It will not be long until these technologies are unlocked and available for the industry and off-highway OEMs – especially, since they are already partially realized. Therefore, it is crucial to start thinking of the future today and consider whether your business is prepared for future innovations.  

As shown here, the first steps towards advanced telematics are already achievable with Proemion’s telematic solutions. Our solution covers all three steps integral to advanced telematics by collecting, processing, and visualizing clean machine data. Moreover, since they are built into the machinery, they collect first-hand data from the machine, making it clean and reliable.  

Even though not all data possibilities are available yet, Proemion’s solution already offers a variety of benefits to OEMs that help maximize productivity and efficiency, reduce cost, and increase customer satisfaction. By implementing the most advanced solution on the market today, you will not only future-proof your business and secure its success but can start reaping the benefits immediately, giving you an edge over your competitors both today and in the years to come.

So get started today by taking full advantage of the most advanced telematics solution on the market.