Cookies help us display personalized product recommendations and ensure you have great shopping experience.

By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
SmartData CollectiveSmartData Collective
  • Analytics
    AnalyticsShow More
    sales and data analytics
    How Data Analytics Improves Lead Management and Sales Results
    9 Min Read
    data analytics and truck accident claims
    How Data Analytics Reduces Truck Accidents and Speeds Up Claims
    7 Min Read
    predictive analytics for interior designers
    Interior Designers Boost Profits with Predictive Analytics
    8 Min Read
    image fx (67)
    Improving LinkedIn Ad Strategies with Data Analytics
    9 Min Read
    big data and remote work
    Data Helps Speech-Language Pathologists Deliver Better Results
    6 Min Read
  • Big Data
  • BI
  • Exclusive
  • IT
  • Marketing
  • Software
Search
© 2008-25 SmartData Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Your Guide To Different Telematics Solutions And The Data They Collect
Share
Notification
Font ResizerAa
SmartData CollectiveSmartData Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
  • About
  • Help
  • Privacy
Follow US
© 2008-23 SmartData Collective. All Rights Reserved.
SmartData Collective > Data Management > Best Practices > Your Guide To Different Telematics Solutions And The Data They Collect
Best PracticesBig DataData CollectionExclusive

Your Guide To Different Telematics Solutions And The Data They Collect

Annie Qureshi
Annie Qureshi
6 Min Read
self driving vehicles
Shutterstock Licensed Photo
SHARE

Telematics is the latest and greatest buzzword in the automotive industry. Because so many experts predict the imminent end of private vehicle ownership and the ultimate dominance of the vehicle sharing economy, vehicle fleets are growing. Telematics technologies help fleet owners monitor and manage their vehicles to reduce costs and improve efficiencies. In an age when data is of utmost importance, prospective fleet entrepreneurs might be pleased to learn that telematics leverages data to improve the fleet performance. In fact, different telematics solutions can collect and utilize different types of data. Here?s a guide to the types of telematics solutions available and the data each solution employs.

Contents
Data OverviewBasic DatasetsAdvanced DatasetsConclusion

Data Overview

Considering that driving is such a complex activity, there is a tidal wave of information that fleet entrepreneurs can collect. It can be difficult to parse what is important from what isn?t when one isn?t certain what each type of data is and what it is used for, so to fill that need, here is a rough guide to telematics data:

Basic Datasets

This is data that is logged during a single trip and is often collected through vehicle tracking solutions. What constitutes a trip might vary from one type of fleet to the next; a carsharing business might count one member?s use of the vehicle, while a freight shipper might determine one cross-country delivery to be a trip. Regardless, there are certain types of data that should always be noted during any trip, even when a fleet manager lacks advanced tech. This information includes things like the date of the trip, the time of estimated departure and arrival, total driving time and distance traveled. Then, it is easy to verify this information and supplement it with technology, which can provide insights such as:

  • GPS timestamp: when the trip begins and ends as determined by the GPS system
  • GPS speed: vehicle speed collected via GPS system
  • GPS direction: where the vehicle is headed at any time during the trip
  • Vehicle status: whether the ignition is on or off
  • Odometer value: how many miles the vehicle has traveled on this trip and in total
  • Power voltage: how much energy is being consumed by the vehicle
  • Fuel usage: how much fuel is being consumed by the vehicle
  • Events: special occurrences such as power disconnection

Typically, fleet monitoring systems will rely on an accelerometer installed in each vehicle. An accelerometer is an electromechanical device with sensitive motion sensors, which will tell fleet managers information such as:

More Read

“We’re developing a bag of algorithms to be plugged together,” said William Pulleyblank, chief of…”
From Operations to Insights: Business Analytics Meets NoSQL
5 Steps to Datafy Your Business and Be Successful
Can Ants Help Solve Traffic Jams?
In the Age of Big Data, Will Academia Ever Be the Same?
  • Harsh acceleration: when drivers accelerate quickly
  • Harsh braking: when drivers stop the car suddenly
  • Harsh cornering: when drivers turn corners without decelerating sufficiently

This dataset constitutes the bare minimum that a fleet entrepreneur should collect to ensure that vehicles and drivers are performing as expected.

Advanced Datasets

For a detailed picture of vehicle and driver performance, entrepreneurs will need to invest in more extensive telematics systems. These will measure fleet activity at a minute level, tracking dozens of metrics to ensure vehicles are performing optimally on every trip. Some common types of data found in these advanced datasets include:

  • Engine load: the torque output of the engine, or how much power the engine is producing
  • Engine hours of operation: how many hours the engine has been in active use
  • Fuel level: how much fuel is available
  • Engine fuel used: how much fuel the engine has consumed over its lifetime
  • Engine fuel rate: how much fuel is consumed over time in use
  • Accelerator pedal position: where the accelerator is positioned relative to acceleration and speed
  • Cruise control switch: when and how long cruise control is active
  • Ambient air temperature: the temperature of the air around the engine, inside the cabin, around the vehicle and more

Perhaps most importantly, entrepreneurs should want their telematics to include information that will diagnose issues quickly and accurately. For that, they will need access to the following kinds of data:

  • Malfunction indicator light: whether this is illuminated or not
  • Manufacturer diagnostic trouble codes: reading the code and understanding their descriptions and locations as well as failure type, status and severity information
  • Proprietary information: reading similar codes unique to certain brands or platforms, which might include information on engine oil, brake fluid, exhaust gas test, etc.

Conclusion

The right telematics solution

for a new fleet entrepreneur will depend on a number of factors, not least of which is cost. It?s important to remember that with complexity comes a greater need for experienced technicians to install and maintain the telematics tech not to mention analysts to make use of the collected data. However, when properly executed, telematics can be exceedingly valuable to fleets, their owners and their users.

TAGGED:auto industryautomobilesautomotive industrycarsdatatelematicstelematics solutions
Share This Article
Facebook Pinterest LinkedIn
Share
ByAnnie Qureshi
Follow:
Annie is a passionate writer and serial entrepreneur. She embraces ecommerce opportunities that go beyond profit, giving back to non-profits with a portion of the revenue she generates. She is significantly more productive when she has a cause that reaches beyond her pocketbook.

Follow us on Facebook

Latest News

sales and data analytics
How Data Analytics Improves Lead Management and Sales Results
Analytics Big Data Exclusive
ai in marketing
How AI and Smart Platforms Improve Email Marketing
Artificial Intelligence Exclusive Marketing
AI Document Verification for Legal Firms: Importance & Top Tools
AI Document Verification for Legal Firms: Importance & Top Tools
Artificial Intelligence Exclusive
AI supply chain
AI Tools Are Strengthening Global Supply Chains
Artificial Intelligence Exclusive

Stay Connected

1.2kFollowersLike
33.7kFollowersFollow
222FollowersPin

You Might also Like

Data Science
Best PracticesCloud ComputingData Management

The Evolution Of Data Science In The Cloud

5 Min Read

Finding the Right HR Datafication Solution

9 Min Read

Information Availability: Exploiting the Full Value of Information to Drive Business

5 Min Read

Your Personal Data: Wither Privacy? Take Stephen Baker’s Poll

2 Min Read

SmartData Collective is one of the largest & trusted community covering technical content about Big Data, BI, Cloud, Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, IoT & more.

ai is improving the safety of cars
From Bolts to Bots: How AI Is Fortifying the Automotive Industry
Artificial Intelligence
AI chatbots
AI Chatbots Can Help Retailers Convert Live Broadcast Viewers into Sales!
Chatbots

Quick Link

  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Follow US
© 2008-25 SmartData Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Go to mobile version
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?