Scania gets onboard to redefine fleet management

Give fleet managers the information they need to run their fleets more effectively, but keep it simple - a philosophy which forms the core of Scania's new solution


Scania has launched Scania OnBoard, an entirely refocused fleet management proposition based solely upon providing fleet managers with the information they need to run their fleets more effectively. To achieve this, Scania OnBoard shifts the current fleet management emphasis from telematics and hardware to a purely information driven service. Accordingly, Scania OnBoard comprises three key core elements:

  • messaging – to link a vehicle with its operting base
  • OPS (order process support) – to monitor vehicles and their jobs
  • driver log – to record driver activity

“Scania OnBoard has come about as the result of extensive operator consultation,” says Darrell Taylor, marketing manager for Scania OnBoard. “The message we received from the field time and time again was ‘keep it simple’. For many years, the industry has been largely confused by a profusion of systems promising a wealth of benefits – and yet which all too often end up effectively consigned to the bin as a gadget that is just too hard to live with.”

Taylor says that the problem is while these systems can indeed generate all manner of reports, the operator is almost invariably overwhelmed by the sheer volume and complexity of data presented to him. Put simply, he finds himself living in a geek’s paradise – information overload and a vastly overcomplicated technical system.

“Our primary objective with Scania OnBoard has been to cut through all of that and present the operator with the essential information he needs to enable him run his business more efficiently, effectively and profitably. Over and above that, for anyone wishing to go further, we can incorporate additional features such as satellite navigation into Scania OnBoard,” explains Taylor.

Easy for the driver

From the driver’s perspective, Scania OnBoard is represented by a dashboard-mounted touch screen, through which messages are received from, and made to, the operating base. In addition to simple text messages, the driver responds to job scheduling instructions from his operating base by way of the touch screen. To ensure safety, the touch screen can only be used when the vehicle is stationery.

The fleet manager can access the three core Scania OnBoard services from any internet-enabled computer via the secure Scania OnBoard Portal. From here, he can communicate with his vehicles by text messages or through OPS, which allows him to schedule, track and manage vehicles and jobs in real-time.

Driver log, meanwhile, offers the fleet manager a range of driver-activity information.

From basic drivers’ hours monitoring in accordance with the working time directive to monitoring factors such as idle time and harsh braking, driver log can be customised to meet the demands of any given business. As with OPS, driver log provides the fleet manager with a series of reports.

Scania

www.scania.co.uk/onboard

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