Scania Fleet Management System promises maximized truck fleet operations
INFORMATION is king, and its ready availability in a connected world is enabling more people and businesses to realize the full potential of their undertakings. Putting big data to work can reap big payoffs.
Obviously aware of this, Scania, the 126-year- old Sweden- based manufacturer of heavy trucks and buses, as well as industrial, marine and power engines, recently unveiled the Scania Fleet Management System ( FMS) to the local market. Underpinned by communicator schematic units already built into its truck and buses, the FMS provides a wealth of data for both driver and the office in order to maximize uptime, more keenly ascertain driver habits as they pertain to safety and economical operations, along with host of other benefits.
According to a news release, the Scania FMS is “a set of services that connects the vehicles to one’s office… [to] help identify and use the key details needed such as vehicle data, fuel consumption, fleet position and driver performance [coasting, heavy braking, speeding or idling] that will help increase the productivity of the fleet, achieve fuel economy and eventually reduce the cost of operations. It puts clear and useful information that helps operators better understand how their fleet is performing and what is costing money.”
In addition, by accessing the FMS portal, operators can better manage their units’ service schedules. Service Planning and Remote Diagnostics “provide an overview of all the equipment in the fleet, along with their maintenance plans, including a calendar for keeping track of maintenance and repairs.” When arranged through the portal, parts for replacement can already be prepared in advance.
In an exclusive interview, Scania Southeast Asia Country Manager for Export Markets Mariano Colombo described the added expense of subscription to the service as “peanuts” particularly in view of the gains it promises. It’s all about taking advantage of more ubiquitous connectivity towards the maximization of resources, he added. Mr. Colombo continued that eventually, the system enables drivers to be the best they could be.
Since the communicators already come with their trucks and buses (except for some older models), it’s but a matter of tapping into the preinstalled technology. Leilani Lim-Tan, vice- president of BJ Mercantile, Inc., the local Scania distributor, inder-scored the FMS is “just an activation issue… we will even retrofit for free our customers’ units which do not have it.” Until April, Scania also offers a free 10-month Control Package subscription for new buyers. Existing customers will get theirs free for six months.
The Scania FMS comes in two different service packages. The basic Monitoring suite gives information on fuel consumption and trends; CO emissions reports 2 and trends; and service planning based on time, distance, or both. The more comprehensive Control product offers these plus events reports, environmental reports on all emissions, performance trends per driver or vehicle, driving style and usage, advanced vehicle and driver evaluation, fleet position and vehicle status, driving time report with accumulated driving time for drivers, vehicle tracking over a chosen period, “geofence” alarms if a vehicle enters or leaves a predetermined area, quick and easy communication across the work force, two-way communication with the vehicle, traceability and secure storage of historical conversations, and full access to fleet data in a standardized format with existing telematics systems.
The provided quantitative data enable fact-based driver evaluation and, if needed, focused training. Ms. Lim-Tan stressed that the transaction doesn’t stop with a customer’s subscription to the service, either — Scania will work with them. “We always tell our clients that we’re their partners. We’re not just here to sell, but are committed to them. We want our clients to be more profitable,” she said.
So score another win for big data, and the people who know how to leverage them.