Key Trends in Fleet Management for 2024
News|by Gabrielle Alvear|9 January 2024
Key Trends in Fleet Management
Fleet Management is a rapidly evolving field, and it's essential to stay up-to-date with the latest trends because of how new developments in the logistics industry impact all verticals that rely on transporting assets across the globe.
From environmental considerations to the proliferation of IoT, and, of course, the implications of AI integration across multiple technologies, we'll explore these key fleet management trends and share how companies like HERE Technologies meet the demands of this growing and changing industry.
AI for Route Optimisation
One of the most significant trends in fleet management is the use of AI for route optimisation. AI and machine learning can help fleet managers improve asset utilisation and forecasting, as well as optimise routes by understanding where assets should be, which vehicles are needed, and how many drivers are required in advance.
For many fleet managers, the benefits of AI in tour planning are nothing new and companies like HERE Technologies have already been utilising machine learning to keep their maps up to date and those using their routing data are benefiting from the way machine learning produces more accurate and efficient truck routes.
HERE Tour Planning API
This API allows for customisable, traffic-enabled many-to-many route optimisation. It features traffic-aware, truck-based routing and uses machine learning to help you optimise tours based on various job and vehicle constraints such as:
- Job-time windows
- Driver shifts
- Unique vehicle properties
- Cost-efficient multi-stop jobs
- and other custom job requirements.
Whether it's a pickup job, delivery or a combination of the two, HERE Tour Planning provides cost or time optimised tours for all vehicles in your fleet.
As you can see, not only is AI and machine learning working in the background of Route Optimisation APIs, it has also been integrated in technologies that enhance driver safety and offer predictive maintenance.
With more data available, AI can generate useful insights and help fleet organisations achieve greater efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability.
IoT and Mobile GIS
IoT sensors can provide real-time data on vehicle performance, fuel consumption, and driver behaviour, which can help fleet managers optimize their operations. For example, fuel-tracking devices are being used more and more by car manufacturers to ensure environmental and regulatory compliance as the EU aims to accelerate the transition toward a low-carbon transportation system.
Mobile GIS can then help fleet managers track their vehicles and optimize routes in real-time, leading to improved efficiencies and cost savings.
Environmental Regulations
As previously mentioned, environmental regulations are another critical trend in fleet management. The transportation industry is responsible for a significant portion of global greenhouse gas emissions, and fleet managers are under increasing pressure to reduce their carbon footprint.
As more and more companies and consumers adopt electric vehicles and other sustainable modes of transportation, HERE Technologie's emissions-aware routing within their Routing API helps you manage more eco-friendly consumer demands while maintaining compliance with environmental regulations in various countries.
HERE Emission Aware Routing and Electric Vehicle Routing APIs
Within the HERE Routing API, you can calculate CO2 emissions and fuel consumption for your various routes. By inputting your "fuel" parameters, the table of speeds and their corresponding fuel consumption values will return the lowest and highest speeds to give a complete picture of how fuel is consumed from Point A to Point B. You can drill deeper into the code for finer tuning to your specifications, and then you can visualise the emissions-aware route with HERE Maps API for JavaScript.
As more and more companies and consumers adopt electric vehicles and other sustainable modes of transportation, the HERE Electric Vehicle (EV) Routing API optimises both private and commercial electric vehicle routing while minimising the number of charging stops and reducing battery charging times, based on the vehicle’s consumption model.
The feature can be easily integrated into consumer apps to provide locations for charging stations within reach and to plan routes effectively and reduce range anxiety.
Real-Time Data
Lastly, by leveraging real-time data, businesses and fleet managers can make informed decisions about their operations. All that we have discussed above, such as route optimisation, vehicle maintenance, and driver safety, benefit from real-time data because it identifies areas for improvement and help make data-driven decisions that lead to better outcomes.
In conclusion, fleet management is a complex and ever-changing field, and staying up-to-date with the largest trends is essential. By leveraging AI for route optimisation, complying with environmental regulations, adopting IoT and incorporating mobile GIS technologies, and using real-time data, fleet managers can optimise their operations to achieve greater efficiency, cost effectiveness, and sustainability.
To learn more about how Grey Matter and HERE Technologies can help your fleet management processes, book a Discovery Call and our Mapping Experts will be happy to help!