**London**: Geotab partners with Volvo Group to integrate vehicle data APIs into its platform, highlighting the automotive industry’s shift towards enhanced data connectivity and fleet management efficiencies, as OEMs embrace collaborations to support electric vehicle operations and improve interoperability across brands.
Last month, Geotab, a prominent telematics provider, secured an agreement with Volvo Group to incorporate the manufacturer’s vehicle data API into Geotab’s telematics platform. This move is part of a growing trend in the automotive industry where telematics providers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are increasingly collaborating. It raises questions about the motivations and benefits for OEMs engaging in such partnerships.
Modern vehicles are often equipped with connectivity features. For instance, Ford began integrating the FordPass Connect modem into all its vehicles starting from the 2020 model year, enabling the capture of vehicle and driver data. This data is leveraged within Ford’s Pro fleet management platform, facilitating services such as E-Switch Assist. Nate McDonald, EV strategy and cross vehicle brand manager at Ford Pro, noted, “Smart tools informed by data like E-Switch Assist are opening up many new conversations with our commercial customers large and small about EV readiness; we’re already using E-Switch Assist regularly in consultations to help organizations determine if electric trucks and vans are right for them.”
The rationale behind integrating connectivity into vehicles is aligned with utilising data to maintain a seamless operational environment for fleet managers. The analogy of operating systems, such as Android and iPhone, illustrates the difficulties and costs associated with transitioning from one ecosystem to another after prolonged usage. Consequently, OEMs appear to value maintaining that connection and leveraging it to facilitate the management of their vehicles.
The partnership with Geotab allows OEMs to open up their data streams while potentially gaining access to a broader range of insights from various manufacturers. This arrangement facilitates a reciprocal exchange of data, enhancing the utility of their systems.
Geotab has cultivated numerous partnerships over the years to expand its data integration capabilities. In 2019, the company began collaborating with Ford, followed by integrations with General Motors’ OnStar telematics in 2020 and Stellantis’ Free2move car-sharing brand in 2022. Geotab’s portfolio continued to grow with partnerships with Mobilisights and VW Group Info Services, reinforcing the importance of data in enhancing fleet performance.
According to a recent survey by McKinsey, fleet managers are likely to switch brands for better connectivity features, as nearly 57% of electric vehicle (EV) buyers expressed their willingness to do so. This illustrates the significance of integrated platforms in reducing friction when managing multiple vehicle brands in a fleet. The ease of using a universal platform like Geotab could sway fleet buyers’ decisions when comparing different vehicle options.
The efficiency gained by having a brand-agnostic fleet management system is significant, as demonstrated by the potential for saving man-hours, despite the challenge of quantifying this impact on overall financial performance. Additionally, the Geotab platform offers features tailored for EVs, such as monitoring charging history, assessing regenerative braking efficiency, and tracking battery health. Geotab’s research suggests that electric vehicle batteries, if maintained properly, could have a lifespan exceeding 20 years, potentially outpacing the typical vehicle lifecycle.
Telematics integrations also provide benefits for managing charging schedules, allowing fleet managers to charge vehicles during lower-cost, off-peak hours and ensuring access to reliable high-speed charging stations, thereby minimising downtime for both vehicles and drivers. Furthermore, these platforms enable tracking of carbon emissions and overall energy consumption, an essential component of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting.
In summary, the integration of telematics into vehicle platforms represents a strategic direction for OEMs seeking to enhance data connectivity and improve fleet management efficiencies. Geotab’s role in facilitating such collaborations may prove crucial as the automotive industry adapts to the evolving landscape of electric and connected vehicles.
Source: Noah Wire Services
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