Connecting fleets to the Cloud for safer, cleaner, more cost-effective operations

Fleet operators must strive to achieve the lowest possible total cost of ownership (TCO) for their fleets while complying with increasingly stringent environmental and safety regulations. Fuel consumption, route management, driver performance and vehicle maintenance all play a part in this goal.

Fortunately, the Internet of Things (IoT) also plays a part, by connecting applications to deliver the data and services that make fleet operations safer, greener, and more cost-effective.

The latest fleet management solutions take advantage of the IoT to provide fleet operators with a wide range of benefits over the lifetime of a fleet, including:

• Compliance with environmental and safety regulations
• Optimized maintenance and logistics
• Monitor driver performance and vehicle status for better safety and fuel consumption
• Scheduled preventative maintenance to improve vehicle valuation

For fleet operators wanting to achieve the best possible ROI from IoT-enabled solutions, the key is to equip vehicles with wireless technologies designed to support long lifecycles. Primary considerations include: robust connectivity, scalability, and the flexibility to support new revenue models.

Select telematics devices designed to perform reliably as vehicles cross boundaries from rural to urban, between network providers, and as networks evolve from 2G and 3G to 4G/LTE. Deploy SIMs and modules that will remain compatible to avoid the cost of upgrading devices in the field.

For OEMs, telematics service providers and IT departments, the key is to develop connected fleet management solutions using technologies that are scalable, easy to deploy, and compatible with existing and evolving standards.  

Solution providers can further reduce TCO by using integrated device-to-cloud IoT platforms that simplify development, allow software updates across multiple device types, and support applications integration with a diverse range of solutions and service providers. Cloud-based services bundled with connectivity services offer additional flexibility to let fleet operators support the flexible business models they need today and position for the future.

The most challenging aspect of fleet management solutions is that they require more than just machine-to-machine communications; they require highly-mobile and highly-reliable connectivity. Sierra Wireless offers end-to-end connectivity and security, a host of OEM and service provider partners, and expertise in large-scale wireless deployments.

Sierra Wireless modules, gateways, and platforms allow fleet management solution developers to focus on creating innovative services instead of worrying about connectivity issues. Fleet management solution providers and developers can count on Sierra Wireless for:

• Access to your data in the cloud
• Device and network management services to keep your fleet online
• Global connectivity to collect and send your data to the cloud
• Edge devices to connect your equipment
  • Out-of-the-Box Networking Solutions
  • Programmable and Embedded Solutions

Sierra Wireless End-to-End solutions allow service providers to select flexible business models by bundling connectivity services with devices to support either CAPEX or OPEX models.