Security and efficency are top draws to telematics

Improved vehicle security, operational efficiency, driver behaviour and driver safety top the list of reasons why UK fleets use telematics, according to new research from Arval Mobility Observatory.

Findings also show that almost a third of car fleets (32%) and nearly half of van fleets (47%) are now using the technology, although adoption tends to increase based on business size.

For car fleets, the top reasons reported for using telematics were to locate vehicles or improve vehicle security (35%), improve driver safety (31%), improve driver behaviour (30%) and improve operational efficiency (28%), while only 17% of respondents reported using it to reduce fleet costs and 13% to reduce environmental impact.

For van fleets, responses were slightly different, starting with to locate vehicles or improve vehicle security (42%), improve operational efficiency (36%), improve driver behaviour    (35%) and improve driver safety (24%). Only 6% of van fleets used telematics to reduce environmental impact.

Shaun Sadlier, head of Arval Mobility Observatory in the UK, said: “In recent years, telematics has become much more affordable and easy-to-adopt, and our figures show that it is now in widespread use across company car and van fleets. We expect growth to continue.

“For both types of vehicle, the main reasons cited for implementation are relatively consistent – to improve security, efficiency and safety. These are well-established attributes of the technology, proven time and again in many different kinds of fleet scenarios.

“There appears to be less focus on employing telematics to reduce fleet costs. We believe that it has a role to play in this area, especially when it comes to analysing the relationship in real-time between how vehicles are used against their leasing contract mileage in the context of their service and maintenance costs.”

Shaun added that there also appeared to be limited focus of how telematics could be used to minimise the environmental impact of vehicle operations and maximise the potential of mobility solutions, such as car sharing, to open up new options for business transport.

“Because telematics provides detailed data about fleet usage and journeys made, it can be used to identify opportunities for mobility solutions. This is a relatively new development which we’ve seen being pioneered in some European countries and we expect interest to grow quite rapidly in the UK, especially among larger organisations.”

To download a full copy of the Arval Mobility Observatory Fleet Barometer 2020 visit arval.co.uk/amo-insight.

Does your car and/or van fleet use telematics?

Why does your car fleet use telematics?

Does your van fleet use telematics?

Why does your van fleet use telematics?

To download a full copy of the Arval Mobility Observatory Fleet Barometer 2020 visit arval.co.uk/amo-insight.