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48 Spring 2022 T ight margins are due to get even tighter with the predicted rise inmaterial costs following soaring prices in 2021 and the introduction of new legislation such as the reformof red diesel usage coming into force in April. With the duty on white diesel signi cantly higher than red, and both red and white diesel becoming more and more attractive targets for theft, site managers face not only fuel cost challenges but security concerns too. Commercial Director at telematics rm ABAX UK Kevin Bull, said: “It’s understandable that many businesses may be feeling ill-prepared or concerned about the rising threats surrounding increasing fuel prices – particularly after the challenges thrown at us all through 2020 and 2021. But there are ways that control can be taken back and savings made, thanks to technology.” Techtarget explains that telematics is “a term that combines the words telecommunications and informatics to broadly describe the integrated use of communications and information technology to transmit, store and receive information from telecommunications devices to remote objects over a network.” An example is usage-based insurance, which can be used to manage insurance risks and set better premiums based on driver performance, or sensors and systems designed to notify user, the company, and the maintenance team when a car needs a service or a repair. HERE predicts that telematics will transform eets in 2022. While concerns were highlighted about costs, the survey found that 66% of eets that used a GPS eet management system had recouped their investment. Telematics can provide accurate tracking of the entire eet, with additional functionalities for asset tracking, performance tracking, environmental conditions, and assessing the eets driving behaviour. Sensors such as accelerometers and gyroscopes available on the telematics devices, detect the motion of the vehicle. is data is shared with software-based sensors, which nd patterns, run analytics, and deliver user-friendly insights to improve eet operation. rough GPS eet tracking systems, companies can monitor a variety of metrics such as: • Asset location • Driving routes • Vehicle or machine idling time • Driver status (moving, parked, or idling) • Mileage logs for online timesheets, overtime reporting and HMRC- compliant mileage claims • Usage as a base for a maintenance and servicing plan Tackling rising construction costs, increased reporting requirements and equipment theft. TECHNOLOGY & TELEMATICS