Cross-border transportation is risky – the many risks logistics companies face include safety of the vehicle, protection of the load, well-being of the driver, on-time delivery, and communication with the driver. Roadblocks, congested border posts, availability of fuel, high costs, local crime and occasional hostilities add to these risks. This is a tough business!

According to the CEO of leading telematics company Cartrack’s South Africa operations, Harry Louw, a comprehensive fleet management telematics platform will mitigate many of these risks.  Yet providing seamless telematics from South Africa into Central Africa is also not that easy.  “Challenges such as multiple data networks, excessive data roaming costs, emergency maintenance, and network outages have to be overcome,” says Louw.

It is essential for the fleet manager to have real-time visibility of the vehicle throughout its round trip.  Where is the vehicle?  Is it adhering to the pre-planned route?  Is it passing the planned waypoints at the correct time?  These are questions, Louw believes, that a reputable telematics platform will answer – whether through automated alerts or through ad-hoc ‘eyes on screen’. 

“Sophisticated add-ons such as video footage and CANBUS data provide the fleet manager with more information and peace of mind, enabling rapid response to mechanical problems, fuel consumption, and external threats. Finally, impact detection alerts are there to ensure that the driver is safe, and to raise alarm about accidents as and when they occur,” Louw explains.

There is certainly a requirement for a telematics system, but what to look for?  With so many telematics service providers available, it gets a bit confusing.  How does a cross-border logistics operator choose the most suitable one?

Well, here’s some advice from Cartrack.  Firstly, shorten the list of prospective suppliers down to those that are active in Africa. This will give you the confidence that they know what they are doing, and that they have a footprint in Africa to efficiently rollout services for after-sales service delivery (on the road maintenance) and stolen vehicle recovery.

Secondly, if the requirements are for basic fleet management, then keep it simple and focus on reliability, track record, customer case studies and endorsements, and affordability.  Keep in mind that this will be a long-term commitment, so it is important that you make an informed choice.

If the requirements are more complex, such as the need for cargo protection, video feeds, fuel monitoring, and engine management then spend some time investigating exactly what is available, at what cost, and how the system will be serviced cross-border.  The most elaborate system is worthless if it does not deliver while the truck is outside of South Africa.

MANAGING RISK

Louw shares that on any cross-border trip, fleet managers are unaware of the location of their drivers and have no say regarding the manner in which they drive.  “As such, they can’t foresee if their driver takes actions that result in them endangering both their lives and compromising the vehicle they are driving and the stock they’re delivering. Additionally, fleet managers won’t know about unforeseen disruptions or if their drivers idle or veer off route, thereby affecting delivery times. They also have to worry about a loss of stock, through either theft or incompetence,” he says.

Telematics systems allow for proactive notifications, enabling the monitoring of key occurrences indicating to the fleet manager that there may be a problem, such as unauthorised stops, off-route veering and speeding or harsh braking. “A prime example of the value of telematics in business is Cartrack’s long-standing partnership with a leading Original Equipment Manufacturer specialising in heavy commercial vehicle brands. This partnership focused on advanced telematics technology that is built into vehicles for maximum benefit to the commercial sector. A fleet management service is offered to the end-user as part of the vehicle purchase, expanding the benefit to offer crucial telematics business support services.”

The pay-off for any fleet manager is clear: customer satisfaction through vehicle and driver optimisation and integrated asset risk management.

SOFTWARE-AS-A-SERVICE

Louw believes that smart fleet management solutions are the best way to minimise these risks and create a more efficient and timeous process in which companies can better manage potential problems. “Through telematics, fleet managers will know exactly where their vehicles are, what speed they are driving at, if their vehicles have been delayed, and departure and stoppage times. They can also immediately contact local resources, who can remedy issues on the ground.”

Cartrack has embraced the technological evolution of telematics to software-as-a-service with the development of an app that gives the user the power to manage a fleet with ease using just their mobile device. Any function can be executed from a smartphone device, including the latest innovation by Cartrack which expands from fleet management to include the management of a mobile workforce using the Communicator app. “With the increase in popularity of social media, the risk of reputational issues arising from driver-related behaviour has been placed on the risk radar for many businesses operating large fleets. The ability to effectively manage fleets has become a crucial factor in being prepared to transparently respond to any public query or outcry.”

Features such as accident reconstruction, in-cab camera system, trip reports and sensors to monitor diagnostics in the vehicle has become very valuable mechanisms in the resolution of investigations related to public issues and in some instances, salvaging potential reputational damage.

FLEET MANAGEMENT AT ITS BEST

Your ability to manage risks and innovate depends on the quality and applicability of the data you have access to. Cartrack offers customisable, proven, robust telematics and data processing solutions, and the ability to tailor them to your business's challenges. With a presence across several African countries, Cartrack is able to offer a reliable cross-border telematics and vehicle recovery service to businesses operating across Southern Africa.

With Cartrack’s fleet management offering, you will be able to:

• Monitor your vehicle’s locations and their routes 24/7.

• Have better control of your stock.

• Monitor your fuel level and potential fuel theft.

• Monitor temperature of fresh produce.

• Monitor the transport of high value stock in real time with the installation of an in-camera system.

• Improve driver safety with driver-behaviour alerts linked to excessive speeding and harsh braking.

“With modern day-telematics solutions in place, there is no reason for companies to risk theft, unnecessary costs and time-consuming inefficiencies during cross-border deliveries. Fleet management solutions negate these risks to a great degree and create a far more efficient, effective and conducive environment for successful cross-border deliveries.”

Cartrack has a proud sixteen-year history, and has expanded globally to a base of over 975,000 vehicles.

With a presence in many African countries, Cartrack offers its services in countries such as Nigeria, Rwanda, Malawi, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, and Angola.

It has a comprehensive fleet management platform designed in South Africa for its global platform, which is available as a Software-as-a-Service model in Europe, Asia, and the USA.

Important add-ons and features to this platform include video solutions, CANBUS integration, fuel management technology, and mobile workforce management solutions.