A Q&A with Santa, and Fleet Manager Mrs Claus, of North Pole Inc
This year, Google Maps added a traffic alert feature so that users can select the best route to arrive at their destination through the least amount of traffic, given real-time transport conditions. If it is not possible to reroute around a traffic jam, the system can notify the user on how long the delay will be so that they can adjust their plans.
For many types of vehicle fleets, efficient fleet management depends on having a good idea when each vehicle is going to reach its destination. Whether the object is to deliver cargo or to fix a customer’s water heater, there is a person at the end of the journey waiting for the vehicle and service to arrive. If it doesn’t, the fleet owner risks receiving negative customer satisfaction that can hurt business. In order to deliver excellent service, customers trust reliable, on time deliveries.
For years, GPS tracking has allowed fleet managers to pinpoint where a vehicle is for a long time. If a truck got hung up somewhere, a dispatcher could either re-assign the job to another team or contact the destination to update the arrival time. Some service companies simplify the process by giving their clients real-time access to the approaching team’s location. And of course, if a driver looks ahead and anticipates an oncoming traffic jam, he or she can use GPS navigation to identify the most efficient alternate route.
Today, drivers don’t need to wait until they actually get stuck in traffic with Google Maps new feature. They can view routes in real-time and find the best path to arrive to their destination on time.
Of course, many areas already have traffic alerts available by radio. But integrating the service into telematics makes the alerts more accessible and more convenient to use. By working together, the alerts utilize both tracking and navigation in order to substantially improve the accuracy of arrival time estimates. This technology opens a better user experience with new and more accurate data that streamlines the navigation process.
And being better able to anticipate and respond to traffic jams could mean the difference between keeping and losing a customer.