It was the early 70s when an engineer at Kodak built the world’s first portable digital camera, laying the groundwork for the staple cameras we all use today. But, instead of welcoming this exciting innovation, the photography giant locked the prototype away and forgot about it for over two decades — for fear that it would disrupt their (then) thriving film business. The rest, as they say, is history: it turned out we all love looking at our pictures on a screen, but Sony beat them to it, leaving Kodak scrambling to catch up.
Fleet businesses today face a similar decision. New and imminent advances in telematics technology are giving us the tools to transform logistics forever, and early adopters will be poised to outperform those who don’t. To ride the wave of change and come out ahead of the competition, the real question isn’t “should you adapt” — it’s “how and when”.
Artificial intelligence, powered by ever-evolving machine learning models, is already transforming vehicle maintenance by analyzing historical data to flag potential service needs before they become critical issues. But it can’t yet account for the full picture — like weather disruptions or road hazards — nor can it anticipate or diagnose sudden mechanical failures.
As algorithms become more and more sophisticated, predictive AI promises to eliminate unexpected breakdowns and keep vehicles healthier, for longer. When fed with reliable, high-quality data, these systems will be able to predict problems with pinpoint precision — not just on a vehicle diagnostics level but also on broader external challenges like weather hazards, bad road conditions, and more.
Most fleet-owning businesses today have added or are looking to add varying numbers of EVs alongside their diesel or petrol engine vehicles. Meanwhile, according to a recent study by McKinsey & Company, driverless truck operations are expected to reach the highways as early as 2027, promising early adopters substantial cost savings for long-distance operations.
But between now and an all-electric, all-autonomous future, we’ll first have to deal with the steady increase in mixed fleets. Which is why future-proof fleet management systems must seamlessly integrate with all vehicle types to help fleets make the transition smoothly and at a lower cost.
The future is all about breaking digital silos and the emergence of interconnected logistics ecosystems that ensure end-to-end visibility and transparency throughout the entire supply chain. Leveraging advanced networks to allow for seamless and secure exchange of previously isolated and fragmented information between manufacturers, distributors, and end customers will bring significant wins for all stakeholders. The rise of V2X (vehicle-to-everything) communications where vehicles can talk with each other and with everything around them in real time will mark a completely new era in operational efficiency and decision-making.
Choose a modern, intuitive solution that’s easy to use for everyone on your team without requiring extensive training and re-training. A flexible, modular design will allow you to easily add or remove features to suit the unique needs of your fleet and ensures a smooth migration process with minimal disruption.
As your fleet grows, your fleet management solution should grow with it — whether you’re expanding fleet size, adding electric vehicles, breaking into new markets and regions, adding new services, or preparing for AV adoption.
It may feel safer to wait things out and cross that bridge when you come to it. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right?
But the truth is, technology is evolving so rapidly that by the time it becomes mainstream, you may be already falling behind your competitors. Remember, too, change doesn’t happen overnight. Rather than letting circumstances force you to quickly adapt or fail, it makes sense to start phasing in strategically, methodically, and at your own pace.
Plus, the earlier you do it, the sooner you’ll start benefitting from reduced downtime, improved efficiency, and higher cost-savings.
Taking the right steps now to future-proofing your fleet means setting the stage for your business to not only survive but to thrive in a world that’s moving faster than ever. Want to see how SCALAR can help? Get in touch with our experts today.
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