Microlise: how fleets can gain from next-gen telematics
Software provider Microlise has outlined some of the advances fleet operators can benefit from in deploying next-generation telematics systems, which it says can offer far more than simply a dot on a map.
“Increasingly sophisticated and integrated solutions support fleet operators to optimise routes, improve real-time customer communication, support preventative maintenance, improver driver performance and ensure fleets are operating in the safest way possible to keep members of the public and assets more secure,” said the company.
“Microlise has been supporting transport operators for over thirty years to increase safety, efficiency and utilisation, lower operating costs, improve customer service and reduce environmental impact.”
Intelligent software and modular telematics solutions are moving customers from legacy processes to data-driven alternatives, says the firm. Customers can simply select the most appropriate modules to deliver on their key performance indicators (KPIs) and operational objectives.
“Microlise customers may initially deploy a particular module because they want to reduce idling time across their fleet, for example,” the company continued.
“They realise that gain and then may choose to deploy another part of the solution to work on driving increased efficiencies in other operational areas – or they might focus their effort on improving driver performance – so there is an element of ongoing upgrades and product refinement happening for many customers.
“In the case of Microlise, what sets our solutions apart, is the development strength of our business (we currently have a talent pool of well over 100 developers) which allows us to respond to the specific needs of our customers with solutions that address operational requirements.
“We update our software on a monthly basis with product upgrades requiring zero downtime from a system point of view. We also include information on how to switch on new features when we roll out our monthly product updates.
“We’ve invested a huge amount of resources into the product release and upgrade process to ensure this is a painless experience for customers, with minimal or no disruption.”
Microlise also has a number of other teams which feed into this ongoing product refinement process – for example, data scientists interpret what the data from its live connections means for customers, while the business transformation team supports the change process when customers deploy new telematics technology across their business, to ensure they get the most from the solutions.
“Telematics solutions are only as good as the intelligence generated and it’s critical that information is interpreted correctly and is usable,” the firm emphasised.
“Every Microlise customer is assigned a dedicated project team until they reach the business-as-usual stage. Customers receive training and have ongoing access to our learning management system – the Knowledge Portal – which has been created to provide product information and ongoing training.”
Microlise highlights its investment in ongoing software development and its hosting of forums throughout the year, to share its product roadmap with customers and ensure new solutions are supporting real business need.
The firm has launched a Planning & Optimisation product to provide an end-to-end solution for its customers.
“It allows them to reduce planning time from hours to minutes, plan routes more effectively and make informed planning decisions based on information that reduces the need for manual intervention,” said Microlise.
“When complete, the plan can be fed into the Microlise Journey Management product with a single click for forward execution. Planning & Optimisation’s flexible algorithm can also be adjusted to address common issues around delays, bottlenecks and last-minute orders, allowing planners to visualise when a plan is fully optimised against a number of run-time KPIs and stop when KPIs reach an acceptable level.”
The company also highlights its award-winning Driver Hazard Warning (DHW) App, which addresses to the risk of bridge strikes, and alerts drivers visually and audibly when they are approaching height, weight or width hazards so that they can take avoidance action and detour if necessary.
“Microlise continues to develop new solutions to support driver performance,” said the company.
“By harnessing AI and drawing on data, we are developing new driver performance solutions – for example we can now extrapolate and pinpoint accident blackspots based on time of year, time of day, weight of traffic etc. and we’ll be looking at ways to incorporate that intelligence to support drivers in the future.”
