Fleet briefs: Latest industry news from ATS Euromaster, Cap HPI, Brightmile, Sopp+Sopp, Samsara and Targa Telematics

ATS Euromaster launches new fleet booking system for tyres

ATS Euromaster has launched an app that allows drivers to book mobile tyre work on their fleet vehicles in real time.

The development follows nine months of research and live trialling.

The tyre and maintenance provider already offers mobile tyre fitting to its customers but says the new app will enhance the customer experience thanks to the greater visibility and certainty on booking times the new app allows.

Drivers can choose a slot that meets their own timescales, emergency or standard scheduled appointments, with calendar availability shown in real time.

SMS messaging or emails provide improved communication with the driver offering updates on job progress and when work should be completed.

ATS Euromaster also says that it will enhance the efficiency of its own mobile fleet, allowing it to allocate geographically grouped routes to technicians.

Mark Holland, operations director at ATS Euromaster, said: “Our app offers real-time information on slot availability and constant updates on progress. We believe it’s also the first app of its type that is publicly available.”

ATS Euromaster says it expects the app will account for 50% of all of its mobile tyre fitting requests in future.

The app will continue to offer an emergency call out facility for unforeseen tyre failure at the roadside and offer GPS location tracking for the mobile fitter to accurately locate the stranded driver. Emergency call-outs represent 30% of all its mobile fitting call-outs.

“The new app will help take away the stress points for drivers and help make our mobile tyre fitment service more efficient,” added Holland.

Environmental transparency ‘unlocked’ with new CO2 data 

Fleets seeking to report on carbon footprint over a vehicle's lifetime are set to benefit from the launch of new data from Cap HPI. 

The data experts are working with stakeholders across the industry to introduce Lifecycle Emissions data.

The data expands beyond in-life to encompass all stages, including production and recycling, to enable companies to provide customers with increased transparency and report fully to meet Scope 3 requirements. 

Customers of Cap HPI can already access fuel consumption data to enable in-life calculations for 98% of the UK car parc. 

A number of OEMs have already joined the initiative to provide data, and Cap HPI is working across the industry to agree on standard reporting metrics.

The data will be available in Cap HPI’s New Vehicle Data product and through the company’s consulting team. 

Jon Clay, data director at Cap HPI, said: “An effective CO2 reporting strategy will lead to a lower cost of capital and therefore increased profit.  

“Furthermore, businesses and consumers will increasingly select suppliers based on green credentials. Additionally, proactive planning enables the avoidance of financial penalties and unnecessary high spending on carbon credit emissions off-setting.”

If fleets and finance companies are to account for vehicles under Scope 3, developing carbon data that encompasses the entire vehicle’s lifecycle is essential.

It means each completed vehicle will see a portion of carbon from production accounted for under Scope 3 by the purchaser if used as a key revenue driver. 

Clay concluded: “The data will finally unlock carbon transparency for companies, helping them to define, measure and track their net-zero strategies.

“We are calling on all OEMs, fleets and finance companies to work with us and shape the data to ensure it meets all requirements.”

Brightmile releases driver safety app upgrade with partner Drivetech

Brightmile has released an update to its app to boost driver engagement in safety for fleet customers with partner Drivetech.

The Brightmile app is designed to intervene when a driver performs an ‘unsafe action’ such as speeding, by providing e-learning content from Drivetech designed to change the risky behaviour.

The update includes improved e-learning from Drivetech featuring accessibility improvements such as better contrast for those with certain eye conditions, and an improved user experience on mobile devices.

With gamification features built-in, it now also provides a single risk score for drivers for instant driving assessment.

Furthermore, vehicle safety checks and incident reports have been added, while the app’s driver rewards system has been updated so each company can set its own targets and prizes, taking driver engagement to a new level.

Dominic Saunders, CEO and co-founder of Brightmile, said: “We’re delighted to unveil the latest version of the app, in which drivers have access to more personalised rewards, whether that’s to gain prizes or to donate to charity, to provide yet another boost for fleet safety.”

Sopp+Sopp launches electronic notification of loss (eNOL) app

Sopp+Sopp has launched Activate Initiate - a new electronic notification of loss (eNOL) app app to improve incident reporting times and drive claims efficiency.

The white-label app aims to help to control claims costs and reduce off-road time by enabling drivers to submit quick, accurate incident reports as soon as an incident occurs.

Callum Langan, managing director of Sopp+Sopp, said: “Information and images captured at the scene of an incident support repair triage, early total loss identification, liability, and engineering assessments, providing an efficient start to the repair process, ultimately reducing off-road time.

“Plus, quicker reporting times significantly improve third-party capture rates, helping to control claim costs.”

The app can be accessed through a link or by scanning a QR code in the vehicle. It can also integrate with existing driver communication tools to bring everything together in one place.

The app is already being used by the fleet accident management specialist’s fleet customers and will be rolled out to more fleets over the months ahead.

Clear benefits in AI, but privacy concerns must be addressed, says Samsara 

New Samsara data has revealed how artificial intelligence (AI) is presenting opportunities for improved road safety and upskilling of the UK’s driver workforce. 

Its latest research - The 2023 State of Privacy in Physical Operations - reveals that the majority (54%) of fleets are moving to implement new AI solutions, citing advantages around road safety, driver coaching, and worker upskilling.

Yet despite the benefits of AI, Samsara says that privacy is front of mind for 46% of respondents and only one in five (22%) say drivers are completely accepting of in-cab cameras with the understanding they have. 

However, the research suggests driver concerns over privacy and AI can be easily and effectively addressed, with more than half (51%) of organisations surveyed seeing a positive impact on driver sentiment by educating them on how video data is captured and uploaded. 

Other successful initiatives that fleets say have improved driver sentiment towards AI and increased acceptance include: proactive leadership communication (50%), incorporating drivers into safety policy creation (49%), restricting permissions of access to camera footage (41%), and providing examples of how AI has helped driver exoneration for incidents (41%).

Lawrence Schoeb, senior director, legal, and data protection officer at Samsara, said: “It’s clear that physical operations businesses in the UK clearly understand the benefits of implementing AI into their organisations to drive safety improvements, particularly around road safety and the coaching and development of their driver workforces. Yet while the majority are keen to move forward with AI, the privacy concerns must be overcome. 

“By working with technology partners who have embedded privacy by design into their products, they can ensure suitable control over their data.

“By choosing the right products, businesses can put in place the right policies, configurations, and protocols to alleviate driver concerns.

“This in turn will enhance the safety, sustainability, and security of their operations, as against the demands of their employees, helping with their legal and regulatory privacy compliance.”

Targa Telematics signs deal with Renault as collaboration with TCH Leasing announced

Targa Telematics has signed a strategic partnership with Renault to integrate data from Renault and Dacia vehicles.

The partnership will involve the integration of fleet data streams directly into Targa Telematics' platform, enabling it to harness data collected from sensors within the manufacturer’s vehicles to power its new mobility services.

Location, mileage, fuel consumption, battery and charging data for electric vehicle (EVs), and other key information will be able be captured without the need to install aftermarket hardware.

Alberto Falcione, vice president sales at Targa Telematics, said: “We are thrilled to have partnered up with Renault as part of our broader strategy of collaborating with major players in the

automotive industry, following a series of similar agreements.

“This enables us to strengthen our position in the field of global data integration, enhance connected mobility solutions, and provide value-added services to our customers.”

The goal of this collaboration is to provide fleet managers and drivers with an increasing number of digital services, simplifying the provisioning process in vehicles.

By integrating data-streams from each manufacturer's in-vehicle systems, Targa Telematics aims to develop innovative connected mobility solutions that cater to their customers' needs. The partnership with Renault follows similar agreements with other major players in the automotive industry.

The deal with Renault comes as Targa Telematics has also announced its new collaboration with TCH Leasing.

The partnership aims to provide proactive service maintenance by offering real-time alerts about the vehicle's condition in advance, helping TCH Leasing avoid vehicle off-road (VOR) time and preserve the vehicle’s health.

“Targa Telematics is positioning itself as a leader in managing OEM vehicle data and delivering innovative digital mobility solutions to its customers, regardless of the data collection method,” said Chris Horbowyj, sales director at Targa Telematics UK.

“Thanks to its expertise in the vehicle leasing and rental industry, Targa Telematics delivers tailored solutions addressing the needs of this sector, facilitating their operations and enabling the development of new services and business.”