CONTRIBUTORS
INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
Telematics and the cold chain
By Henry Smith – MiX Telematics Africa Fleet sales director
A major part of the cold chain is the various logistics and warehousing, and how telematics can assist.
Good telematics systems not
only allow a company to
monitor the position of their
vehicles and drivers, but also provides
the company with different types of
data – such as fuel consumption, driving
behaviour and fatigue – which help you
to heighten your insights into how best
to manage your fleet effectively.
Telematics data is used to provide
real-time intelligence that can be
acted on proactively. It consists of a
sophisticated onboard computer that
collects and transmits valuable vehicle
and driver information. This data is hosted
in one of several top-tier data centres,
with information accessible online or via
a mobile app for Android or iOS. The
software platform would be completely
secure, and the features help operators
to make informed and timely decisions
regarding the performance of their fleet.
Depending on specific operational
goals or regional requirements,
customers can choose from a range
of compatible fleet management
add-ons, such as video recording
systems to in-cab navigation and
messaging devices, driver engagement
tools, an hours-of-service solution,
journey management, and satellite
communication, among others.
INDUSTRIES WHERE TELEMATICS
CAN BE APPLIED
Telematics is widely used for logistics
purposes and can in fact be implemented
across multiple industries, although it
does not necessarily have to be linked
to a vehicle. It can be connected to
a stationary asset, like a fuel pump to
monitor fuel transactions as well.
Various industries that utilise telematics
include:
• Transport and distribution
• Cold chain
• FMCG
• Oil and Gas
• Construction
• Mining and resources
• Rental and leasing
• Courier services
• Security Services
• Public transport (bus and taxi services)
• Government
• Utilities
TELEMATICS AND THE
COLD CHAIN
As telematics data is used in fleet
management solutions, it provides
improved efficiencies, better asset
security, lowered risk and ensures
compliance to industry-related
regulations and procedures. MiX
Telematics, as one of the service providers
to the industry, offers real-time visibility
of fleets and shows fleet managers how
their assets are being utilised in order to
make their fleet more productive, saving
them time and money.
The main challenge that cold chain
transporters face is moving perishable
goods – often across long distances with
tight schedules – while maintaining the
correct refrigeration temperatures.
In order to stay competitive and deliver
goods that are temperature and/or
time-sensitive, these fleet operators must
implement a fleet management solution
that can help them to better manage
their fleet utilisation for on-time collection
and delivery of these goods, while also
monitoring the temperature of the
refrigerated trailers – as well as minimising
on-road and driver-related risks.
Being able to locate vehicles and loads,
while optimising delivery schedules and
monitoring temperatures, is therefore, key
to enabling the success of cold chain fleets.
Telematics solutions form an integral part of
these fleet operations, allowing fleets to:
• Track vehicles, drivers and cargo in
real-time (and historically)
• Optimise routing for a fleet of vehicles
• Measure, monitor and report on
the temperature of refrigerated
compartments and, in so doing,
proactively manage product quality
from pick-up to drop-off.
◦ Immediate action can be taken
when temperature exceptions
occur; Temperature data
is available 24/7/365 via a
management web portal and
mobile application
◦ Retrieve, view and analyse
temperature data to reveal
whether goods in transit were
subjected to any out-of-tolerance
temperature variances
◦ Pinpoint when and where
variances occurred, as well as the
possible cause of the variances
◦ Comply with food transport safety
regulations, verify temperature
control complaints when they
arise, and protect a brand’s
overall integrity
◦ Detect issues with temperature
control early on, thanks to live
tracking which reduces food
wastage and improves results on
health inspections
All photos by MiX Telematics Africa
Telematics has evolved to become a business management tool.
◦ Access the full temperature
history for the goods that were
in transit for up to 36 months; This
data can be used to calculate
the loss of shelf-life or the
likelihood of spoilage
◦ Assess and improve the overall
health of the systems and
procedures in place by tracking
and monitoring the trends of
spoilage or loss of shelf-life events
• Monitor driver behaviour and in
turn, reduce fuel consumption and
accident occurrences
• Reduce business risk and increase
safety across the fleet
• Improve service levels to clients
Fleet management
solutions also
provide customised
real-time alerts for
driving and securityrelated
incidents.
Another important consideration is the
security of goods in transit. A complete
fleet management solution should provide
customised real-time alerts for driving and
security-related incidents, as well as a
stolen vehicle recovery solution in case of
hijacking or vehicle theft.
BENEFIT OF DATA AND
MANAGEMENT
Some advanced telematics options offer
fleet operators access to information
about their vehicles and drivers, with a
host of features, tools and reports to not
only maximise efficiency but importantly
increase safety for both drivers and their
valuable cargos.
The tracking module in these solutions
provides a real-time view of a vehicle or
asset’s position – whether it’s stationary or on
the move – and which driver is behind the
wheel. It also displays information relating
to speed, driving direction, ignition status,
driving violations, past trips, and more.
Proactive monitoring is also possible
thanks to live information streams. These
streams are user-defined, and contain
information about events, as well as
messages to and from the connected
asset and/or driver.
Our telematics solution as an example
offers robust reporting capabilities
enabling data to be reviewed and
analysed in detail, as well as in dynamic
and customisable formats. Reports
include movement, location, and trip
and utilisation reports, as well as driver
scoring, fuel, event violations and cost
analysis reports.
Whatever the goal – be it to save fuel,
improve safety, increase utilisation, or
enhance customer service – telematics
solutions are proven to bring about
significant results.
DATA SHARING AND
INTEGRATION
MiX Telematics uses an application
programming interface (API) that is
essentially a computing interface that
defines interactions between multiple
software intermediaries. API platforms
serve as a bridge between telematics
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www.coldlinkafrica.co.za COLD LINK AFRICA • September 2020