A few days ago, I stumbled upon this term called the Internet of Things, aka IoT, and I of course wondered what it was and if it had any relation to public sector fleets. As I went down the IoT rabbit hole of IoT, I quickly found that it's a network of devices that share data and it's already a part of what fleets are doing.

Picture this: the Internet of Things is a web that keeps growing as more devices are connected and more data is collected and shared. After a better understanding of how it worked, I thought it would be helpful to break down how it can be used and how fleet management can find more connections to enhanced fleet operations. 

A Pairing of Telematics and Predictive Analytics

Alright, let's talk telematics. It's like GPS, but much, much bigger. Vehicles in our public sector fleets aren't just dots on a map; they're part of that interconnected web where they chat with each other, sharing real-time data. It's like the fleet is having its own digital conversation, and telematics is the language they speak.

Then comes predictive analytics, and it's not just for basic feedback. By creating a connection between this and telematics, fleets can better understand, and plan for, different vehicle outcomes. As most fleet managers know, the more easily you can plan ahead, the easier it will be when something unexpected happens. 

Creating a System That Works for Your Fleet

At the end of the day, a fleet can have a full share of data but it's what you're doing with it that counts. I've spoken with fleet managers who talked about the overwhelming feeling of receiving an overload of data and trying to sort it out and make changes around what that data is saying.

With the amount of data that can be collected, it's like your vehicles are talking to you and if you don't have the right response fleet management can start to feel like fleet overload. So the question is, what is your strategy for data planning? 

Fleets managers who have a grasp on their data never seem to do it all at once. Usually, it's a gradual process first looking at the areas that have the most need. Maybe it's safety, maybe it's speed, maybe it's fuel. For a lot of fleets, it's all of this and more. But the advice here is figuring out what you want to tackle first and going from there. 

In a nutshell, IoT is already a part of what fleets are doing as well as what’s ahead. Public sector fleets aren't required to just upgrade; they now have to step into a future where vehicles, data, and efficiency are in sync. So the next time you hear about the Internet of Things, just know that it is revolutionizing how public sector fleets operate, bringing about a transformative era where real-time connectivity, predictive maintenance, and data-driven decision-making are indispensable components.