With fuel prices spiralling, SA's bus fleets have a major opportunity to save millions of rands per year and increase passenger numbers by delivering a safer, more reliable service using smart technology.
This is the view of Steven Sutherland, MiX Telematics' sales director for Africa - Fleet Services, who says the technology tracks the movements of vehicles and gives passengers real-time information on where their transport is.
According to Sutherland, the bus industry is one of the biggest fleets on SA's roads, and more efficient systems would allow operators to make real savings in operating and maintenance costs.
He argues that the same applies to local metro bus services, many of which are plagued by recurrent deficits, resulting in service cuts because of insufficient resources.
According to Sutherland, a number of bus operators globally are using the technology of MiX Telematics - a provider of fleet management, driver safety, and vehicle tracking services and solutions, using a software as a service delivery model.
How it works
Explaining how the technology works, he said an on-board computer installed in the vehicle wirelessly collects and transmits important information, including vehicle location and status, driver identity, fuel usage, distances travelled, as well as trip start and end points.
"Having 24-hour access to this data, along with reporting and analysis tools that deliver key business insights, fleet operators and owners are able to make informed and timely decisions about their drivers and vehicles. This enables them to boost overall fleet efficiencies and performance, including driver safety," he explained.
"Our customers' data is hosted in one of four MiX Telematics data centres around the world. Per month, our fleet management software records around 320 million events generated from approximately 476 million kilometres driven."
For fleet managers on the move, Sutherland noted, mobile apps enable them to keep tabs on their vehicles, drivers and other mobile assets while they are out and about.
The apps are available for a range of smartphones and tablets, including iPhone, Android and BlackBerry, and support various languages, he added.
Who's smart?
Among the fleets that are using the technology, Sutherland said NZ Bus, in New Zealand, with a fleet of 1 100 buses, has deployed the smart technology as it was looking for exceptional vehicle and driver performance data, which will be used as part of its substantial and continuous improvement programme.
Another example, he said, is the fleet management partnership between UK-based bus and train operator Go-Ahead Group and MiX Telematics. According to Sutherland, after deploying the technology, the operator has seen fuel efficiency increase by 12% and accidents reduced by 17.6% since 2007/08.
"Originally covering 3 500 buses nationwide, including 1 500 in London, the ongoing and sustained success of the programme has seen the contract grow over the past three years."
He also noted that German bus operator, Sylter Verkehrsgesellschaft (SVG), has seen a reduction in operating costs and exhaust emissions, as well as improved fuel efficiency with the smart technology.
Well-known Belgian bus operator, De Lijn, with a fleet of 1 800 buses, is also using the technology, he pointed out.
"The solution is mainly aimed at improving vehicle utilisation, route adherence and driver behaviour, all of which directly affect the bottom line. Reducing fleet costs is a constant, never-ending struggle for all fleet managers. According to a Frost & Sullivan report, effective fleet management systems have the potential to influence up to 62% of operating costs."
Volatile fuel prices
Sutherland also noted that fleet managers are struggling to balance fleet budgets due to constant and volatile changes in fuel prices.
However, he added, the biggest issue surrounding fuel costs is the uncertainty of future prices and most fleet managers are resigned to the fact that fuel prices will remain elevated.
"Based on our experience, changing drivers' behaviour has a huge impact on fuel consumption of trucks and buses. Fleet telematics helps drivers to adjust their driving styles accordingly and, in doing so, not only provides their passengers a smoother ride (in the case of a bus), but also assists their employers in bringing down fuel costs tremendously."
For the smart technology to achieve its desired goals, Sutherland said, it is important to involve the drivers and, if applicable, the unions, from the beginning.
"The bus drivers are directly exposed to the technology and need to understand why it will be introduced. It is crucial to communicate the advantages of the solution and clarify from the beginning that it is not about monitoring drivers but to increase driver and road safety, improve the customer experience, and reduce the environmental impact by bringing down the fuel consumption.
"We even motivate our customers to establish a driver incentive programme, as this will demonstrate a personal benefit for the driver if his or her driving style improves."
He adds it is vital to point out that most operators are not even aware of some of the issues or the extent of these issues, as they are not in a position to manage what they cannot measure.
"Not having the management tools puts them at a huge disadvantage as they are not being exposed to those cause-and-effect areas within their operations," he concludes.
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