With the ongoing pressure to improve safety, increase output, decrease downtime, and obtain optimal product lifecycles, careful management of heavy fleet equipment has become more critical than ever over recent years. Navigating the fine line of efficiency and effectiveness can be a cumbersome and daunting task for fleet managers. Maintenance of those fleets is one of the main procedures that has a considerably high amount of cost on a regular basis. It has also been revealed that more than one-third of the maintenance money is wasted in ineffective or unnecessary methods.
Thanks to new technology and modern engineering, solutions are available that provide tremendous opportunity to improve the way heavy fleet equipment can be managed from the simple to the nuanced depending on the fleet’s goals and needs. For example, when it comes to heavy equipment, time is critical, and technicians are often in short supply. The addition of technology, such as an IoT or telematics solution, makes it possible to monitor both equipment and on-road assets, allowing for better routing of technicians as well as logistics planning for delivery and pick up.
There are several IoT solutions available that are specifically designed for heavy equipment. For instance, Parker’s Mobile IoT solution provides an open, interoperable and secure IoT ecosystem that enables valuable enhancements across a breadth of aspects, including improved safety and the capability for predictive maintenance. By remotely monitoring equipment performance, users obtain the insight to minimize the costs of servicing or troubleshooting performance issues while increasing uptime and positively impacting operating costs.
This intelligent fleet management system begins with a sensor-equipped component that generates data for the parameters that optimize the operation. That data is then consolidated automatically and encrypted to a secure cloud-based system that can be accessed from anywhere. Having a well-organized and accurate record of that data allows managers to monitor the critical assets easily and receive alerts based on preset thresholds, making their daily functions more efficient and impactful.
Utilizing IoT for off-road equipment also provides an opportunity for fleet managers to identify problems before they occur. For instance, if a manager knows to replace parts before they fail, then they can reduce the downtime and service costs, ultimately lowering the total cost of ownership in the long run as well. In areas where customer loyalty hinges on uptime and service, IoT solutions can provide a competitive advantage and allow fleet managers to positively impact the business with:
Enhanced billing
With an IoT solution for heavy equipment, fleet companies can precisely track equipment usage for more accurate billing and provide transparency to customers. Rental providers can also adopt flexible billing solutions as well as initiate overtime billing.
Equipment demand forecasting
Demand for vehicles and equipment can also be tracked by region and season, creating annual datasets used to predict equipment needs ahead of time, allowing a fleet manager to be proactive regarding freight, repairs, and inspections.
Procurement savings
By accurately predicting part replacement times with awareness of inventory availability and replenishment lead times procurement can proactively create replenishment signals and purchase orders as well as manage warranty claims.
IoT solutions for heavy equipment provide measurable information on asset and operator performance on the job site and the road, which offers maximum visibility over operations and impacts multiple areas of a business. Data gathered by an IoT solution also positively impacts safety incidents with maintenance notifications, driver scorecard records, route planning abilities, real-time location and more. For instance, the data collected with Parker’s Mobile IoT solution provides coaching opportunities for operators not following company established rules for job-site behavior, such as exceeding speed limits. Additional safety monitoring and alerts include:
- Geofencing: Ensures equipment is in the right location at the right time and performing authorized work
- Tire pressure and temperature: Reduces the risk of machinery being operated in an unsafe manner
- Third-party axle load capacity: Issues alerts if a vehicle is loaded over recommended capacity
- Machine utilization and usage: Makes sure unsafe operating habits are flagged and tracked
IoT technology for heavy equipment is reshaping the landscape for fleets in many industries – construction, mining, agriculture and oil, and gas. Don’t get left behind.
Get your vehicles/equipment connected today – Request a demo of Parker’s Mobile IoT Solution.
Article contributed by Clint Quanstrom, IoT general manager, and Kyri McDonough, marketing communications manager, Parker Hannifin Corporation.
Other related topics on Parker Mobile IoT solution:
The ROI of IoT for OEMs
Parker Teams Deploying IoT to Help Customers Improve Operations
Defining the Value of IoT in a Connected World
Modern Digital Ecosystems Take Mobile Hydraulic Systems to a New Level