Equipment World Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/933470
EquipmentWorld.com | January 2018 39 er functionality, and collaboration with their vendors, Allen says. "In the contractor world, most companies go into it with the idea of just tracking assets and maxi- mizing equipment life and getting maintenance information," says Allen. "There is more they can do; they just don't know it. One of the things we've done is align our re- sources to our customers' business objectives. We help them achieve their objectives by making sure they're looking at the right reports or dashboards or even measuring specific ROI items collectively to- gether to help them become power users of the system." Formal consultations occur at least quarterly, says Allen. More frequent contact may be recom- mended proactively, depending on circumstances. "You keep your customers happy by helping them maximize the information they're getting to better their business, to get a stronger ROI or a better expe- rience for their end customers. We have to become service providers as well as technology platforms." Future tech The nuts and bolts of telematics technology is not super-sophisti- cated. Basic machine sensors or humans input information, and the software disseminates the informa- tion via the cloud or the web to whoever needs it. But there are a handful of advanced technologies that may become incorporated into telematics in the future, and these hold even more promise. Cameras are already being used in some mining applications that analyze a driver's face to detect head and eye movements and automatically alert managers about over-tired employees. Collision avoidance technology and the same collision avoidance systems being used in autonomous and semi- autonomous passenger cars could be easily integrated into an off-road telematics system. For the near term, however, there are many advantages from vendors creating better dashboards that help to interpret the data and provide more actionable data, says Majapuro. "That will be a big step forward." DeCock adds that the full adop- tion of universal telematics data standards will also help drive adoption. While acknowledging the progress being made with the Asso- ciation of Equipment Management Professionals Telematics Standard 2.0, the industry's codes are not as uniform as they could be. "That would make life for the contrac- tors much easier," he says. "But that dream or vision is still being found." Get a Dust Collection System. Get a Dust Collection System. LEFT IN THE DUST. BOOTH C6479 Concerned about OSHA's new crystalline silica regulations? Clear the air with E-Z Drill's Dust Collection System. It easily connects to both new and existing units. You can breathe easy and know your jobsite meets OSHA Table 1 requirements. C L E A N A I R M A D E E -Z . THE YELLOW DRILL WILL www.ezdrill.com | 1-800-272-0121