Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/1515056
I DA U N I V E R S A L J a n u a r y - Fe b r u a r y 2 0 2 4 30 Systems must be effi cient to navigate and more effective for contractors to proactively manage and maintain their fl eets. Telematics has become table stakes industrywide—today, everyone expects standard connectivity to all their lift and access equipment. In the early days of telematics, customers wanted access to all the data from the machine. Then, there was a period when customers said that they were getting too much data and requested less. Today, the pendulum has swung back in the other direction, and users are again wanting more data from the machine, asking for even more than ever before. To meet this demand, manufac- turers need to structure their telematics solutions in a way that is more effi cient for contractors to navigate, more meaningful in the way the system provides the data and more effective for them to use the data to proactively manage and maintain their fl eets. 3 Challenges There isn't one industry over another that benefi ts more from using telematics. If the application requires the use of equipment that moves, it benefi ts from telematics. A trend that has reemerged from this is customers asking for deeper machine insights. Three challenges face the equipment industry today when it comes to data and telematics. They are discussed below. 1. Actionable Data Historically, customers have been overwhelmed by the amount of data available through telematics, so they asked to receive less. This resulted in too little data being provided. Customers want more data, but they want it in a way that makes the data actionable and digestible. That means customers need a way to access the data through their telematics systems that allow them to manage the data and prioritize the information they most want to view. This includes: • Equipment maintenance pages • Maps that include machine location and geofences • Reports on many other data points, including diagnostic trouble or fault codes Having actionable data also means that telematics systems need to be more effective to use. For example, it's always been a challenge with certain functionalities like geofences, which are great tools but are operationally diffi cult to develop and maintain. 2. Confusion The industry gives equip- ment owners and operators mixed messages about telematics, creating confusion about what users should do with telematics and how their businesses should manage the data. On one side, manufacturer-specifi c solutions offer rich insights about a brand's equipment, but sourcing telematics from multiple manufacturers can take a lot of effort to manage. On the other side, investing in one third- TELEMATICS 3 Benefi ts of 3 Challenges & Telematics show where and how equip- ment is operating by providing high- level or fi nite details on several machine systems.JLG Industries Customers want more data, but they want it in a way that makes the data actionable and digestible.