Equipment Telematics

Equipment telematics is a system that transmits data over a telecommunications network and reveals the status and location of equipment. Companies can use telematics to monitor every piece of equipment, giving them more operational visibility and minimizing downtime.

As companies realize the importance of technology to transform their organizations, they’re looking at moving to digital at scale. IoT or the Internet of Things plays a big role in digitization, connecting formerly analog “things” and turning them into smart devices. article on construction equipment telematics cloud-based asset tracking and monitoring is a good way to jump into digitalization. You can use global positioning systems (GPS) to track all sizes, from trash cans to heavy equipment. Tracking and monitoring your equipment not only tells you where it is but also how its health is. Equipment telematics can tell you how equipment is being used, how fast it’s consuming fuel, and if it’s on the verge of failure. It gives you more visibility into operations, allowing you to conduct business efficiently.
In this guide, we’ll look at equipment telematics, what it can do, and how that benefits your business.
What is equipment telematics?
Equipment telematics, or an equipment telematics system, describes a system that transmits data over a telecommunications network for a piece of equipment. You may have heard of vehicle telematics–also called fleet telematics—that uses GPS tracking and onboard communication systems to communicate vehicle information. It’s the same principle, but instead of getting deployed on vehicles, you use telematics to track different industrial equipment types.
The most common applications of telematics are tracking and monitoring. With tracking, you can keep track of where your powered and unpowered equipment is located. And with monitoring, you can keep an eye on engine diagnostics, fault codes, fuel consumption, and various equipment-specific sensor data.
For example, you could track a forklift on your jobsite. Based on engine hours, historical data, and OEM guidelines, you could identify when to schedule the forklift for preventive maintenance. Or, using telematics technology, you could set up geofencing around your construction site to help detect unusual activity, including theft.
Telematics has grown due to telecommunication networks getting stronger and the internet becoming more accessible. Today, business demand and regulatory requirements, such as the ELD mandate, have also contributed to telematics systems’ popularity. What data points do equipment telematics track?
Telematics data can reveal lots of useful information that you can turn into action. With telematics, you can collect the following data points:
GPS and locations: A GPS tracker can find and track a piece of equipment’s location, even if you work across multiple sites. Location data can be collected and displayed on a map which you can then use to locate that item.
Fuel: Fuel is a huge cost for businesses. With fuel data, equipment fleet managers can see an individual equipment’s fuel usage, what’s causing the consumption, and take steps to reduce consumption and improve fuel efficiency.
Engine hours: Engine hours data is useful for tracking heavy equipment running for long hours on construction sites. This data can help you fully understand fuel or maintenance costs, in addition to what’s happening when equipment is operating.
Downtime: Viewing downtime data helps you understand downtime trends and the reasons it happens. You can then prioritize correcting what’s causing the issue. Downtime data also helps you prioritize preventative maintenance or equipment replacement.
Fault codes: Also known as diagnostic trouble code (DTC). When a check engine/equipment light appears, telematics data can reveal what the issue is. You can take steps to have the equipment checked out. Or, if the same fault code and problem persists, determine if you should replace it.
Idle time: Idling is a huge drain on your fleet’s fuel management and shortens an equipment’s lifespan. Equipment managers can use this data to understand its causes and take steps to reduce unnecessary idling.
Machine health: Continuously monitor the health of critical equipment to prevent downtime. Automate monitoring machine vibrations and surface temperature for key parts, including motors, compressors, pumps, fans, and more.