What are the top 3 emerging trends in vehicle telematics in the UK?

This year, more than 1,300 fleet professionals participated in the Verizon Connect  Fleet Technology Trends Europe 2023, 150 of them were UK fleet managers and mobility experts. Their responses yielded powerful insights that fleets can use to improve their operations, including these three emerging fleet trends.

Trend #1: EV adoption is happening

According to the Fleet Technology Trends Report Europe 2023, fleets are increasingly adopting electric vehicles. In fact, in the UK, the increase is remarkable with 38% of respondents using them in 2022 compared with 18% in 2021.

A major barrier of EV adoption for many fleets is a lack of charging infrastructure. Even though fleets may have found EVs desirable due to reduced emissions and the low cost of powering them, without charging stations along their routes it simply wasn’t feasible.  

But soon, this could all change.

Some of the challenges to boost EV deployment implies establishing EV charging infrastructure, making EVs more accessible for fleets in the future. It will take time for this infrastructure to expand, but now is the time to start planning.

It’s therefore important for fleets to take a thoughtful approach to EV adoption. For example, telematics for fleets can help:

• Determine which vehicles should be replaced with EVs
• Develop an optimised EV charging strategy
• Compare costs between EVs and other fleet vehicles
• Optimise routing as they add EVs to the lineup

Trend #2: Fighting false claims with video

Fleets know all too well that their vehicles are moving targets for false accident claims. Unwarranted claims can be incredibly costly, especially if the case goes to court.

AI dashcam video solutions give fleets the best tool to protect themselves from false claims and the costs that come with them. Armed with video footage of both the inside of the cab and outside of the vehicle, fleets have indisputable evidence to exonerate drivers and protect their business from false claims.

Among users of video solutions in the UK, 77% found them ‘extremely’ or ‘very beneficial’. The top goals achieved through use of video technology included:

• Improved driver safety 
• Protection from false claims 
• Reduction of accidents
• Reduced insurance costs

Many also realised a return on investment sooner than they might have expected, thanks to adopting a video solution. 

To find out more about their ROI and what else fleet managers achieved by using video technology, download the Feet Technology Trends Report United Kingdom 2023. 

Trend #3: Using asset tracking to enhance equipment and trailer performance

Asset tracking helped businesses in the UK to improve strategic KPIs with 83% of fleets surveyed saying they improved equipment and trailer utilisation in 2022 alone. 

Further to this, 83% of respondents using the technology considered it ‘extremely’ and ‘very useful’ to their businesses.

Asset tracking uses GPS to provide fleets location information for heavy equipment, trailers and high-value assets. It also provides valuable data such as:

• Engine hours and maintenance history for loaders, cranes, dozers and backhoes
• When equipment is due for inspection
• Whether a trailer is loaded or empty
• How productive a piece of equipment is 

Asset tracking helps fleets achieve goals related to productivity, utilisation and security, which could explain the rise in adoption. Respondents reported improved:

• Equipment/trailer utilisation
• Efficiency/productivity for drivers/workers
• Equipment/trailer security
• Efficiency/productivity for office staff/management

Fleets are also using GPS asset tracking to better utilise their valuable assets in order to meet customer demands and cut costs.

Download the Fleet Technology Trends Report United Kingdom 2023 to find out what else survey respondents achieved with asset tracking and how quickly they saw an ROI as a result.

Discover more trends in vehicle telematics to advance your fleet

Access the full report to uncover even more ways fleets are using technology to overcome business challenges, achieve their goals, improve operating efficiency and drive down costs.