Real-Time data is the first step to transforming your logistics operations with IoT-enabled smart maintenance. Here’s why.

There’s no magic behind the IoT or complex concepts that can’t be explained to a fifth grader. Simply put, when you connect an asset to the Internet you can monitor where it’s at and what it’s doing in real-time. The IoT is part art and part science. The art of IoT is using real-time data to digitize key business metrics that can be visualized using maps, reports, and dashboards. The science of IoT is knowing what data to analyze and discovering patterns that can help you to correct or prevent problems efficiently quick.

The convergence of IoT art and science produces asset intelligence. Real-time data isn’t a complete IoT solution. It’s a diving board that can spring you into a valuable pool of data. And once you’re fully immersed, you’ll see exactly why so many maintenance professionals use IoT-enabled asset intelligence to improve preventive maintenance (PM) processes. But first, you’ll need a swim lesson, so to speak.

Enterprise asset management (EAM) software is the core of any IoT strategy aimed at reducing maintenance costs, automating PM schedules, increasing asset uptime and reliability, and streamlining work flows with enhanced efficiency. Automation precedes optimization in the dictionary, and the IoT should follow suit. So, before you think about parachuting into EAM or field service mobility, you should consider walking through IoT’s front door – telematics. The right telematics solution will generate streaming utilization and diagnostics data for the vehicle it’s connected to. This data will unlock insight that can easily be converted into actionable intelligence for your logistics company.

Take, tire service and replacement, for example. One way to keep your trucks on the road with properly treaded tires is to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for maintenance at regular service intervals. However, this approach doesn’t account for where, when, or how often tires are being used. Another option is to manually inspect the tread and inflation pressure of each tire. While the latter is time-consuming and may work well for trucks in the yard, it can be problematic for vehicles offsite or on the road.

Outfitting your trucks with a telematics device is a key to smart maintenance because it delivers real-time location, utilization, and diagnostic information that can be augmented with other data sources (e.g. manufacturer information, GIS, weather). Maintenance costs will decrease when you know where, when, and how your assets are being used. With this 360° view you’ll have a better grip on tire service and replacement, setting you on a path towards making maintenance decisions based on tire age, driver behavior, hours in use, miles driven, and environmental conditions.

We believe it’s advantageous to automate before you optimize. That’s why we help customers along the way from telematics to field service mobility to EAM. Once you’ve integrated telematics into your maintenance processes, you can extend your telematics solution with field service mobility to optimize work order processes. Finally, a comprehensive and flexible EAM product should be your capstone project. First, optimize equipment. Next, optimize your bottom line.

Download our 2018 Buyer’s Guide: Real-Time Data & Analytics for GPS Fleet and Asset Tracking to learn the buying decision criteria you should consider before deploying your telematics solution.

Or, to get started today, contact us to schedule a free consultation