Future-proof your connected vehicles strategy

The pandemic and post-pandemic era impose changes that need to be made in various industries. With global manpower and supply chain disruptions, the logistics and fleet management industry feel the pinch firsthand.

German economist Monika Schnitzer expects that the current Omicron variant will further impact global shipping times in the coming months because the virus variant “could exacerbate the already existing delivery bottlenecks.” She cites the example of how shipping times from China to the United States have already increased from 85 to 100 days due to the Delta variant. Europe is also affected. Worst of all, the situation could possibly intensify.¹

With supply-chain disruptions and challenges, enterprises will inevitably consider making the digital shift to a connected fleet for operational and cost efficiencies during or after-pandemic. Enterprises like car manufacturers also see the value in connected car programmes, which allow consumers to use their cars not just for transport and smarter navigation, but also as a smart service to delight, entertain, and even provide Wi-Fi for bored passengers.

Here’s the best route to creating a connected vehicle fleet.

Moving to a new connectivity system

Fleet management companies that are still subscribed to older wireless systems like 3G are in danger of facing genuine tech obsolescence. 3G networks are increasingly shuttered to free up wireless spectrum for existing 4G LTE and still-expanding 5G networks. IoT (Internet of Things)-connected telematics devices, trailers, and safety mechanisms will be affected, and this will ultimately impact entire fleet management systems within the trucking industry.²

In the long run, enterprises adopting new wireless systems should resolve more issues rather than face new challenges. Yet, setting up a new connectivity system can be complicated with multiple devices, vendors, software or applications, and networks to consider.

Navigating different markets

Recent research shows that approximately a third of logistics companies in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region are considering IoT (37%), warehouse automation (33%), and electric vehicles (32%) as key investment priorities in the next two years. It also shows that while GPS, RFID, and QR codes (20%) are most commonly used in fleet management, IoT is also gaining traction, with 21% of respondents having adopted it.³

However, especially in APAC as a region, enterprises face market fragmentation, preventing them from truly bringing connected cars to end-users. APAC has diverse cultures and languages, differing regulatory frameworks (from data privacy to compliance), mobile network operators, and varying levels of infrastructure maturity, such as different rates of 5G adoption.

Managing multiple devices

Digitalised fleet management typically consists of fleet management software devices, vehicle software, and management interface software.⁴ Enterprises investing in IoT for connected cars may be concerned by the number of new devices to be purchased for the fleet, ranging from hundreds to thousands of vehicles or assets.

Ideally, a one-stop service provider like Singtel cuts through the complexities that come with intimidating system shifts while saving on time and costs.

For instance, a solution like Singtel’s Paragon requires no new hardware investments, and lets enterprises pay only for what they use. Paragon also provides access to a robust ecosystem that connects to industry-leading device and chipset manufacturers, platform and app providers, domain partners, and system integrators. It was designed with the desire to help enterprises reduce the complexity and time needed in adopting 5G, edge computing and low latency applications and services while lowering the barriers to entry for enterprises.

Enterprises will be able to benefit from their 5G and edge computing deployments sooner and at a lower cost.

The enhancements enterprises enjoy from a connected fleet should be significant. Through Singtel’s 5G network, for example, there are 100% improvements in latency and high throughput compared to 4G and public cloud-enabled edge compute solutions. This provides real-time data and prevents mission-critical lag, which could be devastating for split-second decisions in autonomous vehicles.

According to Frost & Sullivan, while 5G would not be rolled out until 2025, it is foreseen to overcome significant limitations faced by fleets using 3G/4G networks that impact fleet operational efficiency and safety. Drivers, for example, can benefit directly from 5G-driven technology by ensuring safe and optimised journeys. Telematics, smart sensors, route intelligence, and intelligent diagnostics help lessen the chances of route collisions and accidents.⁵ Enterprises can thus provide a safer and smarter workplace.

Punctuality is crucial for businesses in fleet management, such as e-commerce logistics or delivery. With fleet visibility and vehicle tracking, operations are smooth, and transactions are seamless and satisfactory for employees and customers. Optimising fleet routes can also increase operational efficiency. Drivers avoid frustrating traffic jams while enterprises save on fuel costs and time. Fleet management solutions powered by 5G can offer real-time location tracking to meet the increased need for complete visibility in our data-driven and logistics-dependent new normal.

Meanwhile, Singtel’s next-gen 5G network, MEC for computing at the edge, and the Paragon platform help organisations better manage their growing fleet by providing access to real-time information and enhanced performance enabled by its capacity for large data volumes, ability to overcome latency limitations and the availability of real-time telemetry information.

Telemetry information is beneficial for enterprises with vehicular assets like trains, who can now remotely perform diagnostics or predictive failure analysis even if these vehicles move at high velocities.

While we assume enterprises enjoy the benefits of connected vehicle fleets, consumers can too. As car manufacturers look to connected cars to tap demand for premium vehicles, consumers enjoy the bells and whistles that IoT brings into the car on top of navigation. Besides infotainment and in-car Wi-Fi, a connected smart car can also help schedule and provide maintenance appointments, traffic warnings, anti-collision alerts, and concierge services.

Consider a European manufacturer of luxury vehicles that wished to bring its connected car programme to the APAC region. Beyond digitalising an existing fleet, their challenges included navigating the complex regulatory landscape in APAC, working with different organisations and stakeholders, managing multiple device variants, and high roaming and system integration costs.

Singtel's Multi-Domestic Connectivity solution helped deliver the vision of fully-connected electric cars across 13 countries. A single eSIM provided connectivity for telemetry and in-vehicle infotainment services. Moreover, a platform that acted as a single pane of glass allowed the manufacturer a view into connectivity across target markets.

The platform should be scalable, flexible, and dynamic to use. Network slicing caters very well to applications like nationwide fleet management, because it provides a reliable and controlled service wherever the device is located.⁶

Singtel Paragon, for example, allows users to create network slices on-demand, deploy mission-critical 5G applications on Singtel multi-access edge compute (MEC) with a click of a button. It has self-service flexibility that lets users manage connectivity, edge cloud and applications via a self-service portal with a unified view.

Take the quickest, most cost-effective, and most efficient route to the shift to a connected fleet with the seamless adoption of IoT applications. Navigate the connected vehicle market in APAC with Singtel’s IoT networks, letting you power your IoT sensors and devices on Singtel’s secure and programmable networks. Get in touch today to learn more.
 

Sources:

¹ Logistics Management, Global Logistics 2022: Is this the new normal?, 2022
² Transport Topics, 3G Sunset Taking Some Devices Offline, 2022
³ Here, IoT, automation, electric vehicles, and location technology are among APAC logistics industry’s key investment priorities, 2021
⁴ Tech.co, What Is Fleet Management and How Much Does It Cost?, 2022
⁵ Frost & Sullivan, Securing 5G-enhanced Fleet Operations, 2020
⁶ IBM, The basics of network slicing and the benefits it offers from a telecom network perspective, 2020