UAE-based smart and green facilities management (FM) company Farnek said it has launched an in-house smart fleet management solution that will not only optimise the performance of its transport fleet, but also improve service delivery to its customers.

 

The solution, which covers Farnek’s entire transport fleet of more than 300 buses, vans and cars across the UAE, was built by its in-house technology division, said the company in a statement.

 

Custom-built by Farnek’s technology team, the innovative, sustainable and cost-effective initiative underscores the FM company’s smart and green credentials, by optimising its fleet performance and serving its customers more efficiently, it stated.

 

Its launch comes following a lengthy process of research and development. The product has simply and ingeniously adopted and adapted the latest smart technology to produce a homemade solution, it added.

 

"This bespoke telematics system has been developed in-house by our own IT engineers, using proven technology and is a cloud and mobility-based platform," said Javeria Aijaz, Director Technology & Innovation, Farnek.

 

"Our fleet is now powered by IoT telematic sensors connected with Google Maps for route optimisation with our drivers, fleet, service schedule and of course our customers, front of mind," he added.

 

Using Farnek’s live administrative portal, operational staff at its logistics centre compare vehicle inventory with the current and scheduled demand and issue instructions to the drivers (each vehicle is fitted with a dedicated smart phone loaded with an app).

 

The drivers log in, accept the notification based on a QR code sent to the smart phone in the vehicle and start their journey. The app automatically calculates and compares the estimated and actual journey times and presents the driver with Google Maps-based navigation, to show the most time-efficient route to take. 

 

On the new smart fleet, CEO Markus Oberlin said: "All vehicles are integrated with an IoT sensor that essentially tracks the vehicle and monitors ignition status, sends idling notifications and speeding alerts, all in real time, which all contribute positively towards our drivers’ performance."

 

"Moreover, if for example we have two buses with a capacity of 30 seats each travelling to the same destination, if available, we can switch to one 60-seater bus. Furthermore, by downloading the app, customers can also track the vehicle themselves and at the end of their shifts, our own employees will be able to see where the bus is and how long they will have to wait," stated Oberlin. 

 

"Overall, this improves safety, saves fuel, cuts our CO2 emissions as well as reducing wear and tear on the vehicle, prolonging the operational life of our transport fleet," he added.-TradeArabia News Service