Imagine a traffic stop, in the middle of the night. The officer gets out of their car and approaches. When they get closer, they see a distressed looking Mom, with her two kids in the back seat. She has just made a right hand turn when they were not permitted. I think all parents have been there…kids crying, you’re lost. The officer thinks, "I should give her a break...she's having a tough day."
Wouldn't it be great to know that the woman just kidnapped the kids at gunpoint? Would he approach the situation a bit differently?
I think everyone can understand the value of a police officer having such information, but I'm not sure why we don’t see value in many other remote workers having it as well. When you have more information, you make better decisions, regardless of what your profession is.
There are three parts to a potential in-vehicle communications offering:
1. Getting information to your remote workers
There are many ways to do this, actually. Most workers carry some sort of smartphone, so you can always text or email them, and many have a laptop or tablet so they can visit the nearest Starbucks to get WiFi access…
However, for many organizations, it make sense to have some sort of screen allowing real-time access to/from the vehicle. Giving them warnings via a real-time experience is vital for many, as is being able to use the screen for dispatching.
2. Getting information from the vehicle
In this case, the remote worker is not involved at all, actually. This solution involves retrieving key information for the dispatcher about what is going on with the vehicle, and potentially with the driver. Is the worker driving recklessly? Did they leave a security door open? Did they press a panic button while being attacked? Are they out of their area? Whatever the reason, knowing what is going on can be vital to the safety and productivity of your remote staff.
3. Giving Internet access to the passengers
Let’s face it, riding the bus is not a choice that many people make willingly. Sure, some do, but most people would prefer to use another mode of transportation. Many forward-thinking municipalities are using WiFi on-board to encourage ridership. As well, some taxis are now offering on-board WiFi as a way to fight the influx of Uber into their space.
The Bottom Line
The great thing about these solutions is that all three offerings are available at the same time, or you can purchase individual solutions for any of them. This allows you to better keep your fleet of workers moving, which is good for your bottom line and their safety.
If you are interested in hearing more about how IoT solutions can help Transportation companies, click here for a link to our webinar...