Why Self Installing Telematics for Construction Fleets is a Bad Idea

In the construction industry, telematics solutions are the latest trend. With people claiming that self installation is quite easy and cost effective plug and play telematics solutions are gaining popularity. The claim is that once the company has shipped the device to all you will need to do is plug the black box into your assets that have an OBD-II port.

If you are the owner of a fleet you probably have millions of dollars on the line. So, it is important to ensure the proper installation of GPS tracking devices. You will not be able to enjoy the full benefits of fleet tracking if the software does not report accurate fleet data. However, before you decide to buy into these plug and play claims you need to consider a few things. The following are a few of the most common issues that arise when you self install devices.

Self Installation Will Not Reduce Outside Costs

You might think that you would be able to save money by having your in-house maintenance and repair crew install the devices but that is not the case. If the crew is not familiar with the telematics it might take them almost two hours per asset to install the device. What this means is that they will spend a huge part of their day working on something that is not their job.

Usually workers try to fit installation into their schedule as it is not the highest priority. This ends up in the installation period being overextended and might even result in a botched installation. Botched installations will only result in more problems down the line. If your fleet is only partially installed you also will not be able to measure success.

Comparatively if you hire a professional installer it would be a different scenario. A professional would be able to complete the setup in about an hour and ensure that the software and hardware is installed properly. After the installation you can let the telematics customer service team takeover and train your employees to get started immediately.

You also will not have to spend your time worrying that you are assigning your team to complete tasks they do not know how to do. Operators should only be focused on operating their caterpillar crawler dozers and maintaining their equipment. If you hire a professional you will be able to get the job done quickly and effectively while saving money in the process.

Overlooked Devices

A project management challenge that people often face during self installation is the inability to keep track of which devices are being installed by location. So, if you are installing 20 pieces of hardware in 10 different locations that means you have a total of 200 pieces of hardware that you would need to install. In such a situation the potential for devices to be lost, overlooked, or misplaced is huge. As the project manager you will need to ensure proper planning and installation takes place. If there are any vehicles that have not gotten the installation you have to keep an eye out for them and make sure they receive the proper hardware or software.

On the other hand if you hire telematics professionals for installation they will have a system in place to keep tabs on all the devices. Professionals will know how to create an effective installation schedule. Instead of having to create installation plans yourself you can just rely on a professional to ensure that all your vehicles will receive necessary installations.