This autumn saw the confessions of self-proclaimed London-based market trader Alessio Rastani make him an overnight internet sensation. Jaws collectively dropped when Rastani appeared on a UK news channel, describing his hopes of profiting from a recession, saying: ‘I have a confession. When I go to bed every night, I dream of another recession.’

Few have been as brave in projecting themselves as the unpalatable face of the global debt crisis – but the interview did spark deliberation and debate. 

While furrowed brows surfaced on the faces of those questioning the merits of gambling on financial markets, Rastani’s comments may have also sparked a moment of reverie amongst fleet management specialists. 

After all, the telematics industry also has the potential of profiting during economic downturns as the business case strengthens for smart fleet management technologies. 

With typical returns on investment of between six and nine months, telematics solutions become ever more compelling when companies are forced into reviewing their business strategies to control costs and drive efficiency gains.

But while an air of discomfort was surely resonating across trading floors following Rastani’s moment in the sun, the fleet management industry was walking tall. It is no exaggeration to say that for many companies, the introduction of fleet management technologies has led to bottom-line benefits that have ensured their business survival.

It should therefore come as no surprise that from TomTom Business Solutions’ perspective, adoption of fleet management systems continued apace during the recession of 2008 and throughout the more recent global economic woes. The dust has yet to settle on eurozone and US debt-related volatility, and this trend shows few signs of abating.

The latest economic crisis, however, with debt concerns at the heart of European governments, must be of greater concern than the recession of 2008. Consequently, with business confidence walking a tightrope, the telematics industry can ill-afford to be complacent.

As the industry has matured globally, fleet managers have become increasingly savvy and so system features must become increasingly sophisticated, tailored to business needs and, all the while, intuitive. As Steve Jobs worked so hard to achieve at Apple, the technology should not get in the way.

For our part, we are continuing to channel high levels of investment into research and development to ensure we continue to meet business needs and fashion smarter ways to improve operational processes.

Intriguingly UK plc, the world’s most mature telematics market, is now playing catch up with other countries, particularly across Western Europe, when it comes to introducing today’s more complete, integrated, fleet management solutions.

UK businesses became the first to step forward to invest in vehicle tracking systems a decade ago. As the technology has become increasingly sophisticated however, and the opportunities to optimise day-to-day business operations more numerous, mainland European markets from Germany to Switzerland have sought to further maximise their returns on investment. This has included moves to increase integration with other workflow management systems.

The possibilities for streamlining processes, increasing productivity and cutting costs are endless. Onboard diagnostics, for example, can now enable fleet managers to measure and reduce fuel costs by taking live data direct from vehicles. This information – from fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and RPM to gear selection and idling – can be relayed to management in the back office so they can view performance at any time during a driver’s journey. Active Driver Feedback to employees’ in-cab sat nav devices allows drivers themselves to see  their fuel efficiency at a glance or be warned of speeding, excessive steering or braking.

We also expect to see increasing industry rationalisation, with providers that are failing to invest adequately in R&D, or principally focused on areas such as stolen vehicle recovery (SVR), left trailing in the wake of those shaping the future of the fleet management industry.

This should also benefit fleet operators, who will be better placed to make informed purchasing decisions from providers with clearer brand identities, heritage and proven credentials.

From the US to Australia, fleet management systems will continue to revolutionise the way companies manage their fleets. While Rastani and his fellow traders bid to second guess the financial markets, investments by fleet companies in advanced telematics, in contrast, can never be viewed as a gamble. 

Whether motivated by rising prices at the pump, legislative pressures, or an increasingly competitive business environment, it is these companies that will remain at the fore of their respective industries.