Geotab’s integrated telematics solution for Ford vehicles is now being made available in Europe, bringing advanced fleet insights without the need for third-party hardware installation.

The tie-up with Geotab will enable Ford operators to optimise telematics insights

Launched early 2020 in the US, the technology enables data to be transferred from Ford vehicles with a factory-installed modem (or Ford Plug-In Modem, where required) and brought into the MyGeotab software platform to provide a fully connected fleet management platform, aimed in particular at commercial vehicles and mixed fleets.

This in turn provides operators with full visibility of fleet operations, enabling them to cut costs and emissions, increase productivity and efficiency, improve safety and strengthen compliance.

Dave Phatak, director of Ford Commercial Solutions Europe, said: “Through this integration with Geotab, our hope is that customers across Europe will be even better equipped to deliver best-of-breed fleet management, spurring further innovation and driving down costs.”

The solution is available in five European countries – comprising the UK, Germany, France, Spain and Italy – covers data for all 2020 Ford models, including electric vehicles, and is said to be compliant with EU GDPR. All vehicles from July 2020 will come with the TCU (telematics control unit) fitted as standard.

Operators can enhance Ford data insights by making use of custom rules, dashboards and alerts data in MyGeotab. A range of options are also available to maximise fleet visibility thanks to the Geotab Marketplace; an online – and ever-growing – “ecosystem” of mobile apps, software add-ins and hardware add-ons, ranging from asset tracking to apps for managing maintenance, fuel tracking and EV battery state-of-charge and degradation.

The tie-up with Ford is part of Geotab’s work to partner with OEMs to accelerate telematics developments and take-up, and further fuels the debate on how carmakers’ inhouse telematics systems can benefit fleets.

“OEMs like Ford understand the value of telematics and the data behind fleets,” said Stefano Peduzzi, vice president, technology solutions & perations at Geotab. “Geotab will continue its efforts to collaborate with OEMs to better understand how we, as an industry, can improve fleet management services on both a customer and environmental level, while offering the most convenient and valuable solution for businesses on the market.”