Trends Shaping the Future of Mobility and Fleet Management

Mobility and fleet management efficiencies have improved in leaps and bounds over the past few decades. The drive towards a greener, safer, and more profitable fleet strategy has become more viable than ever before. Corporations have even begun opting to lease their services, with studies showcasing that such models are between 10% and 15% more cost-efficient than ownership.

Yet, as the UAE continues to grow as a regional technology and digital hub, new and revolutionary mobility trends for fleets are emerging in the Middle East, as tech and traditional approaches merge.

I had the honour of presenting the Keynote Address at the Fleet & Mobility Summit organized by Truck & Fleet on 21 September 2022. Here’s a look at some key trends that I addressed in my keynote, which I believe will pave the way for the future of fleet mobility and transportation:

Electric Vehicles Remain Top of the Charts

Electric vehicle production is surging in many regions of the world with China taking the lead. To put this in perspective, more electric cars will be sold in the country this year than in the rest of the world combined. In 2022 alone, EVs accounted for 5% of overall new car sales in China. This growing sentiment from the land of BYD and Leapmotor are now spreading across the entire transport and mobility landscape.

In addition to a strong focus on sustainability and reducing carbon dioxide emissions, EVs also bring added benefits such as high-tech Advanced Drive Assistance Systems (ADAS), which are expected to save approximately 20,000 lives per year. This technology utilizes sensor cameras and advanced software features to keep people safe while operating in hazardous environments. EVs that incorporate the use of artificial intelligence technology and connectivity will also help prevent potential accidents.

Furthermore, smart services will allow the future of booking, leasing, and every service in between to improve. For instance, fleet tracking led to an increase of 54% in customer service in 2020, because it offered a better understanding what customers want.

There’s no doubt that in the coming years, the primary focus will be on increasing EV adoption. The beauty is that once it kicks off, EV adoption is exponential. Through a customer’s journey, it’s important to note that they aren’t just adopting an EV as a go-to vehicle, but they are also becoming brand ambassadors by actively advocating and spreading awareness to raise adoption within their personal and professional circles. Accordingly, studies show that new EV sales are expected to reach 29.5% by 2030.

Telematics Tracking Technology

Another emerging trend that’s reshaping the mobility industry is advancements in telematics tracking technology. Although this has been an essential tool for fleet management even before the Internet, when it was done on pen and paper, the technological advancements now provide an array of data and information related to a single vehicle or the fleet as a whole.

The system collects information about the vehicle, vehicle location, driver location, engine assessment, and activity. The software tools that enable fleet operations to manage their resources convert this information. Fleet telematics even feature sophisticated technologies to help maximize fuel efficiency and route completion times in addition to managing uptime and the complete repair lifecycle.

The wonders of what technology bring to the table also invite concerns. Nefarious elements no longer need to physically hijack a vehicle to take control. Going down that road, why hijack one vehicle when you can take them all? The vulnerabilities of fleets lie in the architecture of the telematic servers and software. As the benefits of such advanced technologies grow, the concerns surrounding their mass adoption can no longer be swept under the rug either.

For instance, an incident in 2016 saw two hackers in Texas hack into and steal more than 30 Jeeps within six months. A deeper data security system is mandatory in fleets as it is one of the main lines of defense. We’ve reached a stage where hackers may be able to stop a vehicle in mid-motion simply by infiltrating the systems and controlling it remotely.

The key, therefore, is to look at the architecture from all angles possible and increase cybersecurity from the backend. The software needs to develop to a point where it is able to detect abnormalities in the system in real-time, attempt to prevent it, and react swiftly if there’s something off or any foreign entry within the system. On a positive note, this need will potentially open new IT management and cybersecurity roles and positions within the industry.

Enhanced communications

One of the main ingredients of fleet management is trusted, credible, and uninterrupted communication. With the roll-out of 5G coupled with IoT devices, latency related issues in congested areas and downtime during emergencies have become a problem of the past. Productivity, data-led decisions, and operational efficiencies have soared in the age of 5G, while a number of former setbacks have been eliminated.

For instance, if there is an incoming road hazard such as an accident, fast communications can appeal to the rest of the fleet to avoid it. There won’t be any delays in the route. With AI solutions, the rerouting can be instantaneous.

Such solutions will not only benefit everyday consumers, but also cargo organizations. Delivered items can be tracked in great detail, providing transparency, visibility, and smoother stakeholder interactions in the logistics and supply chain industries.

Additionally, remote fleet management has come a long way in helping advanced software systems track assets and connect with drivers and other personnel. This reduces human error, which often lead to the costliest mistakes and the most dangerous setbacks.

In fact, the next generation of 6G is already being developed with an eye on moving from smart vehicles to autonomous vehicles.

All in all, an ideal fleet management system is hard to attain, but work towards an optimum fleet management system is achievable. The future of fleets and mobility looks promising, indeed.