Assignment 1 - Product Description Summary & Analysis (Final Draft)

The section “Fleet One Helps Narrow down Important Data” from the article “The Evolution of Telematics "(Fletcher & Suizo, 2011) introduces the basic software functionalities and key features of the Fleet One vehicle tracking system, developed by WEX Fleet One.

Fleet One Vehicle Tracking is essentially a “secure, enhanced GPS tracking system” that provides real-time fleet management for organizations in both the private and government sectors. It is able to cater to vehicle fleets of wide-ranging sizes. The system comprises of a physical GPS tracking unit which is installed in each vehicle, along with a touchscreen interface and a combination of desktop and mobile applications. Fleet companies can then access vital fleet information through its software. According to Goetz, a product specialist for Fleet One, some of its unique software features include “integrated fuel transaction reporting”, “integration with Google Maps” and “ability to integrate with a two-way touchscreen”.  These features help improve the transmission of important fleet information, such as the vehicle’s location and current traffic situation. Its “automated reporting” feature displays only prioritized fleet data for fleet managers which eliminates the need for constant monitoring of the fleet’s status.

Fleet One Vehicle Tracking is a more viable product as compared to GPS Insights due to its intuitive user interface and a wider range of customization options that would enhance the user experience. The article “Fleet Fuel Efficiency: Reduce Fuel Costs With Fleet Tracking” (Fleetmatics, n.d.), mentions that “A GPS tracking system that allows you to integrate fuel card usage will present the information in an easy format.” Fleet One addresses this by implementing two distance-based fuel cards, namely the “Over the Road” fuel card and the “All Roads” fuel card (Fleet One, n.d.). The two different fuel cards provide an additional level of cost management and a clearer overview of fuel transactions, for vehicles travelling on short and long haul distances respectively. A company is able to select the appropriate fuel card, to suit their fleet’s fuel needs.  This contrasts to GPS Insight (GPS Insight, n.d.), which utilizes only one standard fuel card that results in a less extensive fuel transactions management as compared to Fleet One’s system.

Fleet One Vehicle Tracking also incorporates a mobile application for fleet drivers, which is able to categorize refueling locations by either the lowest fuel pricing or shortest distance.

(Fleet One, 2014). The recent increase in fuel prices worldwide highlights the need for better “fuel management strategies” (FleetFinancials, 2011) by fleet companies to combat rising fuel costs. Fleet One’s mobile application allows better planning of fleet routes to maximize fuel efficiency for greater fuel cost savings, thus leading to reduction in overall fleet expenses for fleet companies. GPS Insight’s mobile application however, only provides vehicle tracking and does not integrate fuel purchasing management capabilities (Rob, n.d.), as compared to Fleet One’s mobile application.

In conclusion, Fleet One Vehicle tracking is the preferred product as compared to GPS Insight due to its wide range of customizability options that allows a company’s fleet to be optimized more efficiently. The integrated fuel management features of Fleet One’s mobile application would definitely be useful to any fleet company looking to reduce their fleet expenses for better fleet management.

References

Fletcher, L, & Suizo,G (2011, February), The Evolution of Telematics, retrieved October 10, 2016, from http://www.automotive-fleet.com/article/story/2011/02/the-evolution-of-telematics.aspx

Fleet fuel efficiency: reduce fuel costs with fleet tracking, (n.d.), Fleetmatics, retrieved October 10, 2016, from https://www.fleetmatics.com/reveal/benefits/fleet-fuel- efficiency 

GPS Insight Fleet Card, (n.d.), GPS Insight,
retrieved October 16, 2016, from http://www.gpsinsight.com/fleet-card

Rob, (n.d.), GPS Insight Mobile App for Android Released, retrieved October 16, 2016, from http://www.gpsinsight.com/news/gps-insight-mobile-app-for-android-released

Wex Fleet One fuel cards deliver greater control & savings, (n.d.), Wex Fleet One Inc, retrieved October 10, 2016, from http://www.fleetone.com

WEX Inc. Launches Fleet One Mobile Application, (2014, December), Wex Fleet One Inc, retrieved October 16, 2016, from http://www.fleetone.com/news/2014-12-16

10 Fuel Management Strategies That Really Work, (2011, January), FleetFinancials, retrieved October 16, 2016, from http://www.fleetfinancials.com/article/story/2011/02/10-fuel-management-strategies-that-really-work.aspx

Module Reflection

Technical Communications I (TLM1010) is one of the few modules that I have come to appreciate in my first trimester here at SIT. Despite the relatively short course duration, I managed to learn and develop important writing and oral communication skills from the various assignments and learning activities. Some of the useful writing skills I have learnt include, formal letter writing, coming out with a good product description, referencing of sources and developing of product thesis. I was also taught how to prepare and deliver effective presentations, which I feel is one of the most important oral communication skill to develop as an aspiring engineer.

The assignments and learning activities gave me the opportunity to interact and work with my classmates, some of whom were from different educational backgrounds previously. They provided me with valuable insights in regard to their telematics knowledge and proposal writing skills. One particular in-class learning activity that I enjoyed was where we had to give an informal ‘on-the spot’ presentation on the different presentation methods in teams. Although it was challenging, given the short time frame for preparation, we managed to summarize the most important content to get message across.

Throughout the course, I also found the peer feedback and revising of multiple drafts for written assignments to be very useful, as it helped me to point out the specific areas of my writing which I could improve on.

I am confident that the effective communication skills I have learned would be of great help to me in my educational journey here at SIT, as I look to apply and improve on them on a consistent basis through writing and presenting for other relevant engineering modules.

Transmittal Letter (InTrend)

23 November 2016

Mr Brad Blackstone

TLM1010 Coordinator

Singapore Institute of Technology

SIT @ Dover

10 Dover Drive

Singapore 138683

Dear Mr. Blackstone,

Design Proposal for an “all-in-one” Tomtom Link 410 GPS tracking device

This letter is to acknowledge and respond to your letter of authorization. My team would like to present to you our following design proposal for an “all-in-one” Tomtom Link 410 GPS tracking device.

Based on our team’s evaluation of the original Tomtom Link 410 GPS tracking device, we have identified some improvements that would enhance the usability of the product. Our conceived design of an “all-in-one” Tomtom Link 410 GPS tracking device will help to simplify the overall installation process and provides important software functionalities, such as fuel usage and carbon emissions monitoring for fleet companies. These are some of the few aspects which fleet companies will consider when purchasing a modern fleet tracking product.

My team would like to thank you for taking the time to read through our proposal. We hope that you will consider our proposed design, which would enable fleet companies to optimize their fleet’s efficiency and reduce operating costs in the long run.

Yours Sincerely,

Telson Ting

Team Leader

On behalf of InTrend

Executive Summary (InTrend)

This proposal discusses the various software functionalities of the original Tomtom Link 410 GPS tracking device and the required installation of additional devices for full fleet management. The advantages of implementing an improved “all-in-one” Tomtom Link 410 GPS tracking device are explained in the proposal. The improved device functions just like the original Tomtom Link 410, with fewer hardware components and integrated management of fuel usage and carbon emissions through the WEBFLEET application. These features offer benefits, such as easier installation and overall reduction in operating costs for fleet companies. 

Potential challenges in the implementation of the improved device are identified in the evaluation of the product, along with the appropriate measures taken to address them. Secondary research demonstrates the importance of cost savings due to the rising fuel prices and carbon emissions surcharges under the Carbon Emissions-Based Vehicle Scheme (CEVS). In conclusion, the various improvements of the proposed “all-in-one” Tomtom Link 410 GPS tracking device will allow fleet companies to optimize their fleet’s efficiency and reduce operating costs in the long run.