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.

Assignment 1 - Product Description Summary & Analysis (Draft 3)

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 eliminate the need for constant monitoring of the fleet’s status.

Fleet One Vehicle Tracking is a more viable product as compared to its competitors, 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.). They 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 categorizes refuelling locations by either the lowest fuel pricing or shortest distance (Fleet One, 2014). This allows better planning of fleet routes to maximize fuel efficiency. GPS Insight’s mobile application however, only provides vehicle tracking and does not integrate fuel purchasing management capabilities (Rob, n.d.).

In conclusion, Fleet One Vehicle tracking is the preferred product as its wide range of customizability options will allow a company’s fleet to be optimized more efficiently.  

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

Fleetmatics. (n.d.). Fleet fuel efficiency: reduce fuel costs with fleet tracking.  

Retrieved October 10, 2016, from https://www.fleetmatics.com/reveal/benefits/fleet-fuel- efficiency 

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

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

Product Description Summary & Analysis - Draft 2

The article excerpt “Fleet One Helps Narrow down Important Data” (Lauren Fletcher & Grace Suizo, 1994)”, 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 and a combination of desktop and mobile applications that displays the vital fleet information. This allows users to better plan their fleet routes.

According to Goetz (2011), unique software features such as “integrated fuel transaction reporting”, “integration with Google Maps” and “ability to integrate with a two-way touchscreen” ensures that users are able to fully utilize the software to meet their operational needs. These features, provides an improved user experience for both the fleet manager and the drivers.

Good software user functionality and customizability is often the key to a useful and cost effective fleet tracking solution. The article “Fleet Fuel Efficiency: Reduce Fuel Costs With Fleet Tracking” (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 Vehicle Tracking provides a comprehensive solution to this, by implementing two distance based fuel card packages that tailor to the specific fuel needs of each company’s vehicle fleet.

They are namely the “Over the Road” fuel card and the “All Roads” fuel card, for vehicles that fuels on short and long haul distances respectively. These subcategories provide users with a clearer overview of the fleet’s fuel transactions. This is in contrast to GPS Insight, which only utilizes one standard fuel card package across its platform.

Fleet One Vehicle Tracking’s mobile application is also better integrated, as it also displays the individual fuel prices at each refueling location over the road, for improved cost planning. This contrasts to GPS Insights mobile application, which is purely a vehicle tracking application and does not integrate any fuel purchasing options in it.

In conclusion, Fleet One Vehicle Tracking is a more viable product as compared to its competitors, due to its intuitive user interface and the variety of customization options available. This in turn, allows a company’s fleet to be optimized more efficiently.

References

Fletcher, L, & Suizo,G (2011, February). The Evolution of Telematics.

Retrieved from http://www.automotive-fleet.com/article/story/2011/02/the-evolution-of-telematics.aspx

Wex Fleet One. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.fleetone.com/

Fleetmatics. (n.d.). Fleet fuel efficiency: reduce fuel costs with fleet tracking  

Retrieved from https://www.fleetmatics.com/reveal/benefits/fleet-fuel-efficiency 

Product Description Summary & Analysis - Draft 1

The article “Fleet One Helps Narrow Down Important Data” introduces the Fleet One Vehicle Tracking system which is developed by WEX Fleet One. It offers a wide range of GPS fleet tracking solutions to both the private and government sectors, catering to vehicle fleets of varying sizes.

According to Goetz (2011), Fleet One’s digital platform consists of a two-way touch screen interface for better fleet information management.

Furthermore, value-added features such as online account and “fuel purchasing management” help reduce fraud at fuel pumps, making the system cost effective.

Fleet One also provides two types of fuel cards for the companies to monitor driver’s transactions online. They are the “All roads” fuel card and “Over the road” fuel card, which aim to serve the needs of different customer demographics.

We will be evaluating Fleet One’s tracking system by comparing it to GPS insight based on its functions, ease of usage and cost benefits to the companies.

Good software user functionality and cost effectiveness is the key to making a good fleet tracking solution. In this section, we will be focusing on fleet one’s system fuel card functions. Fleet One’s system is able to locate the nearest and cheapest refuelling location, monitor and notify the company on the driver's status. GPS insight also provides a fuel card function too. However, it does not provide fuel price information for price comparison between different fuel stops, which could result in unnecessary fuel expenses. Therefore, Fleet One’s system is would be more cost effective as compared to GPS Insight.

In addition, convenience and the ease of usage of a product are what customers look out for. According to Fleet One’s website, its cards are accepted nationwide at over 60,000 convenience stores and 7,100 truck stops as compared to GPS Insight’s fuel card which is accepted at 45,000 stores. With more available kiosk stations in collaboration with Fleet One, drivers would be able to seek fuel stops more easily, which would in turn increases the company’s efficiency and reduce overhead costs by allowing drivers to save both time and money.

Our evaluation shows that Fleet One would provide a more user centred experience for both drivers and the management team if they were to choose this telematics solution.

Reference:

http://www.fleetone.com/

https://www.gpsinsight.com/

http://www.automotive-fleet.com/article/story/2011/02/the-evolution-of-telematics.aspx