April 2021 Monthly Update

Good day Astreon clients and partners!

We are pleased to announce this month’s feature enhancements to Astreon, and add-on applications.  How are you enjoying the Astreon Service?  Did you know that our platform now has 2.7 million assets globally and grows about 100,000 every 1-2 months?

There’s something that people love about this platform, including our valued Canadian customers!

Have feedback or suggestions?  Get in touch with us by sending feedback to support@astreon.com.

Quick Summary – Wi-Fi positioning now supported, automatic vehicle type detection, and authorizations, have been added. Read on for full details.

Astreon New Features and Enhancements

Wi-Fi positioning

If your device supports Wifi, we can now accept wifi position data when GPS is not available.  Think Parking Garage, in-building, or blocked GPS antenna. This is a great backup way to continue to see your asset locations, without having full GPS signal.

How Wi-Fi geolocation works

Devices that support Wi-Fi-based positioning can send data regarding the closest Wi-Fi access points to the Astreon platform. The data is used for detecting the device’s location.

To set this up, there are a few quick steps to follow.  If you believe your device supports Wifi positioning, but you’re not sure, check in with our support team and we’ll assist!  Go to the Advanced properties tab in the Messages validity filtration section. Then, select Determine location by Wi-Fi points option. After that, a user indicates the minimum and maximum amount of Wi-Fi points the signal Astreon should receive from the device. The Accuracy parameter specifies the accuracy of the device location to be considered valid.

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Automatic vehicle type detection

In March, we announced the creation of the device type library in Astreon Hosting. The idea to launch this library is to automate data in the system for every customer, but also provide extra value added information.

We’ve just added the ability to automatically determine the vehicle type. You don’t need to do anything – the system will do it for you.

In order to teach your system to determine vehicle types as accurately as possible, the system needs to collect as much data as possible. For users with the authorization to edit the device properties, we suggest going to the Profile tab and check the vehicle type determined by Astreon.

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The more users interact with this parameter (confirm or reject the suggested vehicle type), the more precise the automatic device type detection will be.

Reports by fuel fillings

We added new options “By fleet refueling” and “By refueling facility” on the Reports tab in the Report type field.

The new added options now allow users to get the summary information on fuel fillings so that users can sum up the results for a certain day and time range, with planning of fuel costs.

Reports by fuel fillings

The reports of fuel fillings can be exported from the reports’ page and sent to the users’ email registered on the administration panel’s settings. These options will allow users who are outside of the organization to access reports.

Hecterra

Columns with consumables in reports

If there are any registered consumables in the cultivation, they will be displayed not only in the cultivation’s detailed dialog but also in the report table – one column per one consumable. For example, Fertilizers: ammonium nitrate. The display of consumables is turned on by default. You can turn it off in the table’s settings.

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Hecterra-2

Keyboard navigation

We added keyboard shortcuts so that you can navigate pages and elements quickly. These features will increase your productivity.

KeysActions
TabMove forward
Tab + ShiftMove back
Enter, SpaceSelect an element, click on the button
Arrow Up/DownMove forward/back through the list of options; decrease/increase values in numeric fields
EscClose menu

Freezing the Field column in reports

You can change the visibility of the report’s columns in the table settings. This rule is applicable to all columns excluding the Field column as now it is always visible and can’t be hidden. While scrolling the table horizontally, the user will see that the Field column is fixed. Thus, the user always knows the info on which field he is viewing.

 

Fleetrun

Specific Notifications on Intervals

You can now select notifications for specific objects or service intervals.  This allows you to set up notifications on just the most important service intervals, reducing the volume of incoming notifications.

To activate this option, go to the Notifications tab and edit it by clicking select buttons. By default, all service objects are selected.

 

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The total cost of services and fuel on the unit page

A new display option has been added. Now you can monitor not only the service and fuel costs separately but also their total value. To display this, select Total cost in the upper dropdown on the Unit info tab on the unit page.

 

fleetrun-2

No limit for the number of the List custom field elements

We removed the limit on listing custom fields. The limit used to be up to 20 fields, and this is now unlimited.

This is great for large fleets and or companies that have a lot of custom parts for Maintenance and equipment service.

Logistics

Route Optimization algorithm improvement 

You’ve probably noticed that Dispatch+ has received a lot of love this year.  One huge project that is now live is a new route optimization algorithm. This is live today, and uses more modern techniques to create the most optimal route for your fleet and drivers each day.  These enhancements drastically reduce travel time, allowing our clients to take extra jobs, and increase revenue.

Planning modes

Now you can simulate the planning modes for building the route. You can choose three planning modes, cost-effective, balanced, and fast. In order to select and see the mode, go to the Optimization settings and see how the mode you chose affect the route cost.

  • cost-effective (fully loaded vehicles, minimum mileage, loose adherence to delivery intervals);
  • balanced (fully loaded vehicles, minimum mileage, strict adherence to delivery intervals);
  • fast (reduction in the delivery time due to the maximum number of devices).

These 3 options allow you to evaluate the productivity of your fleet and chose the best option for your business.

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Taking into account the vehicle location

Turning this on uses the vehicle’s current location, instead of a fixed address, when creating routes. With this option is enabled, the routes are planned taking into account the location of vehicles during planning. If the devices are fulfilling other routes, then the last points of these routes are taken into account. The location of the devices will be considered when planning the sequence in which the orders are visited, route duration, and mileage.

Application example: If there is a new order during the day, the vehicle assigned to it considering its current location, not the office yard which would make a huge difference in routing time.

logistics-2

Exporting orders

The option of exporting orders as a table to XLSX and CSV files has been added.

The table columns are the same as the order parameters. You can use the files with the orders for import to another account, integration with other systems, and so on.

logistics-3

Announcing Astreon & VisTracks ELD Partnership

Vistrack ELD

In line with our continued commitment to our clients, we are now happy to announce the launch of our Pro ELD product, via a partnership with VisTracks/Omnitracs.

We have added the VisTracks ELD, the most comprehensive tablet/smartphone and portal application in the industry. A fully certified ELD solution by federal and state regulations as well as Canadian and Mexican regulations. VistTacks was one of the first Canadian ELD providers to submit for Canadian Mandate approval.  All VisTracks services are based on the same platform and are fully integrated with tablets/smartphones, vehicle hardware and share a common user interface.

Easy to use, minimal training required, on-screen documentation to minimize errors, and support costs.

 

HOS (Hours Of Service)hos

VisTracks™ Hours of Services is a powerful but easy-to-use tablet/smartphone and portal-based service certified with US Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations for electronic logs and vehicle inspections. Regulations for electronic driving and vehicle inspection logs have become commonplace to ensure the veracity of driver tablet input and ensured compliance with regulations. VisTracks Hours of Service is compliant with federal and state regulations as well as Canadian and Mexican regulations.

 

 

DVIR (Driver vehicle inspection report)

The standalone DVIR product (aka DVIR-only) provides the administrative tools and smooth driver experience you expect from Astreon VisTracks while slimming down the feature set to exclusively DVIR-focused. This allows you to leverage the DVIR functionality across mixed fleets. The DVIR-only features are made available to a non-ELD driver via the same application so there is no need to install anything new. A DVIR-only user will log in and be limited to the DVIR screen, where they may select vehicles and trailers, review previous DVIRs, conduct inspections, mark repairs, take pictures, and certify the DVIR with pdfs that are shared immediately with the administrative portal.

Contact us today!

Contact us today for more information, pricing, and specific case studies.

Tel: +1 (800) 647-4730

Email: sales@astreon.com

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How to improve customer service and safety in Limo & Taxi industries

Limousines or taxies are used for a variety of purposes that include personal & business commuting, weddings, VIP services, bachelor/bachelorette parties, corporate events, etc.

What matters most to consumers when choosing a Taxi/Limo service? Service quality, safety, price, vehicle quality, and design. Your customers also expect you to offer professionalism, high-quality service, and comfort. This is why excellent customer service is essential to increase your business’s reputation.  It may be overwhelming at first to consider all these factors when you look to grow your business.  But leveraging GPS Telematics & Dash Camera systems is a great first step.

 

GPS Telematics Systems for Limo & Taxi

Leveraging GPS Telematics is more common now in the transportation industry. In the fact, the GPS Telematics device market is expected to reach $ 2.89 billion USD by 2023 at a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) 12.9% between 2017 and 2023 according to the research report by GPS Telematics Device Market by Type, Deployment Type, Industry and Geography – Global Forecast to 2023.

In addition, the research shows that the GPS Telematics market is expected to have high demand in the transportation & logistic sector during the forecast period growing at a CAGR of 14.4% between 2018 and 2025.

Global GPS Tracking Device Market Revenue

As you can see, GPS Telematics plays a huge role in the transportation industry to operate management of functions such as routing, Telematics, dispatching, security, and safety. Let’s see how GPS features work for your business.

 

Real-time Telematics

GPS Telematics allows users to monitor drivers, vehicles, and assets in real-time. It provides Telematics information with high accuracy. This information includes routes, fuel, mileage, idle time, engine stops, and speed. Based on that information, GPS Telematics provides optimized routes to get your drivers where they need to be faster & safer, completing more jobs within the scheduled time. Efficient routes and arrival on time or earlier arrival enhance customer service and it leads to increased reputation.

 

Improving vehicle security

GPS Telematics enables you to monitor your vehicle and get key data. GPS Telematics gives you clear visibility into your entire pool of assets and their current status. Using real-time Geofence status with reporting and alerts, you can detect potential theft or unauthorized use. Prevent potential loss and impact on your business by taking immediate preventative action.

 

Dispatching

On-time departure/arrival and quick response times with customers are crucial to improving customer service. With real-time data from GPS Telematics, you can dispatch a limo/taxi and driver who is close to your customers. Excellent customer-facing tools like driver arrival notifications and arrival confirmations are automated tools to assist you and your team. Improved service helps build brand loyalty and increase customer retention.

 

Reduce liabilities

Reckless driving and unnecessary accidents can be a huge liability for your company. Of course, accidents are out of the question for the transportation industry. This is why monitoring and analyzing are important to reduce poor driving habits such as speeding and harsh braking. With a vehicle Telematics system, transportation companies can easily monitor driving behavior and detect which activity causes unnecessary costs.

Installing GPS Telematics provides your transportation business with many benefits. With compact mobile devices, combined with the extensive coverage of today’s wireless networks, GPS Telematics enables users to track and monitor virtually anything; not just where cellular service is available, but anywhere. The result is improved security, productivity, and a superior customer experience.

Astreon Vehicle Telematics

Add Recurring Revenue to your existing business

Astreon is a global platform with Resellers, Partners, and Clients all over the world.  Astreon has turnkey tools to quickly and easily allow your business to hit the ground running.  We provide application hosting with optional white labeling services, hardware devices, connectivity, marketing and technical support. Everything you need to get started is here. Contact us today to become our partner.

Contact us today!

Tel: +1 (888) 647-4730

Email: sales@astreon.com

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How GPS Tracking can improve construction operations

GPS Tracking can be used in various industries and they take advantage of features of GPS Tracking. It not only tracks objects but also maximizes the productivity and efficiency of your vehicles and assets. Today GPS tracking services become a key management tool for the construction industry.

Why GPS Tracking for the construction industry?

Your equipment and vehicles are vital to your business. It is important to have all of them available and efficiently utilized. Without proper maintenance, your equipment can experience breakdowns.  Without GPS Tracking, your business experiences missing equipment or theft, impacting productivity and safety. Here are factors construction industry can benefit from GPS tracking;

Monitor & track your assets

This is a major feature when it comes to GPS tracking. Literally, it tracks your assets and locates where your valuable assets are in real-time. If your asset is missing, you can track your asset using data sent by a GPS tracking tag.

Not only tracking your assets, but also monitoring your assets can increase security and reduce theft.

In fact, up to $1 billion in equipment, materials and appliances are stolen from construction sites every single year, and less than 25 percent is recovered, according to the National Equipment Register. With GPS tracking, any unauthorized movement or activity will be reported to you and you can act quickly.

Improve safety and save money

Working in the construction industry can be life-threatening. In fact, 20 percent of worker deaths in the United States are in construction according to the statistics from United States department of labor. GPS tracking devices play a huge role in preventing critical accidents and increase safety. GPS tracking devices can provide reports and notifications regarding the driving habits of their workers. It can also establish a baseline score across all drivers in your fleet based on their driving habits. It is an easy and intuitive way to provide coaching to your drivers by analyzing and highlighting the top critical events that contributed to their scores.

Here are statistics with regard to the medical costs and possible saving by coaching safety to construction workers;

  • Construction companies save $4 to $6 for every $1 invested in safety programs
  • In 2019, the average cost of a medically consulted injury was $42,000, while the average cost per death was $1,220,000
  • On average, construction companies spend 3.6 percent of their budgets on injuries, but only 2.6 percent on safety training
  • 55 percent of workers believe they need more safety training, and 25 percent worry about being injured every day

Construction safety

Source: BIGRENTS

Safety can be improved by not only workers but also by the quality of equipment. Using GPS tracking comes with other benefits, such as capturing and reporting fuel information and comprehending equipment/vehicle’s life cycle.

Efficient use of equipment

Using equipment efficiently helps save money. When your heavy equipment is idling, it means you are losing profits and it results in increasing wear. According to On-Site, it says that “Manufacturer Komatsu estimates that an average machine’s idle time is 40 percent. It is estimated that an hour of idle time has the same impact on an engine as driving approximately 40 kilometres (25 miles) because the combustion process is affected. Idling increases the likelihood of the oil temperature dropping below 100 C, which can cause water to build up and result in fuel dilution and increased acids, all of which accelerate engine wear.”(On-Site) .

GPS tracking software can provide a powerful dashboard to plan, control, and manage the costs of vehicle maintenance. Leverage those data, and you can reduce idling.

Astreon Asset Tracking for construction

Protect valuable fleet assets. Enhance asset management. Increase profitability.

Effective asset tracking gives businesses an advantage that propels them ahead of the competition. Astreon provides dynamic data including the location & status of assets in the field. Control every aspect of your equipment from maintenance to fuel management. Make use of cost-effective & reliable remote monitoring. Embrace flexibility and extensive support for a wide range of tailored devices & sensors.

Contact us today!

Tel: +1 (888) 647-4730

Email: sales@astreon.com

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