Launch of "everfleet Drive," a telematics service for fleet management that helps resolve issues in the logistics industry - Achieving reduced accidents and improved fuel efficiency through improved fleet management, safety, and efficiency

Macnica (Headquarters: Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture; Representative Director and President: Kazumasa Hara; hereinafter referred to as Macnica) announced today that it will collaborate with Geotab Inc. (Headquarters: Ontario, Canada; Founder: Neil Coes; hereinafter referred to as "Geotab"), a Canadian global company founded in 2000 that specializes in vehicle operation management and data analysis, to begin offering "everfleet Drive," a traffic management telematics solution that will help solve the "2024 Problem" surrounding the transportation industry. "everfleet Drive" centrally manages vehicles in the transportation industry, including buses, trucks, and taxis, and enables the efficiency of traffic management operations. It is also expected to improve safety, reduce traffic accidents, and improve fuel efficiency.

■ The worsening "2024 problem" in the transportation industry
The "2024 problem" is becoming more serious, as work style reforms impose limits on the working hours of drivers in the logistics and transportation industries, limiting the distance each person can drive, and there is a shortage of drivers, making it impossible to transport people and goods as before. As a result, companies that own many vehicles are being asked how to operate them efficiently with a small number of staff. In addition, companies are being asked to comply with safety driving regulations and reduce environmental impact through efficient operation, and the requirements for companies are becoming increasingly strict.

■ "Telematics" for efficient operation by acquiring and analyzing vehicle information
"Telematics" is a portmanteau of "telecommunications" and "informatics," and refers primarily to a system that uses communications technology to provide and collect data such as vehicle location information and driver status.
"everfleet Drive," which we are now launching, is a tool that can centrally collect and manage large amounts of vehicle data, and effectively utilize and analyze that data.
Macnica has focused on solving mobility issues by providing autonomous driving electric buses and their remote operation management system "everfleet" in the MaaS and mobility business fields.
By localizing the knowledge and expertise about information gathering technology that we have cultivated over the years, and Geotab's telematics know-how accumulated over 23 years and approximately 4 million devices worldwide, into products suited to the Japanese market, we will be able to provide optimal solutions tailored to the diverse needs of each company.

■Improve vehicle operation management efficiency and reduce accident risk
"everfleet Drive" connects TCUs (telematics control units) to vehicles such as buses, trucks, and taxis, and can collect various vehicle information and send it to the operation manager in real time. This makes vehicle maintenance and management more efficient, reduces management labor hours, and improves productivity. In addition, by visualizing driving conditions, it is expected to improve safety driving awareness and reduce accident risks. In addition, it is possible to propose optimal routes according to weather and traffic conditions, thereby reducing CO2 emissions. By managing vehicle operation records and driver working hours in a centralized manner, it also supports the optimization of the work environment and compliance with laws and regulations.

■Support from implementation to data utilization after operation
The strength of "everfleet Drive" is its ability to acquire large volumes of diverse vehicle data. Data collected from vehicles driving in a variety of environments can be linked with generative AI (Geotab Ace ^*) to simplify complex data analysis results to the point of conversation, making it possible to streamline operations. In addition, analyzed data can be easily managed, for example by checking it on a smartphone.
One of Macnica 's strengths with "everfleet Drive" is that we accompany our customers from the implementation stage to data utilization after operation. We hold repeated dialogues with our customers to propose the optimal service model that matches the scale of their vehicles and their operating environment. We then verify the practicality of the model and support smooth operation. We also provide advice on how to properly use the acquired data, and have built a support system to ensure that telematics solutions are utilized without waste.

■ Case studies
Companies that have introduced Geotab's solutions, with which we are now collaborating, have seen a variety of benefits. For example, Milk&More, a comprehensive grocery delivery company, has installed TCUs in 970 vehicles and begun operating telematics. As a result of data analysis, drivers' driving awareness has improved, reducing self-inflicted accidents by approximately 21% and improving EV cruising range by approximately 19%. Other companies have also achieved a 10% or more improvement in fuel efficiency and vehicle maintenance costs, as well as a significant reduction in the burden of automating vehicle maintenance management. Many companies that have introduced the solution have realized many benefits.

<everfleet Drive system configuration>

*: An assistant function that utilizes generative AI to manage and analyze complex traffic management data in natural language.

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https://www.macnica.co.jp/business/maas/services/146978/

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Macnica Smart City & Mobility Division
TEL: 045-470-9118
E-mail: auto-solution@macnica.co.jp

*Company names and product names mentioned in this text are trademarks or registered trademarks of Macnica and each company.
*The information published in the news release (including product price, specifications, etc.) is current as of the date of announcement. Please note that the information may be subject to change without prior notice.