As many (or perhaps most) of you will know, AI is starting to play a large role in our everyday lives. I’d also guess that most of you do not realise quite the level of significance that this software has in our day to day activities! So, below I have listed a a few of the ways in which AI is being used in our daily practices:

• Any virtual assistant such as Siri and Alexa that can understand speech and respond to questions
• Image recognition software that can identity people or objects, such as face ID for your phone
• Self-driving cars that can perceive the surrounding environment and navigate roads
• AI that can write realistic paragraphs of text (such as this sentence!)

How many of those did you know are using AI? This software has become such an integral part of our society that it has become almost impossible to ignore its significance. But what actually is AI? Below we will look at what AI is and how it is used in large scale operations such as Fleet Management.

 

So, what is AI?

Artificial intelligence, or AI, is the field of computer science that is focused on developing systems that can perform tasks that normally require human intelligence. AI systems can perform tasks like sensing the environment, learning, reasoning, planning, problem solving, communicating in natural language, and more.

The goal of AI is to create computer systems that are far more intelligent than humans across the board. We are not quite at human-level AI yet, but AI technologies are advancing rapidly and continue to become more sophisticated and integrated into our daily lives. AI promises to radically change transportation, healthcare, education, and more in the coming decades.

 

What is Fleet Management?

Fleet management refers to the organisation and management of vehicles that are used commercially or professionally. It has many functions and aims to allow companies that rely on transportation to minimise any risks associated with this area of the business. These are a few of the main areas covered in Fleet Management:

• Vehicle acquisition and replacement: Purchasing new vehicles and replacing older ones to maintain an optimal fleet.
• Registration and licensing: Ensuring all vehicles have proper registration and licensing in accordance with regulations.
• Insurance and risk management: Managing insurance policies and minimising risks related to vehicle operations.
• Vehicle maintenance: Performing regular maintenance and repairs to keep vehicles in working condition.
• Fuel management: Managing fuelling for vehicles including fuel cards, accounts, and optimising efficiency.
• Tracking and telematics: Using vehicle tracking systems to monitor vehicle locations, usage, and performance.
• Driver management: Hiring and training drivers, ensuring proper licensing and certifications, and evaluating performance.
• Routing and dispatch: Planning travel routes and dispatching vehicles to efficiently transport people or deliver goods.
• Compliance: Ensuring compliance with all laws and regulations related to vehicle operations, safety, maintenance, and driver qualifications.

 

How can AI help with Fleet Management?

AI’s function in Fleet Management ranges from monitoring vehicle maintenance to fuel efficient route planning and is ever expanding as time goes on. Let’s take a look at some of the most important jobs that AI is used for:

Predictive maintenance

Using sensors and AI algorithms to monitor vehicle performance and predict when parts are likely to fail or need replacement. This helps schedule maintenance to avoid costly downtime and ensure vehicle reliability.

Optimised routing

AI can plan the most efficient routes for vehicles to save time and fuel costs. It considers traffic, vehicle capacity, and delivery schedules to optimise routes.

Fraud detection

AI monitors vehicle usage and movements to detect anomalous behaviour that may indicate fraud or unauthorised use. This can alert fleet managers to potential issues in real time.

Vehicle diagnostics

AI analyses data from vehicle sensors and diagnostics to monitor vehicle health and performance. It can detect drops in performance, safety issues, or other potential problems to allow for quick repairs.

Inventory management

AI helps manage inventory for vehicle parts and supplies. By analysing usage trends and predicting demand, AI can optimise inventory levels to meet needs while reducing excess stock.

 

In conclusion, AI has become an integral part of our daily lives and society as a whole. It is being implemented in more and more areas such as transportation, healthcare and education. Fleet Management in particular has benefitted greatly from the use of AI and its various functions. The future of Fleet Management will likely see further integration of AI to create even more efficient and streamlined systems. It is also reasonable to suggest that AI will play an increasingly significant role in the future of our society in more ways than we can currently predict!

 

Software & Data are specialists in workflow optimisation and the use of data analytics and AI to improve our customers operational efficiencies and strategic insights in their businesses. For more information contact Software & Data at sales@softwareanddata.com