The automotive industry is unfolding a whole new level of connectivity and ease. Through IoT, automotive manufacturers now allow consumers to gather and collect a set of information about their vehicles. All that information adds value to consumers and helps manufacturers learn about their products.
In this blog, we will expand on several ways IoT helps with remote vehicle diagnostics and maintenance.
The potential of IoT in vehicle diagnostics
Historically, vehicle diagnoses have frequently been neglected until significant issues arise in the vehicle. Nonetheless, there exists ample opportunity to revamp these diagnostic challenges by harnessing the potential of IoT.
Traditional vehicle diagnostics
Without IoT, traditional vehicle diagnostics depended on physical inspection and review. Such primitive vehicle diagnosis has certain limitations that can hold back organizations, especially if they are dealing with a huge fleet of vehicles.
Here are several challenges with manual and in-person inspections of vehicles:
- Blindsiding all the possible onroad challenges and vehicle failures.
- Inability to help fleet drivers during their transportation from one place to another.
- There is a lack of visible progress against the vehicle route and an uncertain timeline. It reduces traceability and leaves a gray area.
- Delayed help on any vehicle failure can affect supply chain and logistics, hampering time, fuel, money, and customer satisfaction.
Thankfully, these traditional limitations of offline vehicle diagnostics can be overcome with the help of IoT & connected vehicle technology solutions.
The need for IoT in vehicle diagnostics
The Internet of Things has empowered the automotive industry to innovate and engineer telematics solutions for connected cars. These 5G IoT cars can help overcome some of the gaps that companies often face. Here are some reasons why IoT is a necessity for modern fleet management:
- More traceability of vehicles on the route
Vehicles on the route can use some traceability so that an organization can manage thousands of vehicles on roads at once. IoT’s gift of traceability can save the day here again!
- Identify any roadblocks on the way
Vehicle failures are among the most common challenges for fleet managers. Automotive manufacturers can help them overcome this challenge by allowing IoT to report any such failures so that the driver can get immediate help and assistance.
It can also help notice any detours on the way due to any on-road incidental situations. Fleet managers can improvise their route planning and guide the fleet accordingly in the most informed manner.
- Ensuring safe on-road practices by drivers
On-road safety practices are demanded by the governing law of the country as such, it is no longer an optional element. Only through IoT can fleet managers verify the vehicle speed, mandatory off-road time, and the number of breaks taken by the drivers.
As per a report, every year, an average driver is a part of 4 to 5 accidents. This huge number can be cut down significantly if the safety practices are applied with the help of IoT through specific connected vehicle technology.
- Monitor unusual vehicle patterns
Unusual vehicle patterns such as rash driving, sudden turns, instant acceleration, or hitting brakes harshly can all represent some unusual vehicle driving patterns. Likewise, if a driver is driving away from their given destination, then IoT can help report and overcome such vehicle patterns.
Remote diagnostics of the fleet
One of the most fundamental gifts of IoT is that it can look after your fleet of vehicles and ensure they are functioning correctly. Remote diagnostics can help bridge the gap between a driver and a fleet manager as both can be aligned about the vehicle’s performance and needs.
Remote diagnosis can also facilitate on-demand reviews of the vehicle and make informed decisions about the fleet. On-board diagnosis (OBD) devices of the vehicle can connect to an internet gateway with a wide range of connectivity and mobility, like 5G. Such IoT connectivity combined with automotive data can revolutionize the industry.
Leverage automotive data analytics for predictive maintenance
OBD, IoT sensors, and remote diagnostics enable automotive manufacturers to collect extensive data on a vehicle’s operational patterns. This data facilitates real-time automotive analytics to determine the vehicle’s condition.
It doesn’t just identify; it also records and anticipates the vehicle’s future performance. For example, a sudden decrease in mileage or elevated levels of temperature and vibrations signal inefficiencies, indicating the need for prompt maintenance.
With IoT & data analytics, predictive maintenance can truly transform supply chains and fleet operations.
Benefits of predictive vehicle maintenance
Effective predictive maintenance yields the following outcome for fleet managers:
- Improved fleet efficiency
Avoiding any surprising on-road vehicle failures and, therefore, improving the efficiency of fleet operations.
- Reduce operational costs
By enhancing maintenance practices and operational efficiency, fleet capacity can be improved without incurring additional operating expenses.
- Revolutionalize the automotive assets
When vehicles within an existing fleet are well-maintained, efficient, and easily traceable, they can deliver transformative results.
- Improved safety of the driver
Driver safety is not a concern that can be taken lightly. With predictive maintenance, drivers can feel safe knowing that the vehicle is fully functioning and will not face any sudden failures.
IoT and predictive vehicle maintenance are the future of vehicle diagnostics. It helps automotive manufacturers to improve their products, while also helping drivers and companies to manage their fleets. With 5G and the growing ADAS, such vehicle diagnostics will be realized very soon.
