Machine Asset Management

Although best known for a mobile phone network O2 has been a leading UK player in M2M for over 8 years. We partner our network with the knowledge and industry experience of M2M solution providers to create leading wireless asset management systems.

What is it?

The range of ‘assets’ owned by any business is endless. From vehicles, to staff, to machines and products – any item of value can be classed as an asset.

The management and monitoring of assets has long been an expensive and time consuming element of running a business however using wireless technology the cost is driven down, while the range (geographical and numerical) is growing rapidly.   

Asset management can be split into two elements – fixed and moving.

Being able to see the status of remote assets from a single location allows far greater control than most business’ have today.  Currently focussed on metering and vending machines, the range of what could be monitored using a fixed SIM is limitless. 

Communicating with machines via a SIM card has many advantages – the key ones being:

• Routine manual checks are replaced with essential only visits saving time and money
• Remote or hard to reach machines are only visited when necessary but monitored more efficiently with an ‘always on’ SIM
• SIMs allow 2-way information so upgrades and changes to monitoring parameters can be done remotely – again saving time and money
• Integration with alarms means that one SIM could offer you monitoring and security control
• No fixed lines means that one-off, remote or hazardous environments are no longer out of scope

Monitoring business vehicles via the GSM/GPRS network gives the fleet manager complete visibility and control of these valuable assets once they’re long outside of the depot gates.

By sending reports at pre-defined regular intervals, or sending alarms when a defined threshold has been breached gives both real time and historic information to make sure vehicle efficiency is maximised:

• Stolen Vehicle Recovery – if a vehicle moves outside of it’s expected hours an alarm is triggered, and the vehicle location tracked. Configured correctly, the vehicle can even be immobilised when the SIM detects abnormal activity
• Driver monitoring – poor driving habits lead to expensive repairs. Track pedal activity, speed and fuel consumption and address areas of waste
• Vehicle monitoring – see where your fleet is, how long until it reaches it’s destination and where the most efficient next pick up/delivery should be sent to
• Load monitoring – ensure the load you’re carrying stays at the right temperature, is not tampered with in between load and delivery,   and reaches the right destination for receipt

All of these aspects can be tracked to give you real time efficiency of job scheduling as well as historic reporting for continuous improvement to your profit line.

For more information contact us using the link below and one of our dedicated M2M team will answer your query