In an era where smart devices and technology proliferate all aspects of our lives and work, fleet management still often relies on manual processes and people. While this may be adequate for collecting data and monitoring vehicles, it poses more risk when it comes to driver safety.
Given the nature of emergency call management in Australia, where two out of three fatalities on our roads occur in regional and remote areas and often involve unresponsive drivers, it is vital that organisations are confident they have the ability to respond efficiently in the event of an incident where every minute is critical.
No room for error
During a vehicle emergency there is an expectation from the ‘caller’ that their situation will be understood and efficiently handled – providing them with the reassurance that help is on the way in what may be a life threatening situation.
To ensure the effectiveness of emergency call (eCall) management, it is important to frequently assess the efficacy of systems and processes. Each step in the workflow should be evaluated for speed and accuracy and any weak links identified across both users and technology. Only then will an organisation be able to understand whether in-built technologies or an external service with dedicated trained staff to manage calls, may present a better solution. As the provider of Australia’s leading vehicle safety and security platform Asure, we believe the best solution is one that can provide organisations with the highest levels of assurance – taking into account both vehicle and passenger safety and security.
Critical data supported by dedicated trained staff
Asure removes the burden of call management from fleet managers. Our integrated service has dedicated, professionally trained staff managing all inbound calls. Asure’s award-winning design provides trained staff with essential data and a voice connection to the vehicle via the one platform, reducing errors and providing the ability to decrease the time it takes to alert emergency services.
From day one, Asure’s focus has been on how to help people respond to emergency situations, even if occupants are unresponsive.
When eCall is activated, either manually by the driver pushing the button, or automatically via activation of vehicle sensors in the event of a crash, a voice connection and critical data is transmitted directly from the vehicle through the platform to a specially-trained eCall operator. This includes precise GPS location, speed, direction of travel, severity of the incident and vehicle details.
The combination of data from the vehicle, and the ability to converse with the driver, enables operators to triage calls ensuring no false alarms are presented to emergency services, helping reduce pressure on first responders.
The benefits of eCall are being slowly understood in the Australian market. Toyota is leading the way and includes the technology in a range of models, and other manufacturers are set to follow.
Asure provides fleet managers, drivers and passengers with peace of mind, knowing trained professionals are on hand to assist when they most need it. When purchasing new vehicles fleet managers should look for vehicles with eCall installed. This is one way we can drive positive change when it comes to vehicle safety on our roads.
Jules is a highly experienced sales executive with a consistent proven record in promoting innovative products into Enterprise, Transport & Logistics, Public Sector and Automotive industries. He has over 14 years in selling specialised technology solutions to Automotive, Enterprises and Telecommunications industries in Australia, New Zealand, Japan and across Asia. Jules is passionate about connected services that enhance mobility, convenience and safety for people on the move. Here he writes about industry trends in the mobility as a service space.
