Vehicles already feature impressive functions because of AI technology within mobility. An example is using your smartphone to start a vehicle and put the air-conditioning on before climbing in. In addition to these suave features, AI is also transforming telematics with the use of predictive analytics.
Without AI, telematics provides immense amounts of data on drivers and routes. The CEO of MasterDrive, Eugene Herbert, says: “With AI, predictive analytics takes large amount of data and identify issues before they become a challenge allowing for proactive responses that increase road safety.
“The power of predictive analytics in transforming road safety cannot be understated. Up until AI was incorporated into telematics, extracting information to guide road safety decisions was significantly more complicated. Now, collected data can more easily be used to prevent loss of life, costly crashes and mitigate the challenges that come with a collision,” says Herbert.
How predictive analytics is transforming telematics:
- Decisions based on real-time data: immediate access to data on delays, traffic or crashes allowing fleet managers to make immediate decisions, improving efficiency and safety.
- Predictive maintenance: while regular and scheduled maintenance is a given, AI adds extra confidence by predicting when maintenance or repairs outside of these parameters may be necessary.
- Prevent crashes: AI quickly identifies risky driving behaviour, alerts one about high-risk roads or driving scenarios, and provides information about additional training needs.
- Create the best drivers: help transfer skills learnt in training to everyday driving and receive alerts if a driver picks up dangerous habits while also identifying areas of improvement for specific drivers.
- Data analysis = greater insights: identify patterns and trends to inform decisions and safety strategies.
Telematics transformations from Ai is not limited to five. There are several others which all contribute to a broader benefit on road safety. To read more on this transformation read the full MasterTorque Annual Magazine article here: https://www.masterdrive.co.za/2025-annual-magazine/
Fleet management systems
In addition to predictive analytics, fleet management systems as a whole are increasingly becoming an essential in successful fleet management. “The ever-increasing abundance of new and innovative mobility technology has an inevitable effect on fleets.
“With a comprehensive fleet management system, operators can quickly and efficiently access all the information required to make informed decisions that improve driver safety, reduce costs and increase efficiency.”
In a market inundated with fleet management systems, the question is how to choose one that is right for your business. “There is no easy answer except to do thorough research. Know your organisation’s priorities and which solutions deliver to those needs the best. Spending time selecting the correct option will not be a regret,” says Herbert.
Your organisation can contribute to research on current interest in fleet management software services to manage increasingly complex health and safety requirements. It will help develop industry benchmarks for tracking how transporters think about HSE management, willingness to pay thresholds and expected features in automated systems.