Product Description Summary & Analysis (Draft 1)

The article by Geotab Inc “Geotab GO7” presents the benefits, features and function of GO7. The GO7 is a telematics device designed and built by Geotab. It has features like cellular modem, GPS with built in antennas, and an accelerometer. It is able to transmit highly detailed information from the vehicle regarding the engine, drivetrain, on-board instruments, and other subsystems. It is compatible with most types of vehicles from manufactures around the world. The device is easily installed by plugging into the vehicle’s OBDII port or adapter. Tracking and real time data will be transmitted when the vehicle transits. It can notify the driver if the vehicle requires maintenance. The GO7 also collects information driving habits, guiding the driver if it's deem unsafe. The device can send notification and forensic data if an accident is detected. The GO7 has an expansion port, allowing peripherals to be added if needed. I feel that the GO7 is an advanced solution that could help businesses increase its fleet efficiency.

The GO7 could utilise its GPS tracking ability to provide alternate course to routes that are affected by traffic or weather, reducing fuel and time wastage. Its ability to transmit data about the vehicle will allows for timely maintenance of the fleet, reducing down time of vehicle. The article “Aberdeen Group's GPS tracking study key facts” (Mark, 2016) mentions numerous benefits of a GPS tracking system. An average decrease of 13.2% and 13.4% in fuel expenditure and overtime could be achieved by using “location intelligence”. The article also states that the operating cost of a vehicle can be cut by 10.4%. The average operating cost per vehicle was 33 cents a mile and with a yearly mileage of 33243, savings of $1100 per vehicle per annum could be achieved. These savings would justify the investment in the telematics device. There are other telematics products available on the market, one being the TomTom Link 410. The features of the Link 410 are similar to the GO7. The Link 410 however, requires a Link 105 add-on devices to monitor engine information. The GO7 is able to better integrate multiple feature into a single device, compared to its competitors. Therefore, the GO7 is an advanced telematics device that helps improves efficiency.

References:

Mark Cullen (2016). Aberdeen Group's GPS tracking study key facts. Retrieved October 6, 2016 from: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/aberdeen-groups-gps-tracking-study-key-facts-mark-cullen

Geotab (2016). Geotab GO7 brochure. Retrieved October 6, 2016 from: https://www.geotab.com/wp-content/themes/geotab-template/resources/doc/Geotab-Brochure.pdf

TomTom(2016). Retrieved October 6 2016 from: https://telematics.tomtom.com/en_gb/webfleet/products/link/