Fleets that have Geotab Marketplace subscription (Pro plan or higher) and deploy vehicles with Allison automatic transmissions were recently gifted the ability to predict the future, now that Allison Connected Services has been brought onto the widely used telematics platform.
With the help of Allison’s digital maintenance tool, fleet managers can now easily access diagnostic and maintenance information already visible to drivers, including oil levels, filter life, clutch health and the transmission, and leverage that data to make prudent decisions regarding the severity of fault code and corrective actions. The tool also guides drivers to the nearest Allison dealership for service if needed.
“As a fleet manager, you're going to be able to see essentially what's going on with the transmission the same way the driver does, so you'll have that information back in your office as opposed to having to go do rounds or a check in,” said Jeff Mooers, product manager for digital and connected services at Allison.
The update to Geotab Marketplace is now available and covers fourth and fifth-generation Allison transmissions dating as far back as 2006.
“As a leading OEM, integration with Allison allows Geotab to provide a more comprehensive offering to medium- and heavy-duty commercial fleets through a world-class partner,” said Scott Sutarik, Geotab’s VP, Commercial Vehicle Solutions. “With a solution that eliminates the need for separate apps and web pages when viewing Allison data, together we are delivering the kind of trusted, best-in-class fleet management products and services our customers have come to expect.” Geotab has done previous integrations with Bendix, Cummins and Allison competitor Eaton.
The integration will affect upwards of an estimated 75,000 subscribers, according to Geotab, which said 20% of Geotab’s 500,000 heavy duty commercial vehicle users have Allison transmissions.
Mooers said that while the current fault-code detecting and directing will improve uptime in the short term, this continuously generated wealth of user data will impact Allison’s future by steering its product road map.
“That operational data does have value in informing us on how our products are being used in the field and help us make better judgments about what we can do going forward, what we should be doing, and offer future products and capabilities that are better aligned to the actual usage of the vehicles,” said Mooers.
He pointed out that FuelSense 2.0 calibration data is not yet collected on this platform, but this is only the beginning of what the transmission manufacturer has planned to provide more value to fleets.
“This is a really important first step of getting launched and establishing connectivity with the fleet,” Mooers said. “Then we can start to take the feedback about how we should evolve that product roadmap.”
