Skyjack recognises the value that telematics brings to a fleet and the invaluable data gleaned from such technology. Recently, Skyjack updated their award winning Elevate Live telematics system with the launch of the updated Elevate Live 2.0.
Following a mobile first philosophy, Elevate is an integrated solution for entire fleets while still following Skyjack’s “simply reliable” ethos. Rather than building a new business model, Elevate streamlines existing business models by providing a solution that enables seamless communication between rental fleets and service teams, ERPs, and end users.
Available in three packages (Direct, Engage and Engage + Access), Elevate ranges from connecting rental fleets directly to their ERP for maintenance and billing, to a full suite of tools to manage a connected fleet.
Elevate is powered by Trackunit, the accepted standard of hardware and platform for off-road and construction fleets. Users can log into a single portal to see their Skyjack machines at the same time as the rest of their fleet. Furthermore, they can run reports and see insights for their entire fleet while benefitting from Skyjack-provided insights and alerts engineered for Skyjack machines.
All Elevate packages come with access to API connectivity allowing users to feed your rental software/ERP system with live data direct from the machine.
Telematics offer exceptional visibility into many key aspects of a rental fleet. From machine health to location to fuel use to usage patterns, rental companies can gain extensive information about their fleets. With these in-depth metrics, users can see serious savings and operational improvements.
Skyjack’s mobile-first solution ‘Elevate’ was originally launched in 2018 to give operators access to critical machine information including the machine’s state of health, pre-use inspection guides, and familiarisation materials through a simple QR code with the aim of empowering both operators and rental companies.
Information available via QR code eliminates the need to download apps and remember or share login details. Using their phone to scan the QR code on the machine, operators immediately gain access to extensive machine data and operation guides, saving both operators and rental houses time spent asking and answering machine questions. Elevate Live is available on all Skyjack equipment, whether Skyjack’s more in-depth telematics system Elevate is installed. If the broader Elevate telematics is installed, the operator will see information that is more detailed; for example, more comprehensive data on machine health including items like last charge date or recommended charging instructions.
The updated navigation in Elevate Live 2.0 allows straightforward access to features, including live metrics as they pertain to the machines such as battery details, engine faults and controller alarms. The new user interface includes an additional two screens so that live metrics, documentation and technical information feeds are available. For example, electrically powered machines can see a live battery percentage, extensive charge information, and actions required based on battery percentage. Controller alarm data also presents any issues with corresponding codes and timestamps, battery voltage, and total hours of battery usage.
Similarly, engine powered machines can also see issues complete with codes and timestamps, as well as fuel amount and consumption data, total hours and battery voltage, among other metrics. In the case of telescopic and articulating booms, instances of overload and tilt alarm triggering can be tracked.
Available in seven different languages Elevate Live also includes model information, serial number and operational status. In addition to the live data, Elevate Live 2.0 provides in depth, machine-specific documents and five button navigation including a quick start guide, familiarisation video, pre-use checklist, manuals, emergency lowering procedure.
Telematics like Elevate and Elevate Live offer significant ROI for rental companies. From streamlined maintenance schedules to issue prevention to machine optimisation, the metrics provided by telematics provide invaluable insight.
True utilisation, for example, allows analysis of time elevated, time driving loaded, and total run time to provide true working time, unlike other systems that simply look at engine run time. This complete insight into machine use helps to optimise repair and rental schedules.
Specifically, Skyjack’s unique ‘Ready to Operate’, available on DC Scissors and Vertical Masts, shortens phone calls, reduces visits to site and reduces costs by remotely identifying operator error. Indicated machine settings include battery disconnect, circuit breaker intact, key on, not on charge, E-stop out.
Additionally, CAN data allows users to understand the machine history without needing to be at the machine with specialised tools and software. Providing full fault code access to service staff allows for better decisions and analysis, resulting in reduced costs in service calls and repairs.
Telematics systems can also greatly enhance fleet safety and security. As previously mentioned, the easy to access educational materials empower operators for safe and informed equipment operation.
In terms of security, rental companies can track machine location and users in a straightforward way. For example, the Elevate the Dual ID II keypad uses a PIN code or an RFID card to control who operates machines.
Additionally, telematics have been used before to help police locate and recover stolen machines. In October of 2021, customers informed Skyjack that their scheduled machine orders never arrived.
The Skyjack team immediately activated Elevate telematics on the missing machines, providing real time movement and activity on the machines – which were hundreds of kilometres away at that point.
Using this data police were able to recover the stolen equipment and determine the culprit.
The benefit of telematics are vast, with clear ROI for rental companies and machine operators alike. From reducing loss and theft to optimising machine operation to streamlined management, telematics are becoming a key aspect for effective rental fleet management.