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The explosion of smartphone and tablet usage and resultant boom in apps means there are more than ever that are of use to fleet operators, so we couldn't fit them all in. There are a few, though, more worth mentioning, such as Volvo's Oncall (pictured above, left) , which won the app category in our 2011 Techies Awards and creates business journey expense reports, as well as allowing drivers to operate elements of the car remotely such as the door locks and check the fuel level. The Mobile LAi app by Lex Autolease (pictured above, right), meanwhile, includes booking forms for services, MoTs and other such essentials as well as an emergency help function and a GPS locator for approved tyre fitters.
Fleets operating in and out of the capital will appreciate the Traffic View London app by Chris Oklota, which has views from the city's traffic cameras and is designed to give a heads up before you hit congestion. Finally, Toyota's Company Car Tax Guide app includes a handy BIK calculator, legislation details and a "quick consideration" guide.
The smorgasbord of handy apps on these pages prove that the technology is becoming ever more useful to the fleet community, and it is now creeping beyond a straightforward download for a smartphone. Some firms are tipping it as a replacement for wired-in telematics systems, with the intention of reducing the need for a physical box in the car and the downtime that creates.
Greenroad is one of the first companies to pick up the idea and run with it and has effectively created a full telematics system running off the driver's smartphone (pictured). It's not as cast-iron as the usual black box that comes with your average telematics system, as the driver is required to drop the phone into its cradle and hook it up to a charger, but if compliance isn't an issue then it makes a lot of sense.
The system picks up on hard driving and emits an audible warning to overly keen drivers, while a traffic light system grades their driving habits. Greenroad reckons that a large proportion of drivers treat the system competitively and aim to hone their driving so they're constantly in the green, with top scores.
It works on a subscription basis, similarly to most telematics packages, so there's a regular cost rather than it being a one-off download. It's a novel idea in every respect and could well be the way that apps and smartphones are commonly used in future.
. Downloads as well as further information on the featured apps on these pages can be found on the companies' websites and also the Apple and Android app stores.
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