Telematics is often seen as a burden by first-time users, something the boss installs to control, track and monitor their employees because they are not doing their job right.
To first time users, telematics means lack of trust, lack of privacy and an overall burden. Therefore, they meet this new device with a range of emotions ranging from anger, to fear, and to misunderstanding. But this is not at all the purpose of telematics. It`s actually the contrary, telematics is here to help drivers, as well as the managers, to have an easier job, more security on the road, less hassle and more free time.
Today, we wanted to take a deeper look and bring you some real-life confessions of first-time telematics users.
“One of the biggest admissions I have to make is an immediate thought that came through my mind that the company I have worked for the last 3 years does not trust me. That idea, that lack of trust, became a major mental barrier slowing down my adoption of the system. It impacted not just me, but also my colleagues. In fact, I deliberately missed two installation appointments and did not read the unit’s driver manual for ages.
But it turns out that there are 2 settings on the device – a work mode and a private mode. Sure, the work mode does show my position to my boss. But there is also the private mode I can use, at it doesn`t show anything to my boss, to HR, to no one but me! So I still have my privacy when off work”
Mircea, 56 y.o., installed telematics in January 2018
“I was determined to quit my job when I heard telematics was to be introduced. I spend long hours on the road, getting the work done, being careful. I never had an incident in 25 years.
Even so, my boss decided to install telematics on all his vehicles. After all my hard work, that was the thanks I was going to get.
But after using it for a few trips, I found out that that was not the case. My boss didn`t install it to track me, he installed it to better manage the vehicles and to intervene if I ever needed help. Knowing where the vehicle was at any time meant less phone calls from the headquarters, meant less explanations to give, meant that if I ever was any in danger, he could call local authorities to intervene.
Installing telematics wasn`t about me, it was about better planning”
Radosław, 50 y.o., installed telematics in June 2017
“Filling in a log-book is a hassle, no one likes it. It is boring, it is repetitive, it doesn`t make me any smarter. I usually never have time to do it, so I end up doing it Friday afternoon, at 16:39.
In the last 3,5 years filling in the log-book on Friday became a weekly routine for me, the only thing between me and going home to spend time with my family.
Telematics was a huge help with this! Not having to fill in the log-book actually made me reconsider the whole of my Friday calendar. It freed up half an hour I can use for anything else, maybe even go home early if I can”
Jaroslav, 55 y.o., installed telematics in December 2017
“I honestly did not anticipate how competitive me and my colleagues would be over the driving style app. It’s a small thing, but it turned out to work as a fantastic teambuilder, at least for us.
The first thing HR did was to create a ranking system on our intranet for the best drivers. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but competing against each other became a real and fun activity.
We had a competition last month, and 3 people at the top of the rankings got a Mercedes as a company car for a month. Other prizes were car accessories and caps.
I appreciated the fact that it was fair, as it was based on a reliable device. “
Michal, 40 y.o. installed telematics November 2017
