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]]>More and more vehicles – and other assets for that matter – are capable of generating data. The possibility to collect that data, gives us valuable insights to make complex workflows faster, more efficient, safer and more optimal.
Examples that make better use of the capacity of your fleet, are track & trace, driver analysis, eco-scoring tools and remote tacho download solutions.
Here we’re elaborating on remote tacho downloads. As it happens, the European directives make it relevant to any organisation with commercial vehicles of 3.5 tonnes or more.
Remote tacho download refers to the process of retrieving data from a digital tachograph remotely, without physically accessing the vehicle or the tachograph. The device is mandatory in the EU for commercial vehicles of +3,5 tonnes and installed to record various data related to driving and rest times, speed, distance, and other relevant information.
The Suivo hardware can:
Tacho Cloud makes local servers, their maintenance and the knowledge they require, redundant.
Related blogpost: FAQ about CANbus, Tacho and (remote) Tacho Download
Read the Solution Brief about Tacho Cloud
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]]>Via the Squarell module with “CANcliQ” and a ‘clamp’ that is connected to the Suivo Extended/Premium tracker we can read out the following data:
Small side notes:
In addition to detecting and automatically recording border crossings, the latest tacho offers other improvements:
Reading of tacho data WITHOUT Suivo:
Reading of tacho data WITH Suivo?
If you use Suivo, your tacho data is automatically read every day, regardless of the location of the vehicle. This is possible thanks to the connection of the Suivo Blackbox.
What can we show in the Suivo IoT Cloud Platform?
Sometimes it is as simple as it sounds: it concerns the remote reading of data on your tachograph. Remote tacho download refers to the process of retrieving data from a digital tachograph remotely, without physically accessing the vehicle or the tachograph.
If you do this via the Suivo Tacho Cloud technology, the data are being securely stored in the cloud.
All driver files are daily downloaded and centralized on the Suivo platform and remain easy accessible.
Suivo provides notifications in case of missing information. There is no need to spend hours each week on reviewing the files and asking drivers to pass by.
Our hardware can connect directly to Siemens VDO and Stoneridge digital tachographs to read out real-time driver card information, and to accommodate remote mass storage and driver card memory downloads.
The Suivo IoT platform collects the DDD-files required to be compliant. Based on a copy of the company card installed in the secure so-called ‘Suivo Tacho Card Hotel’, your fleet will be a lot easier to manage!
Driver names of both driver cards and working time warnings from the tachograph are shown in real-time on the Suivo IoT Cloud Platform. The tacho identifications with driver cards can also be used for Suivo person-based reports.
The Suivo Tacho Cloud Solution uses the CANbus interface to make a contactless connection to the vehicle’s data network to read out information such as fuel usage and engine parameters. The CANbus interface also connects directly to the digital tachograph to read out real-time driver card information (name and working hours) and to accommodate remote download of tachograph mass storage data and driver card memory. This interface allows Suivo to give you an accurate view on real vehicle fuel consumption and engine usage. On the web application and reports you will get statistics regarding cruise control usage, excessive RPM, as well as fuel used during idling. The vehicle’s odometer and fuel level are also displayed in real-time on the Suivo Live Tracking views.
The Driver Awareness Panel (DAP) connects to the Suivo Carbon tracker to make drivers aware of their driving style. It’s an “on the job” assistance tool to save fuel and achieve direct results. DAP actively and continuously monitors the vehicle CANbus and analyzes the CANbus data. The DAP calculates and compares the data against fleet and vehicle performance standards. The DAP signals any good or bad driving behavior during the trip. This method makes the driver aware of his driving style and stimulates him to act accordingly. Various algorithms are implemented like harsh driving and braking, high RPM and anticipated driving.
Another way to monitor driving behavior is using the Suivo Eco Drive app. The app provides you with an ecoscore and enables you to gain insights in how environmentally friendly…
Read more on the Suivo Eco Drive app.
Read the customer case of Multiobus.
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]]>Of course, the appropriate identification method for your organization depends on where your priorities lie and on the sector in which you operate. What do you want to achieve with the identification?
Do you want to provide or deny access to a certain location or vehicle to certain people? Do you want to get rid of paper timesheets? Do you want to map your staff’s travel times? Do you want to be able to invoice easily (per project)? Do you want to comply with government obligations such as the Check-in-at-Work at work sites without too much fuss?
So the priorities can be very diverse and often it is more than desirable that your identification methods work seamlessly with things and systems you already have in place (for example the ConstruBadge or Alfapass). Therefore it’s not unthinkable that you might not see the wood for the trees when you have to decide on a suitable identification method.
We advise you to discuss your needs with your account manager in any case, but here we already give a short overview of the identification methods that are supported by Suivo today.
An identifier is linked to a person in the Suivo IoT Cloud Platform. In this way, one or more identifiers can be linked to that person. When this linked identifier is used, the registration will be linked to the person. This registration and status (at work, on break, on the road, …) can be found per person on the platform.
An iButton is a device with a microchip with a durable stainless steel housing of 16 mm thick. This electronic key has a chip with a worldwide unique serial number. This serial number cannot be changed and is therefore unique for every iButton.
An iButton can be used for:
Do you want to identify people in a vehicle? Then the vehicle can be equipped with a:
One or more people can register via an iButton in a vehicle/machine. The identification can be for:
A person can register with an iButton on a yard post to:
In the Suivo IoT platform, the unique serial number must be linked to the person concerned. This can be simplified by using a USB iButton Reader. Scan the iButton with the reader and the serial number is completed in the platform.
RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification and can also be used to identify individuals. Suivo reads the serial number from the RFID chip so that it can then be linked to a person in the Suivo IoT Cloud platform.
The following technologies can be read:
The vehicle can be equipped with:
One or more persons can register via RFID in a vehicle/machine. The registration can serve:
ATTENTION: The yard stake only registers MIFARE.
A person can register with an RFID badge at a yard pole for:
In the Suivo IoT Cloud platform you need to connect an RFID card to a person. When a person registers with his/her RFID card his/her name appears in the Suivo platform. Suivo reads the unique serial number of the card. If the serial number is not known, a USB RFID Reader can be used to easily read the serial number and enter the information in the platform.
Suivo offers a USB RFID Reader so that a RFID smart card can easily be linked to a person.
The ConstruBadge is a personal visual identifier for each construction trade worker.
Workers who belong to PC124 receive a new ConstruBadge every year.
The ConstruBadge contains the following information:
A vehicle or yard pole can be equipped with a specific ConstruBadge Reader.
When an identification is done with a ConstruBadge on the ConstruBadge Reader, Suivo checks if the social security number is known in the database. There are following options:
Alfapass offers a unified ID control for ports. The pass serves as an entry ticket to the ports of Antwerp and Zeebrugge and is valid for 3 years.
The Alfapass Reader reads the following encrypted data:
For the person where the use of the Alfapass as a means of identification is indicated in Suivo, the above data will be completed as an attribute. When reading the Alfapass all these data will be updated.
It is also possible to use a MIFARE badge on the Alfapass reader, but in that case only the unique serial number of the card will be read.
Suivo offers the possibility that a person can register for Check-in-at-work via a Belgian identity card (eID). The eID contains a QR/barcode on the back. The QR/barcode contains the person’s social security number.
A wharf post can be equipped with a QR/barcode reader. When a person scans his identity card via the QR/barcode reader then he/she is correctly registered with the NSSO, provided that the employer has a VAT number.
This solution is ideal for Belgian (sub)contractors with employees who are not known before they arrive on a construction site.
Anyone who is not subject to Belgian social security, and who comes to work in Belgium on a temporary and/or part-time basis, must be able to present a Limosa-1 reporting document.
A wharf post equipped with a QR/barcode reader can scan a person’s Limosa document. He or she can thus also be correctly registered with the NSSO and thus comply with the mandatory Check-in-at-Work.
This solution is ideal for foreign contractors.
More on Limosa and Limosa application.
The driver card replaces the tachograph disk and is personal to the driver. This card contains the data of each individual driver and stores performance data (driving, resting, etc.). The driver card has a validity period of five years. Each driver may have only one driver card and may not use an expired or defective card.
When the vehicle is equipped with a Suivo black box + “FLEX” CAN-BUS Interface + Tachograph Download upgrade, the Tacho statuses are automatically displayed in the platform.
If the driver is linked to his Driver Card via the serial number (B4100000117400) in the Suivo IoT Cloud platform, then this person will also be automatically linked to the Tacho statuses.
A People Tracker can be seen as a fixed identification or location device for a person. The tracker can be linked to a person as a location in Suivo. This location can then be used in combination with the Suivo Timesheet app or Time Logger app to combine hours with mobility.
Thereby the location of the People Tracker can be used to make additions in the Suivo Time Logger app, see next point.
A person can use the Suivo Time Logger App to identify themselves digitally.
One or more persons can register through the app by choosing a predefined status.
Registering can be done in the following ways:
If the person is already known in the Suivo IoT Cloud platform, the Suivo Time Logger app can also serve as a Check-in-at-Work tool.
Overview of our apps.
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]]>An American multinational in telecom acquired in 2016 a telematics company based in Dublin. The biggest telematics supplier from The Netherlands was sold to a Japanese multinational auto and truck parts manufacturer in 2019. And more recently, a Nordic company took over a Benelux telematics solution end 2020. It’s clear that the vehicle, machine and asset tracking platform sector has undergone some significant changes. And that’s even before we consider the impact that COVID-19 is likely to have on platform centralization and the opportunities this could create for new takeovers.
It’s time to look at the organizations that use these tracking platforms. What is the impact on the products they use? Do they need to worry about continued support for the hard- and software components they currently use? What about the local legal requirements? Or country specific solutions? Will they need to switch to a new system within a certain timeframe or can they continue using the old platform, knowing that there is unlikely to be much development in the future?
Vehicle, machine, and asset tracking is critical for daily operations, with construction and utility companies increasingly using asset tracking platforms to manage their fleet of vehicles, machinery, small tools, and other equipment. These organisations understand that it’s more than just knowing where an asset is, it’s about guaranteeing the safety of employees, planning projects so deadlines can be met, ensuring transparency of machine usage to help manage the costs of complex projects, and more.
It’s also important to have the right vehicle, machine, and asset tracking platform and the right assistance from suppliers as they continue to develop and support their systems. To give an example, legal requirements about check-in-at-work, km registration, km compensation, time registration (CAOs), mobility compensation, etc. are constantly evolving and it’s essential that your tracking platform is updated with each change. Tracking platform suppliers that offer local knowledge and development teams are a good solution.
So, what happens if your local supplier is taken over? 20,000 is a huge number of customers for a Benelux supplier. But what happens if a global player with 300,000 or more customers takes over? How relevant are these local customers when they represent less than 10% of the total customer base? Will their requests be heard? Will a legal change that only affects a small minority be a priority on the global roadmap which is managed for 300,000 customers?
We’ve noticed that customers are increasingly concerned about these questions, and we completely understand. To help you ensure that your organisation will be in the hands of a truly engaged supplier, we’ve created a list of critical points for you to check.
As the expression says, there’s no such thing as a free lunch. So, if you’re offered the tracking hardware for (almost) nothing, where are the hidden costs? And, if it turns out that it really is free, then you’re probably the product. In which case, it’s up to you to decide if that’s okay for your situation and check that the hard- and software has the functionality you need, including being able to work with all your vehicles, machines, and assets, and being able to connect with tachograph or CAN-bus (if required).
What about the autonomous equipment and asset trackers: do they have the same specifications as the hardware you are using now? Same battery lifespan? And the same connectivity quality? Lastly, is the supplier offering the same coverage in the Benelux as they do elsewhere, for example, in the US or the Nordics?
Do you need a one size fits all approach to asset tracking? Or do you need to combine both active and passive tags for material and tool tracking? It’s worth checking what you need and what the supplier can provide, as some suppliers are more flexible than others.
Is there a mobile app available? If so, will it match your needs as you expand in the future? And what functionalities can you use today? Possible functionalities include an overview of all assets, damage reporting, asset booking for projects, inventory or inspection lists, check-in-at work, time registration, delivery and transport scheduling, and eco-driving monitoring. Even if you don’t use these functionalities now, would they (and/or other functionalities) be useful in the future? And are these functionalities available in your country?
Does the asset tracking platform offer vertical products and solutions (to be used in all industries) as well as comprehensive features needed in your specific industry? For example, you might need check-in-at-work, km allowance, time registration (CAOs), or mobility compensation features.
Take a look at the organisations that already use the asset tracking platform: are there relevant and recognised references from your industry based in other countries? If not, what is the likelihood that the new platform will be made to fulfil your specific requirements?
API connections are essential for ensuring smooth integration with your other software packages. So, ask your asset tracking platform supplier about the API options they foresee, how they are charged (especially if the platform changes and the interface needs to be updated to local players), and if there are any new API costs and what they cover.
What happens if there is a technical issue? Will your asset tracking platform supplier be able to repair the problem quickly? Is it possible for a technician to visit your site or are all technical employees based in a central location with only a commercial team in the Benelux? As much as we don’t like to think about it, sometimes you need to think about the support your organisation can rely on in the worst-case scenario.
But it’s not all negative. Change and disruptions always give us the chance to change for the better. So, look at it as an opportunity and evaluate the actual systems you currently have available and what your organisation needs to live up to its future potential. Consider:
In other words, instead of simply jumping from one supplier to another, this is the ideal time to compare different platforms. So, make a list, dream big, and take the chance to change!
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When discussing their requirements, Agora highlighted three issues that they wanted the new solution to solve: more control over empty goods management; better overview of all transport orders; and real-time information flows between branches, drivers and sub-contractors.
Transporting flowers and plants is more complex than simply loading a truck in one location and unloading it at another. Instead, the delivery truck needs to arrive at the delivery location with special containers that keep the flowers in perfect condition during transportation. It is not easy for Agora to follow-up on the total amount of containers needed and the exchange of them at different locations.
By creating a connection between the Suivo transport app and the empty goods management software module in the Go4Logistics’ backend ERP, Go4TMS, Agora will be able to accurately monitor and follow-up their special containers, as well as the rest of their assets.
Currently, Agora edits sales orders in three different systems, making it difficult for the transport department to follow-up in an efficient way. Go4Logistics recommends using their order import module in their Transport Management System (TMS, a Microsoft Dynamics application) to capture and manage all orders in one system.
Agora’s purchasing companies in France, Italy and the Netherlands deliver to its 22 Cash & Carry branches in Belgium and France via their own fleet of 12 trucks. The fleet is supplemented by up to 30 additional sub-contractors driving their own vehicles during busy periods such as Christmas or Mother’s Day.
Suivo suggested a mobile app for all Agora and sub-contracted drivers to ensure better follow-up of deliveries (and empty goods management). The mobile app would be linked to Go4Logistics’ Go4TMS and provide each driver with his/her daily schedule and enable him/her to finish their daily tasks, for example: scanning goods, registering empty goods, handling returns, damage registration, photographing damage or transport documents, signing receipts, and emailing POD. The app would also transmit information in real-time back to Go4TMS to enable dispatchers to follow-up deliveries.
Additionally, Suivo recommended installing a professional vehicle tracking system for Agora’s 12 trucks. The tracking system will be completed with a driving analysis application and an option for a digital tachograph download. The system ensures a perfect follow-up of the trucks’ locations, the driving analysis application maps the driving styles of the different drivers and the automatic tachograph download gives the dispatcher a clear overview of the driving and rest times of each driver.
Together Suivo and Go4Logistics offer a total solution that fits Agora’s requirements by automating internal information flows to bring Agora’s customer service to a new level.
From its five Cash & Carry branches in Belgium and a further 17 in France, Agora offers everything that professional florists and garden centers need under one roof: daily fresh cut flowers and green materials, a wide selection of indoor and outdoor plants, basic necessities and the latest trends in decoration. Agora also has purchasing companies in France, Italy and the Netherlands.
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