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“Technology helps make our lives easier and more efficient. A major development in our digital world is Telematics, or the Internet of Things (IoT). Sensors on those products collect data on the usage of machines on a project. This data provides a lot of new and valuable information so that we can use our fleet more intelligently. “
Optimising productivity
Jos Pellegrom is Product Owner at Boels and looks at the possibilities of telematics mainly from the customer’s perspective. “How can we support them better with data from the machines they use? Boels has a number of services where connectivity data is applied. Such as a map that shows exactly where rented machines are or have been, and the hours of use per day. Understanding how equipment is used helps you work more efficiently. Having access to this information lets you optimise the number of machines, productivity and staff planning. What’s more, generating emission reports helps you comply with legislation or client standards. With data from the machine fleet, you basically work better, faster and save costs.”
As Fleet Connectivity Manager, Anders Jateus connects the machine fleet of Boels to digital services. “Because we don’t just collect data, but also learn from it and use it intelligently, we can improve processes and get more out of the fleet. With information from the machine fleet, we have developed several services, such as carbon emissions reporting, energy monitoring and access control.”
MyBoels
MyBoels
The MyBoels digital platform gives you real-time insight into the products you have hired from Boels. Machines equipped with telematics also show you the GPS location, running hours and, where possible, even more comprehensive information, for example:
- the fuel level;
- the status of the DEF tank, which adds Adblue© to significantly reduce diesel engine emissions;
- the average use per day;
- the fuel consumption;
- the battery voltage;
- and any error codes.
Understanding how equipment is used helps you work more efficiently
Easily create emission reports with the CO2 report
“The CO2 report shows the carbon footprint of a project”, Jateus explains. “You gain insight into the emissions of all combustion engine machines that are hired from Boels. It gives an overview of the overall project, but you can also create detailed Excel reports for a specific time period or certain machines. This information helps when you need to produce emissions reports for clients or the government. And of course, you can also use the data from CO2 reports to work more efficiently and therefore more sustainably, so as to reduce your project’s and your organisation’s carbon footprint.”
Be ready for new legislation with energy monitoring
When using Boels equipment with telematics, energy monitoring allows you to view and asses a project’s overall energy consumption; in kilowatt-hours as well as in terms of costs and CO2 impact. “With different IoT sensors, you can measure and monitor energy consumption in any specific part of the construction site”, Jateus explains. “From the site cabin to the tower crane, and everything in between. Besides measuring energy, the energy monitoring solution also gives measurements for water consumption and indoor and outdoor temperature combined with humidity. This information can be very useful when reporting or benchmarking different projects. And you can also take immediate action. In fact, the sensor readings can also send you alarm notifications, for instance if an overloaded phase could cause a power failure.”
From 2025, it will be mandatory in some countries to record the energy consumption of the construction process. With our energy monitoring solution, you can already comply with the new sustainability reporting legislation. Pellegrom: “In the Netherlands, nitrogen emissions from construction projects are a hot topic. We are currently making preparation to support our customers in this area as well.”
With our energy monitoring solution, you already comply with new sustainability reporting legislation
Increase your security with Smart Keys
“The Smart Keys module lets you control the access to hired equipment”, Jateus continues. “The machines are locked by default. This prevents unauthorised use. Only pre-approved users, for example qualified personnel, can operate the equipment with a smart identification card. This increases safety on the construction site.”
More information from more data
The strategy of Boels is currently focused on maximising the knowledge from data in machines. “We need to connect as many machines as possible and extract as much information as possible from them”, Pellegrom explains. “Then we can give customers a more comprehensive picture of their projects and support them even better with more relevant data and reporting options.”
“The amount of information you get from a machine is increasing”, Jateus adds: “And we’re working really hard to get more and more rental equipment connected”, Pellegrom continues. “New technologies like mobile IoT devices are making it easier to digitise more and different types of equipment. This allows us to keep expanding and improving our services. We’re actually currently working on ways for customers to hire equipment from us, without Boels staff getting involved, at the moment they need to use it. And provide them with all the information they need even easier and better.”
Our solutions give customers a more comprehensive picture of their projects and support them even better with relevant data and reporting options
Taking immediate action
Collecting the data is one thing, but the real added value is what you do with all the information. Pellegrom: “We will be presenting this information even better, so that our customers can start using it straight away. What actions do you need to take based on the information? Think of notifications that a machine needs refuelling or recharging, or alarms in case of an error message. In cases like this where immediate attention is required, we also want to start sending automatic push messages to mobile phones.”
Supporting and automating processes
“At a later stage, we can also give customised advice based on the data-driven insights we have on customer activities”, Pellegrom concludes. “Let’s say we see that you frequently use particular machines or services, we can recommend upgrading the fleet with more (mobile) IoT devices. This makes insights and reports more complete and saves a lot of time in entering and processing that data manually. In that way, we are always trying to think from our customers’ perspective and develop technologies to further support and automate processes.”
Do you want to get more out of your projects? Download the MyBoels app.
