Omnitracs' Road Ahead blog

Deploying data in freight: Q&A with Dr. Ashim Bose

Omnitracs

There’s an important common thread between the most transformative technologies of our era. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) solutions are helping businesses go even further with their most valuable resource — data. With their highly advanced capabilities, these technologies can massively increase the scale at which fleets can understand and act upon data trends to improve efficiencies. Think about it this way: If fifteen trucks on a route experience the same delays and stoppages, that route data can be mined for patterns. AI and ML can automatically identify those trends and recommend changes accordingly. This is an example of data turning into action.

All of that opportunity rests upon the proper use of data and how it’s collected, stored, and categorized. For AI and ML to make the most accurate conclusions in freight, they require a healthy pool of data to pull from. Otherwise, it would be like playing poker without a full deck of cards.

To give us a better sense of just how important data is in powering sustainable growth and innovation within the freight industry, we sat down with Dr. Ashim Bose, Chief Data Scientist and Vice President of Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) and Data at Omnitracs, to get his perspective on how data is driving new opportunities. Here’s what we learned:

  • The future of AI will focus on safety. While the most commonly cited benefit of artificial intelligence is the automation of administrative tasks, according to Dr. Bose, data-fueled AI will bring on the next wave of driver safety improvements. By collecting this data, AI can inform new recommendations on how to keep drivers out of harm’s way — like encouraging “eyes on the road” and preventing hard stops and sharp turning at dangerous speeds. In addition, engine and telematics data can be mined for predictive maintenance to reduce breakdowns.
  • Data is creating a more engaging driver experience. The next generation of drivers are highly tech savvy – they’re the digital natives who are comfortable navigating a wide range of interfaces and form factors. As this wave of drivers enters the workforce, fleets are exploring how to use data to overhaul the very way the in-cab experience is designed. This includes new gamification strategies, like tapping integrated social media to get drivers invested and involved in the wider fleet community.
  • Smart cities are around the corner. 5G networks are primed to exponentially increase the amount of data generated, which will significantly impact the role of data in powering smart cities. It won’t just be trucks that will be more data-driven, but the lights and traffic themselves. Traffic data will help inform new optimization strategies for last-mile fleets as consumer demand for next-day-shipping grows.

Want to learn more about how data can jumpstart your fleet and drive new efficiencies for your organization? Omnitracs One is bringing these opportunities to life.