In a discussion about how technology can transform the way fleets monitor the condition of their vehicle fleets, a good place to start is to ask the question:

Why don’t fleets consistently monitor the condition of their vehicles?

The short answer is because it is operationally cumbersome. Continuously monitoring the condition of a sizeable fleet is nearly impossible.

For example, if a fleet is managed across a wide geographic area and spread between the care and control of many different operators and third parties, trying to get a continuous snapshot of the condition of the fleet is extremely expensive and operationally challenging. It would interrupt business operations, requiring fleet managers to make appointments with third-party inspection companies, keeping the vehicle out of service until a condition report is completed.

How artificial intelligence & automated inspections empower fleet managers

Advanced technology allows fleet managers to efficiently capture condition assessments for the entire fleet with minimal time and effort. Traditional methods of monitoring fleet condition can be time-consuming, costly, and prone to human error. If fleet managers want to truly revolutionize their understanding of their fleet’s condition, they must look past traditional methods and embrace technologies that can efficiently provide consistent inspection data.

Artificial intelligence can now enable automated inspections that are changing the inspection landscape, offering faster, more accurate, and cost-effective solutions. AI empowers anyone to become a skilled inspector and effortlessly generate detailed condition reports by simply capturing standard imagery of the vehicle itself, and anyone means anyone who has access to the vehicle. Existing personnel at the fleet depot or yard, drivers, or anyone with access to a smartphone is now a professional inspector.

By analyzing high-resolution images and sensor data, automated inspection platforms can identify all types of vehicle damage, from major collision damage to even the subtlest cosmetic defects, such as scratches, dents, and paint damage, that may go unnoticed by the human eye.

Condition awareness and consistency leads to maintenance efficiencies

 With AI enabled technologies, fleet managers now have the ability to ensure that inspections are executed the same way every single time, completely unbiased. This becomes important because, at times, a third party is in the mix who might not have the incentive to report all the vehicle damage.

Optimization opportunities present themselves when a fleet manager can view their entire fleet condition consistently. Analyzing trends in the type of damage and associated vehicle parts helps optimize the entire repair process. In addition, insight into driver behavior allows for tracking unreported single vehicle incidents that were previously not easily understood.

AI algorithms are trained on vast datasets and can consistently detect a wide range of damages across all vehicle makes and models. This enhanced accuracy translates into more reliable maintenance schedules and reduced downtime for fleet vehicles. Because of that, fleets are capturing condition data on vehicles in such a unique way that new opportunities open up to analyze how fleet managers can manage their overall fleet life cycle and when to repair or exit a vehicle. AI algorithms can also analyze vehicle condition history to predict potential failures before they occur. This predictive capability allows fleet managers to schedule maintenance proactively, extending vehicle lifespans.

Real time valuation insights and digital remarketing

Another benefit to utilizing advanced inspection technologies is that fleet owners and operators can now attach a current condition adjusted valuation to each vehicle in their fleet. Sometimes, the end of the lease isn’t the best time to exit a vehicle and understanding the condition relative to the lease duration, assists fleets in their reconditioning and remarketing decisions.

Fleet managers can now instantly list their vehicle in a digital auction platform without the need to incur transportation costs, inspection costs, or high auction fees. Fleet managers can sell a fleet vehicle in a completely different, transformative, digital way with pricing confidence and graded condition reports for buyer disclosure.

Unlock condition monitoring for your fleet

As the automotive industry continues to evolve, the adoption of AI in fleet condition monitoring is set to become increasingly widespread. The tangible benefits in terms of accuracy, efficiency, and cost savings are too compelling to ignore. AI technology ensures consistent and unbiased inspections that lead to more efficient fleet operations.

The ability to efficiently capture and analyze vehicle condition data opens up new opportunities for fleet managers to optimize their operations, including identifying at-fault parties, to scheduling service, sourcing replacement parts, and making informed decisions about vehicle disposal. AI’s predictive capabilities allow for proactive fleet management, extending the lifespan of fleet vehicles and minimizing expensive downtime.

For fleet managers looking to streamline their operations and gain continuous insight into the condition of their vehicles, it’s time to embrace the power of AI and automated inspections.

Jameel Ghata is chief strategy officer at PAVE