From AI-powered insights to smarter infrastructure, Geotab is anticipating how a number of trends are going to shape connected transportation in Australia across the next 12 months.
If you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a million times – artificial intelligence, or AI, is going to change the landscape of industries across the nation. For some, it already has.
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Not all of it is going to be talking holograms and super-computational algorithms. Much of what AI can offer will be ways to streamline workloads and offer integrated solutions to make day-to-day tasks easier.
In the transport world, this often takes the form of being tied in with telematics, using data gathered to generate reports or run insights on how trucks are running. The benefits to this are obvious, but AI continues to evolve, with the capability to do so much more.
2024 was a transformative year for Australia’s fleet and heavy transport industries, according to Geotab Associate VP APAC, David Brown.
From the 3G shutdown to the rise of the NVES and emerging Chinese vehicle manufacturers, the sector has experienced significant shifts.
As we start 2025, there is a huge opportunity for the industry to embrace transformative trends in AI, data privacy, and fleet sustainability, which will help tackle evolving demands in safety, cost management, and operational efficiency.
David and Geotab outlined the eight biggest predictions for 2025, with the eye towards the advancements to come in AI use and the benefits you can take away from it.
As the use of AI in telematics continues to grow, David sees customised telematics trending towards becoming mainstream.
Telematics is the standard for fleet success, and in 2025, it will shift towards customised insights to meet unique needs to stay competitive and efficient. He says 2025 will be about quality data insights, open platforms and ecosystem partners adding specialised solutions for better outcomes.
In Australia, this shift will be driven by the increasing demand for tailored solutions that address fleet-specific challenges, such as managing compliance with Chain of Responsibility (CoR) laws and improving fleet safety on regional and remote roads.
2025 will be about quality data insights, open platforms, and ecosystem partners adding specialised solutions for better outcomes. Local fleet operators are also likely to prioritise sustainable practices, leveraging telematics to optimise routes and reduce emissions in line with Australia’s decarbonisation targets.
David also sees vehicles and telematics becoming more integrated than they ever have before.
This year will see the continuance of taking big data sets and making them digestible for fleet managers through the integration of OEM telematics data into the Geotab ecosystem, giving Geotab the ability to collect data from lots and lots of different vehicle types.
“In Australia, where fleets often include a mix of light commercial vehicles, heavy trucks, and specialised equipment for industries like mining and agriculture, this enhanced integration will be crucial,” David says, “and it will also help Australian fleet managers navigate the unique challenges of managing vehicle performance in harsh environmental conditions and over vast distances, making operations more efficient and cost-effective.”
He predicts automated workflows will improve productivity with the biggest opportunity for the heavy transport industry in 2025 being to integrate workflows within their business, between their siloed software solutions, to allow for efficiencies through integration as fleet managers can see more data from a greater range of systems.
“Industry collaborations like our partnership with Logmaster will make work for everyone in the industry easier, whether they are drivers, fleet managers or bookkeepers.”
