Telematics: Turn Forklift Analytics Into Action and Savings

90% of Americans struggle with math in general and statistics in particular. So, it’s understandable that the data generated by forklift telematics systems might seem like a lot of incomprehensible white noise. Yet, within that busy data cloud are insights that can revolutionize productivity and save you thousands of dollars. The adage that “knowledge is power” is 100% true when it comes to your forklifts. 

The more you know, the more power you have to influence your fleet and facility. Read on to learn how forklift telematics systems can turn data into action and savings.

Automate Forklift Maintenance

Modern fork trucks are sophisticated machines with a host of onboard sensors and diagnostics. As such, your forklift often knows it has a problem even before the operator detects it. Telematics-equipped forklifts can send fault codes to alert operators and technicians to these unseen issues.

Still, if your forklift management system only sends error codes to the operator, you might be setting yourself up for expensive repairs. Forklift operators are not incentivized to prioritize repair. They're incentivized to meet their targets. That means minor issues like bad brushes get put off until they become bigger issues that impact productivity, like a blown motor. Suddenly, a $20 fix becomes a $700 replacement part.

Instead, set your forklift fleet management system to send fault codes directly to your dealer's service department. A technician receives the fault code and comes to your facility to conduct the repair. This service is quick, seamless, and saves money in the long run by preventing lengthy downtime and more extensive repairs. In fact, the service technician might have the error fixed before you're even aware there's an issue.

Optimize Fuel Management

Forklift fuel has grown steadily more expensive over the last several years. This increase in the cost of doing business can rapidly gnaw through your profit margins without careful monitoring. However, forklift telematics systems (like Clark Smart) can help. Telematics systems collect a vast cloud of data on nearly every facet of your forklift fleet. 

Analyzing this data allows you to identify fuel consumption patterns and note where consumption spikes. Whether the answer lies with idling machines, operator errors, maintenance issues, or something else altogether, you’ll have the answer you need to protect your bottom line.

Behavioral Monitoring

Forklift fleet management systems collect data that tells a story about operator behavior. Telematics systems record every hard brake, every rapid acceleration, and every bump and jolt the forklift experiences. No single data point is a complete picture, but when viewed together, a pattern emerges that illustrates who your best and worst drivers are. Moreover, because the data shows what errors or lousy judgment calls occur most frequently, you know exactly where to target retraining for your team. Using telematics to inform your training protocols helps make your facility safer and reduces wear and tear on your fleet.

Organize Warehouse Traffic

One of the beautiful things about telematics is they offer both a bird's eye and worm's eye view of your facility. The data they collect allows you to analyze your fleet as a whole or by individual forklifts. With so much information, it can be easy to lose sight of the forest while trying to manage the trees. Still, a high-level examination of your fleet can reveal crucial optimization information. 

One of these optimization areas is warehouse traffic. By analyzing traffic flow through your warehouse, you can identify high-congestion intersections that create workflow bottlenecks. Identifying these choke points is the first step to adjusting your process to eliminate slow-downs and improve your facility's productivity.

Automate Your Forklifts

Warehouse automation is a hot topic these days, and rightly so. Automation offers huge optimization potential and can improve productivity by orders of magnitude. The highest-tech forklift telematics systems allow you to start automating your facility without investing in dedicated warehouse robots. Because modern forklifts are controlled by onboard computers, advanced telematics systems can integrate with your warehouse management system, allowing you to create waypoints within your facility and send forklifts directly to those locations. Once the forklift arrives, the operator initiates lifting functions, and the mast automatically rises to the proper rack height as set by the waypoint. This kind of automation doesn't eliminate the need for your forklift operators. Instead, it improves their productivity by eliminating wasted time, creating a human-centric automation solution.

Your Analytics Partner

Telematics fleet management systems are the best tool in your tool belt to understand and optimize your forklift fleet. Whether your facility is big or small, you'll always benefit from knowing what's going on with your fork trucks. If you don't already have a telematics system installed, we can help you find the right forklift management system for you.

However, that data is useless if it goes unanalyzed. We can help there, too. Our experts have the number-crunching skills to help you sift through all your telematics data and reveal the most accurate picture of your forklift fleet you’ve ever seen. Let us show you your fleet in a whole new light. To learn more about telematics systems and what they can do for you, contact us online or visit your local Mid Columbia Forklift.

Auburn 253-854-5438
Pasco 509-547-7413
Wenatchee 509-663-9009
Yakima 509-457-5137