Sawatch Labs, in partnership with Geotab, is developing an automated fleet reporting template for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). This process requires the integration of data streams not only from telematics, but also from existing financial systems, fleet management information systems, and General Services Administration (GSA) databases. The intent of the project is not only to simplify the reporting process for NREL, but also to apply the reporting template to other agencies.
Federal fleets operate within a unique regulatory structure, including requirements to report information on vehicle inventory, operation, and costs in the Federal Automotive Statistical Tool. Reporting can be a challenge for agencies as they try to integrate information from different sources and validate questionable data points. Telematics can make life easier for fleet managers by automatically capturing some of these data points.
Scott Walters, NREL's fleet manager, notes, "The time savings from automatically capturing vehicle data will allow me to focus more on managing the fleet than reporting on it, and free up time for other responsibilities as well."
The NREL fleet is a microcosm of the federal fleet in general, including different ownership types and vehicle technologies. NREL leases certain vehicles from GSA, owns vehicles, acquires research vehicles, and operates low-speed utility vehicles with a variety of fuel types, including electricity, gasoline hybrid, E85, diesel, and hydrogen. NREL’s automated fleet reporting template may eventually help many federal agencies streamline their reporting processes while simultaneously improving data quality.
GSA is planning to include Geotab telematics with all newly leased vehicles, which will standardize data collection for its leased fleet. This will enable the automatic collection of mileage data and verification of other vehicle attributes, which could enable a streamlined reporting process like Sawatch’s efforts with NREL's fleet. At the same time, more accurate, timely data can be used to make better vehicle acquisition decisions and influence safer, more efficient driving.
As Ryan Daley, CEO of Sawatch Labs, says, "We're reaching a time where data-driven fleet management is the norm, and automating processes to use that data will help conserve valuable human resources and enable quicker, more confident decision-making."