When Telelink opened its doors in St. John's Newfoundland over 55 years ago, little did we know how technology would change our operations and the types of services we offer. To meet the growing demand for safety monitoring services and technology, Telelink has evolved from a traditional call centre to a full-scale safety monitoring technology and services provider.
A critical component of Telelink's evolution has been the development of lone worker monitoring services, followed by journey management and emergency response communication services. Today, emergency and safety services account for about 50% of what we do. Telelink has managed over 4,000,000 journeys to date - up to 2,000 each day!
In a discussion about the tools you need for journey management, we start with a look at the evolving technology.
Journey Management Mobile Apps
There's been an explosion in the development and use of apps over the last few years, and Journey Management is no exception. There are a number of Journey Management apps on the market.
You might wonder: Don't mobile apps distract drivers? Aren't they counter-productive? No. They don't distract drivers. And here's why...
Telelink offers several apps for Journey Management and Work Alone, depending on the customers budget, desired outcomes, and specific needs. Drivers can book their journey digitally before they set off, rather than calling in.
Drivers can then use the app to check in at rest stops along the way easily. Some dedicated Journey Management apps even offer automated check-in features with the ability to detect when drivers are on the road by the movement of the vehicle. Drivers can use the app to comply with scheduled check-ins while they're behind the wheel without ever touching their phones.
But what about other phone distractions?
We typically recommend also using an app like OneTap to eliminate all phone distractions, as it blocks phone alerts while you're behind the wheel. If a driver receives a call or text, OneTap responds automatically to let the contact know the person they are trying to reach is currently behind the wheel and unable to respond.
If there is an emergency, OneTap will allow you to text or input a code which will signal the driver to pull over and answer the call.
Imagine if your drivers are using an app like OneTap to handle all their incoming calls and texts while they're on the road. If they were to receive a sudden alert through the same app, signalling an emergency, it gets immediate attention and response from drivers. Fortunately, signalling an emergency isn't something companies need to do on a regular basis, but having an effective alert system in place can make all the difference!
Journey Management Wearable Technology
Like us, you have probably noticed that Fatigue Management is a hot topic at industry conferences. Fatigue Science has developed a useful device that's worn around the wrist and tracks the fatigue levels of drivers and other employees. In the industry, we know that a lot of the incidents on roadways are caused by driver fatigue, so fatigue management has become a crucial part of Journey Management.
What many fatigue management companies don't yet offer is real time alerts based on employee fatigue levels, but the wearable tech industry might see a development along those lines as it evolves. Instead, Fatigue Science allows your company to track the fatigue levels of all employees while they are wearing the device. Then, Fatigue Science analyzes the data it collects, and that data allows the company to determine where fatigue risks occur and to re-assess driving and shift schedules.
Not only does wearable technology like this provide valuable insight, it can be implemented easily!
Dash Cams For Journey Management
Finally, the dash cam! While not every driver is comfortable with the idea of a dash cam, there are two key advantages to using them. Some can detect driver fatigue by looking for visual cues, like a driver's eyelids growing heavy at the wheel.
Dash cams are also very important during accident investigations. If your employees are involved in any kind of incident, having a dash cam recording that incident becomes an invaluable tool during the investigation.
To learn more about Journey Management, click here to access a recording of our recent webinar, "Proceed With Caution"
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