With cost pressures steadily increasing, fleet managers are being challenged to get more productivity from their vehicles and drivers so that customer satisfaction is kept high and corporate goals are met. One option is to invest in new technology that can help optimize factors such as route planning, vehicle usage, driver performance, and vehicle monitoring for safety and to prevent theft. ABI Research sees great potential for both telematics service providers (and their supply chain partners) and the fleet manager customer base.

“The world market for commercial telematics is poised for significant growth,” says principal analyst David Alexander. “The combination of lower-cost electronics and wireless communication fees was always going to be an incentive for steady growth, but the recent large increases in fuel costs worldwide have had a dramatic effect on ROI calculations.”

Over the last year or two, telematics applications from the major suppliers have demonstrated their reliability, and new functionality is being added frequently. New entrants are keeping the existing suppliers on their toes and making sure the market remains competitive. There is plenty of business to go around in the short term, and now is the time for the bigger players to make sure of their futures by staying ahead on the innovation curve.

“We see significant growth in this market over the next five years, from a total of about $3.5 billion in 2007 to over $11 billion in 2013,” adds Alexander. “And as volumes grow, the component and communication costs are going to decline even more. The trend towards multiple functions is also likely to provide greater added value for fleet managers.”

Newly-updated Commercial Telematics Forecasts from ABI Research provide comprehensive global data on vehicle fleets and telematics providers. Extensive forecasts of subscribers and system volumes are included for each of the main regions: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and “Rest of World.”

The forecasts also offer wide-ranging background data on global market fleets. System and subscriber forecasts are provided globally, by region, through 2013. The study forms part of ABI Research’s Commercial Telematics Research Service.

ABI Research is a leading market research firm focused on the impact of emerging technologies on global consumer and business markets. Utilizing a unique blend of market intelligence, primary research, and expert assessment from its worldwide team of industry analysts, ABI Research assists hundreds of clients each year with their strategic growth initiatives. For information, visit www.abiresearch.com, or call +1.516.624.2500.