May/June 2004

An innovative real-time vehicle tracking and fleet management system from a company called Inova Solutions has hit the ground running with a deal under which Europe-wide support will be offered by Europ Assistance.

The AutoSecure system, as it is known, uses GPS tracking and GSM communications to monitor the location of vehicles anywhere in Europe. They can be tracked on a standard PC. It is targeting cars and rental vehicles in particular, although most of its features should apply to any type of vehicle.

Distinctive features include a patented smartcard device called a SecureCard, which limits vehicle use to authorised drivers. The vehicle can also be fitted with a panic button, so that in case of car-jacking or breakdown, the Europ Assistance call centre immediately locates it.

The system can additionally alert Europ Assistance and the owner if a parked vehicle is moved without authorisation.

 

The full system includes a hardware installation known as Prosecure, plus Windows-based software called TranSecure.

Inova founder Stephen Foster, a former director of AutoTrac, says Europ Assistance "is the only organisation capable of giving us the European capability that we require." Europ Assistance for its part describes the solution as "sophisticated technology at an affordable price."

Europe Assistance has a presence in 208 countries and territories. It works through an international network of agents and representatives, whose resources include 33 customer contact centres and over 400,000 service providers.

Inova is seeking additional distributors and resellers for the AutoSecure system, and is also offering the product for own branding.