March/April 2005

A vehicle tracking and telematics system with some genuinely innovative features is now available in the UK from Astrata, a company that originated in South Africa but now has a global reach.

At the heart of the system is an on-board device called Sirius, which incorporates GPS receiver, mobile phone unit and processor - all in a unit smaller than a modern mobile phone on its own. UK-based executive Giacomo Squintani says the small size is a particular advantage where security is a priority, since it enables the unit to be fitted discreetly. It can be installed in well under an hour, he adds.

Built around the Sirius is a fully-fledged tracking, reporting and fleet management system that is said to be particularly flexible and user-configurable. Users can "geofence" areas or corridors and receive automatic alerts if vehicles enter or leave them, and can also take advantage of a range of other management information options.

Information is relayed in real time by GPRS and displayed on screen maps, but the system falls back automatically on SMS messaging if GPRS is not available, and unlike many rival systems it can also store captured data for transmission later.

 

All this is offered at just £1 a day all-in (the company is emphasising that there are no hidden charges on top), which makes it highly competitive with existing systems in this country.

A key attraction is the business model on which the system is sold. Users pay what in effect is a rental fee - an approach the company reckons is extremely unusual. This means any repairs or unit replacements are covered automatically, and system upgrades are performed remotely at no extra charge. The rental approach also means the full cost of the system can be set against tax as an operating expense.

Another unusual feature is that the system includes full cross-border tracking across Europe at no extra cost. The secret here, says Squintani, lies in the roaming agreements Astrata has set up with network operators in the various countries.

Astrata has offices in South-East Asia, the Middle East and the US, where it has a strong and mature presence, and it already has two bases in the UK. It also has partnerships in other countries. It is believed to have over 50,000 units in service worldwide.