Week 5 Assignment - Product Description Summary and Analysis

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According to Zonar Systems (2018), Zonar’s V4 is the latest Telematics Control Unit (TCU) released to monitor and track fleets in any kind of vehicle. It optimizes “decision-making” capabilities that improves the driver’s performance by allowing the driver access to the data in real time. As mentioned in the article, the main function of Zonar’s V4 is to track the vehicles’ location with high accuracy through the use of GPS and BeiDou satellites. One of its unique features is the “Intelligent Logging Algorithm” which records every single vehicle activities such as the accessories used, and action made. Though the use of Zonar’s Application Programming Interface (API), Zonar’s V4 is interconnected with other systems such as the Transportation Management System (TMS) that further improves the system. Drivers can trust that the data collected by Zonar’s V4 will be compressed, encrypted and transmitted before being sent to the data centres over a Virtual Private Network (VPN). Data collected in the last six months will be backed up by Zonar’s systems in the event that the driver is in an area with restricted cellular coverage. Apart from being a hardware product, Zonar’s V4 work closely with the web-based software called Ground Traffic Control. With reference to the article, this software sends alerts to the driver regarding its operations as to improve the driver’s performance. These alerts are sent based on the information gathered by the hardware. Even though there are other companies that produce telematics control units, there are a few points that differentiates Zonar’s V4 from the others.

An example would be Panasonic’s first TCU product. According to Panasonic (2017), the company worked side by side with an automotive supplier from Spain to develop Panasonic’s first TCU product. Its main function is to collect data on the vehicles’ whereabouts and updates to the server through the use of an integrated GPS receiver. There is a security feature as well that sends the stolen vehicle’s location to its owner. Another example would be Airbiquity’s Choreo. Choreo is a cloud-based platform that allows drivers to manage their fleet operations. According to the article, Choreo allows flexibility for the user to customize according to their needs by integrating with other cloud-based software.

Despite the examples given of the various similar products, there are some points that differentiates Zonar’s V4 from the two products. Zonar’s V4 provides updates to the driver in real time from its web-based software that can be accessed using the driver’s phone. Furthermore, the data collected in the past six months will also be stored should there be a need for future reference or as said earlier, should the driver be in an area with restricted cellular coverage. Similar to Choreo’s flexibility feature, Zonar’s Ground Traffic Control allows the user to customize it to their needs as well. According to Zonar Systems, the Ground Traffic Control grants the driver to customize the dashboard according to what they would prefer to see and improve on instead of every single feature.

In conclusion, Zonar’s V4 is the latest telematics control unit that not only tracks and monitors fleet operations but also provides updates in accordance to the driver’s needs.  Thus, this will improve the driver’s performance which in return will provide a safe environment for everyone. Ultimately, this shows that the company pays attention to the needs of its intended users.

References

 Zonars Systems. (2018). V4 Telematics Device Solutions. Retrieved September 21st, from https://www.zonarsystems.com/solutions/v4-telematics-device/.

 Zonars Systems. (2018). Ground Traffic Control. Retrieved September 22nd, from
https://www.zonarsystems.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Ground-Traffic-Control-Brochure.pdf

 Airbiquity. (n.d). Choreo Platform. Retrieved September 29th, from 
https://www.airbiquity.com/product-offerings/choreo-platform

Panasonic. Panasonic Starts Mass Production of Telematics Control Unit, a New Product Jointly Developed with Ficosa (2018, January 12). Retrieved September 29th, from 


Panasonic. (n.d) Telematic Control Unit and Smart Antenna Module. Retrieved September 29th, from https://www.panasonic.com/global/business/p-its/pdf/montreal_2017/03_Telematic_Control_Unit_and_Smart_Antenna_Module.pdf

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