It’s one of the smallest and most unassuming pieces of modern motoring technology, but you might be amazed at the difference doing away with the humble vehicle ignition key can make to your day-to-day operations.
Here we’ll look at how remote keyless entry systems can be a true game-changer for fleet businesses.
Sometimes known as wireless car key technology, remote keyless entry systems work by having the car’s on-board computer emit a radio signal that’s picked up on by a key fob held by the vehicle’s authorised driver. All the driver then needs to do is place their hand on the handle, or in some cases press a button, to open the door once they’re within range of the vehicle. Once seated inside the car, van or truck, they simply press another button to start the ignition – no key needed.
The big benefits of passive keyless entry vehicles for fleets include:
If you run a fleet you’ll know that keep track of keys and spare keys can be more of a challenge than it needs to be – particularly when keys get lost and need replacing. Because push to start cars use a wireless key fob system, replacements work a little like replacing an access card to an office building. Simply deactivate the old fob, take a spare one, and sync it to the signal of the car you need it to access. Simple!
Of course, the system we’ve described above isn’t just more efficient from a replacement point of view. It also carries the benefit of being a theft-deterrent. Digital keys are easily tracked, meaning that if someone tries to steal the vehicle, you’ll be able to locate the vehicle and deactivate the fob, essentially rendering the vehicle inert. You can even issue different levels of access to different key fobs, meaning that maintenance staff or valets can for instance be given a fob that can only access the boot or bonnet. All of which makes wireless car key technology that much safer for fleet businesses.
Remote keyless entry systems can also help to make working life safer for the drivers themselves. For instance, one nasty habit that fleet drivers can fall into is setting off before they’ve fastened their seatbelt. The digital connectedness of push to start cars can be used by fleet managers to create workflows that ensure everything that should happen for drivers happens in the right order – or the vehicle simply won’t start.
Another big example of how keyless technology could change fleet driving is that it can improve fleet uptime. All vehicles need regular maintenance to avoid expensive time off the road in for repairs, but digitally connected vehicles have a distinct advantage over older ones: they’re packed full of technology that can allow fleet managers to power them up from afar and conduct digital inspections before drivers arrive for their morning shift. Your maintenance team can then take action if you find any issues, allowing you to be proactive and get ahead of any problems – and save your fleet some potentially expensive downtime.
Doing away with the humble car key and moving to wireless car key technology can also be the start of any exciting transformation for fleets. The ability to track and monitor vehicles in real-time can feed into other aspects of vehicle maintenance like automated maintenance schedules, and can even be the first stage of normalising new technology in your business as you take drivers along the change curve that leads to a full electric fleet rollout. That’s perhaps the greatest example of how keyless technology opens the door to fleet transformation.
Here at SG Fleet we’re well placed to help you with transitioning to new fleet technology – whether that’s next-gen dash cams, keyless ignition, or even a full EV rollout.
To find out how we can help, call us on 0344 854 5100 or email CSalmon@sgfleet.com.
