The Ultimate Guide to Marketplace Camera Solutions
By Geotab | November 9, 2023
Welcome to your guide to Marketplace Camera & ADAS solutions
With so many different dash cam options on the market, it can be hard to choose one that fits your exact needs.
This guide outlines the value that video telematics brings to fleets and walks you through different applications and camera features that could be useful for your business.
Are you looking to improve safety on the road?
Offer real-time feedback to drivers?
Avoid needless time and money spent on legal fees?
We’re sure you can find the camera solution that fits your real-world applications. Let’s get started!
Table of contents
Step 1: Learn how dash cams help your fleet
- What is a dash cam?
- What are the different types of dash cams?
- How do dash cams work with telematics?
Step 2: Discover the benefits of dash cams
- Safety
- Productivity
- Compliance
- Security
Step 3: Choose a solution
- Browse Camera & ADAS Partners on Marketplace
- What does it mean to choose a Marketplace Partner?
Step 1: Learn how dash cams help your fleet
Let’s start from the very beginning – what exactly is a dash cam?
Dash cam is a generic term for a compact mobile camera and recorder combined into one unit. Traditionally, dash cams are packaged to fit on the windshield above a vehicle’s dashboard without interfering with the driver's lines of sight. In contrast, a mobile digital video recorder (MDVR) uses a separate recording box below the dash with multiple cable-connected cameras wired back to it.
These cameras record constantly while a vehicle is in motion, making it easy for fleet managers to keep a close eye on their drivers and their fleet. They can then save footage in order to coach drivers, use in cases of driver exoneration, promote safer driving habits and more
What are the different types of dash cams?
Before getting into the nitty gritty of a dash cam’s features, it’s important to understand the different kinds of dash cams available on the market. Here is a quick rundown:
Front-facing cameras
These dash cams only record what is happening on the other side of the vehicle’s dashboard. Although they don’t give a comprehensive view of the vehicle’s surroundings, they’re great for assessing what’s happening in front of the vehicle at all times.
Dual-facing cameras
These cameras record like a front-facing camera but have the additional benefit of recording the goings-on inside the vehicle. Dual-facing cameras are a great tool when it comes to identifying risky driving situations and pinpointing driver coaching opportunities.
360-degree cameras
These comprehensive camera setups include front, rear and side cameras to offer fleet managers a complete view of any given vehicle’s surroundings. They can help in cases of determining accident fault, but can also be used as security cameras to deter vehicle theft.
How do dash cams work with telematics?
Telematics has proven to be a valuable benefit to fleets – it transforms how fleets operate and helps them reach efficiency goals. Fleets depend on telematics for location, vehicle and driver data to help propel improvements in productivity, safety, compliance and overall cost savings.
Telematics has rapidly evolved beyond just “dots on a map”. It can now provide advanced analytics by using artificial intelligence and computer vision with video. By integrating video solutions with telematics, companies have gained even more insight and visibility into their fleets.
Video Data + Computer Vision Technology + Vehicle Data = Video Telematics
Video telematics is one of the fastest growing and most promising technologies for fleets. Telematics can inform fleet managers where and when an incident occurred, but dash cams offer the added benefit of visual context. It can harness video, machine vision and predictive analytics so fleets can achieve operational, safety and compliance goals.
Understanding that no two businesses have the same needs, the Geotab Marketplace offers fleets the power of choice when it comes to video solutions. Find the one that best fits the needs of your fleet from our selection of best-in-class, vetted Camera and ADAS Partners.
Step 2: Discover the benefits of dash cams
Next comes the important part – why do you need dash cams? Whether you’re entirely new to dash cams or are looking for something that aligns better with your needs, it’s important to think about the challenges you need to solve. Of course, dash cams are great for a variety of reasons, but choosing the best one for your fleet means understanding the different features they possess.
We’ll uncover the six main benefits of adding dash cams to your vehicles and a handy list of features for each that you can use as a checklist while researching options for your fleet.
Safety
Prioritize driver safety – both in-cab and on-road.
Safety should be a top priority for any fleet manager. Implementing safer driving practices means less collisions, decreased liability costs and more vehicle uptime. But, how do dash cams contribute to a safer driving environment?
Equipping a fleet with dash cams can help make sure that drivers are being safe while they are on the road. Dash cams can identify risky driving behaviors – including cell phone use, eating and drinking, driver fatigue and more – and offer real-time feedback in order to stop the behaviors before they put anyone at risk. Some dash cams can also identify potential collisions outside of the vehicle and alert drivers to dangerous situations before they happen.
What features should I be looking for?
360-degree views
In addition to a front-facing view, look for the ability to add additional cameras around the vehicle or a driver-facing view to help cover other areas of concern.
Historical data
Choose a provider that prioritizes footage memory, cloud storage, data and privacy so that to ensure past recorded data can be accessed when needed.
Event triggers
Automate the review of continuous footage by creating rules based off of the types of telematics data captured. This can determine when footage from a certain event should be reviewed by the fleet manager.
Backup power
If a vehicle loses power, a backup battery option keeps the camera recording so you don’t miss incidents in critical moments.
Forward collision warning
Warn drivers that they are following vehicles too closely and a collision may be imminent. This allows them to leave more space between their vehicle and the one ahead.
Lane departure warning
Sound an audible alert when a vehicle moves outside of the lane lines without the use of a turn signal.
Driver initiated video capture
Give drivers the control and ability to choose when the camera starts recording so they can capture whatever issue or incident they are facing.
Continuous recording
Capture more than triggered events with continuous recording. This keeps fleets protected whenever unexpected collisions, incidents or damage occurs.
Stationary surveillance
In the event that an incident occurs when the vehicle is stationary, this functionality makes it possible to still capture video evidence even if the vehicle wasn’t moving.
Cargo monitoring
Access live video streaming via an internet connection to check whether sensitive cargo on the vehicle is still safely stowed.
Driver-facing camera
Detect risky, distracted or drowsy driving behaviors using an in-cab camera that faces the driver.
In-cab alerts
Provide real-time coaching using visual and audible alerts during a commute so drivers can correct behavior on the spot.
Productivity
Invest in the education, safety, and skills of your drivers to promote productivity.
Video telematics are helpful in determining fleet and driver productivity through driving behavior analysis. The information captured through cameras can offer actionable insights to help drivers improve their skills, stay safe on the road and learn more effectively.
Video telematics capture driver behavior and estimate safety scores and trends to help you determine which training options are most relevant and helpful to your drivers. Offering this kind of personalized driver feedback and coaching can improve driver retention and morale. Using telematics, fleet managers can easily see how drivers compare to each other and how they compare against themselves over time.
What features should I be looking for?
Coaching workflow
Create a coaching plan that allows drivers to review their own footage or integrate camera data into other training solutions to support driver development.
Video categorization
Group and sort video clips by type or severity to discover which behaviors happen most frequently so you can make informed decisions when training drivers.
In-cab alerts
Provide real-time coaching using visual and audible alerts during a commute so drivers can correct behavior on the spot.
Human review service
Offload the effort needed to manually review footage for an additional fee. This professional analysis can provide additional insights on driver behavior and aid in managing safety plans.
Positive driver scoring
Badges and awards help to reinforce great driving behavior and foster a good fleet safety environment for drivers.
AI
Use AI and vision-based technology to identify risky driving behavior and define the factors for how a driver is scored.
Historical data
Choose a provider that prioritizes footage memory, cloud storage, data and privacy to assure past recorded data can be accessed when needed.
On-demand retrieval
This feature allows you to search and view video footage from a specific date and time even though no event or incident was triggered, making it possible to find evidence if a claim or issue is brought to a fleet.
Mobile app
A tool for drivers and fleet managers to provide immediate and convenient access to driver data. Through apps, drivers can self-coach and review their own events.
Risk score
Evaluate safety through scorecards that rank behaviors by severity, giving you an unbiased and holistic view of driver performance.
Gamification
Turn safe driving habits into a game to reward drivers for exhibiting good behavior and create friendly competition among drivers.
Compliance
Provide authentic video proof in cases of on- or off-road incidents and mitigate driver risk.
Video proof can help give a more holistic view of what happened during a collision and aid in exonerating both drivers and fleets. It allows you to document the exact circumstances that caused and contributed to a collision or incident and provides an unbiased and accurate account of events that fleets can use to better protect against litigation and when selecting driver education tools. Having video proof of fault in a collision can help save time and money when it comes to on- or off-road incidents involving fleet vehicles.
Additionally, Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS) work to correct risky driving behavior before it contributes to a collision or incident. By using in-cab visual and audible alerts, drivers have a chance to change their behavior in real-time to prevent collisions from occurring. Driver Monitoring Systems (DMS), uses the AI in a cabin-facing camera to identify driver distraction, fatigue and other similar behaviors.
Safety systems like these help to actively stop drivers following too close, performing unsafe lane departures, failing to stop, speeding and more.
What features should I be looking for?
Lane departure warning
Sound an audible alert when a vehicle moves outside of the lane lines without the use of a turn signal.
Forward collision warning
Warn drivers that they are following vehicles too closely and a collision may be imminent. This allows them to leave more space between their vehicle and the one ahead.
Edge computing
This gives cameras with AI technology the processing power needed to detect when a vehicle departs from a lane or is following too closely so that that way drivers can be notified in real time and correct their actions.
Driver-facing camera
Detect risky, distracted or drowsy driving behaviors using an in-cab camera that faces the driver.
AI
Artificial Intelligence that allows vision-based technology in cameras to recognize humans, vehicles, objects, and events, powering the alerts and warnings used for ADAS.
External objects
AI functionality to recognize road rules like stop signs or speed limits.
Security
A complete fleet safety and security solution can go beyond drivers.
Cameras not only help protect drivers, they also help protect valuable vehicles and cargo. Installing a system of cameras on the interior and exterior of your vehicles gives you 24/7 security coverage for expensive cargo, and keeps an eye on fleet vehicles and equipment that are left unattended on worksites.
They can also help you assess the quality of customer service in passenger-carrying vehicles like paratransit buses and provide an added layer of security for drivers in customer-facing positions.
What features should I be looking for?
360-degree views
In addition to a front-facing view, look for the ability to add additional cameras around the vehicle or a driver-facing view to help cover other areas of concern.
Backup power
If a vehicle loses power, a backup battery option keeps the camera recording so you don’t miss incidents in critical moments.
First Notice of Loss integration solutions
Third-party integrations can help fleets manage the collected data by preparing it for risk aggregators to analyze or submit to insurance providers.
Continuous recording
Capture more than triggered events with continuous recording. This keeps your fleet protected whenever an unexpected collision, incident or unforeseen damage occurs.
Stationary surveillance
In the event that an incident occurs when the vehicle is stationary, this functionality makes it possible to still capture video evidence even if the vehicle wasn’t moving.
Cargo monitoring
Access live video streaming via an internet connection to check whether sensitive cargo on the vehicle is still safely stowed.
Post-collision workflow
Additional tools drivers can use after a collision — like photo capture or note annotation — help to further document what happened, facilitate sharing with stakeholders, and streamline how fleets respond to critical events.
Step 3: Choose a solution
The Case for Safety
A camera provider that can only offer you decent hardware may not allow you to make the most out of your investment. True ROI is based on the cost of the total program and the returns you can see based on savings versus the cost of a collision. The Geotab Marketplace offers solution options that make it possible to create a complete safety program.
The Marketplace Advantage
Choosing a Marketplace Camera or ADAS solution means:
Purpose built solutions: Marketplace solutions meet unique fleet business needs, providing tailored options rather than a one size fits all approach.
Vetted and secure: Marketplace Standard, Premier, and Order Now solutions undergo business analysis, legal, security, and technical vetting to meet Geotab’s high reliability standards.
Extending Telematics Data: Marketplace solutions are integrated with Geotab allowing fleets to extend the value of their telematics solution.
Want to learn more?
Visit the Marketplace Cameras & ADAS category to view the available solutions.
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