31.01.2019

Genie launches Lift Connect

Genie has launched its new Genie Lift Connect telematics programme to help manage equipment fleets from 10 to 10,000 machines or more.

The new system will be available in North America in the next month or two, and in Europe, the Middle East and Africa by the middle of the year. The company expects to go live in other markets at the end of the year or early 2020.

The system will keep fleet managers updated remotely on how each piece of equipment is performing, when or how often it is refuelled/recharged and where it is being used, as well as routines such as when it is ready for maintenance etc… It will also allow remote troubleshooting of problems. Customers can either utilise the Genie Lift Connect portal or - thanks to its standard Application Programming Interface (API) - integrate the data into an existing system along with equipment from other manufacturers.
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Christine Zeznick senior product and business development manager said: “The world is changing. Our customers are operating their businesses faster and more efficiently than ever before, constantly looking for ways to add value and drive business growth. One technology that is opening up new opportunities for rental businesses is the use of telematics.”

“We began in 2015 with the Genie telematics ready connector in direct response to the mixed fleet nature of the rental industry and allowed our customers access to a few key data points with a plug and play solution of their choosing. Although many have appreciated this flexible approach, over time our customers have requested access to more data and information. The Genie Lift Connect telematics technology has evolved to help rental stores understand the information their machines are providing, enabling them to manage their businesses more efficiently.”

“As time goes on, the data from the Genie Lift Connect will become more and more powerful. Initially, this information will be ‘descriptive’ - focusing on what is currently happening with a machine, including the hours worked, where the machine is and if there are any fault codes on it. Over time the data can be leveraged on a larger scale and used for ‘predictive’ and ‘prescriptive’ activities, such as predicting failures in the field based on how the equipment is actually being used and proactively prescribing maintenance and service. We believe that the more partners in the value chain with access to the machine data, the more efficient the rental industry becomes. The opportunities for using the data from the new Genie Lift Connect programme to monitor and manage aerial fleets are limitless.”

Vertikal Comment

While telematics has been around for a much longer time than many people realise, they are finally coming of age and are likely to make an increasingly significant impact on the rental industry over the next five years. With most manufacturers now equipping their products with on-board telematics that conform to standard API protocols, it is rapidly becoming practical and relatively inexpensive. The next challenge will be managing the mass of raw data generated and that is where a good management programme is essential. But perhaps even more important is the staff to work with the reports generated and ensure that the company maximises the information.

The ARA Rental show next month and Bauma in early April will see still further developments and evolution in this area. Companies that learn how to use the date well will gain some substantial benefits, while providing their customers with improved information flow and possibly new services. Those that have embraced even older simpler systems have reported very rapid payback periods.

Interesting times