More than 10,000 pinpointpal units have already been fitted to a wide range of vehicles and the company, which designs, develops and manufactures the technology in the UK, is now in discussions with a number of leasing and rental companies and end-user fleets. 

A number of customers of supply chain management specialist Fleet Assist, which supported the telemetry development, have already signed up to fit pinpointpal telematics devices to vehicles they operate. In addition, a number of rental organisations, including Global Self Drive and Choice Vehicle Rentals as well as wholesale electrical supplier Yesss Electrical, which operates 2,500 vehicles across the UK and Europe, are also fitting the technology. 

Paul Woodman, managing director of pinpointpal, said: “What we are discovering by talking directly with the fleet sector is that for many businesses the functionality offered by the myriad of telematics suppliers out there is often too complicated; they feel they do not have the time to analyse the raft of data captured; and, as a result, they consider the costs too prohibitive against the benefits these systems offer. 

The pinpointpal ‘box’ costs £60 (+VAT) plus £21 (+VAT) a year subscription fee per vehicle. The box can be fitted in 20 minutes either on a DIY basis or using a UK-wide team of 150 installers. 

Woodman added: “Telematics is in its infancy and our experience is that people are unsure of what they need in a product. The telematics device and subscription we offer will cost a fleet just £123 over a typical three-year replacement cycle, a fraction of the cost of our competitors’ products, which can be £500-£600 over the same period. 

“When a vehicle is defleeted the device can then be easily unplugged and transferred to a new vehicle. It is an inexpensive and easy to use vehicle tracking solution offering the data fleet providers and managers need right now. 

“As all of our products can be improved and updated remotely without the need to replace expensive hardware, we are committed to growing and developing our products, as the needs of customers grow and change. 

“We are engaged in many conversations with fleet operators that feel many telematics devices deliver too much information and thus systems are not value for money. Additionally, we are in discussions with more contract hire and leasing companies that want to offer their fleet customers the choice of a ‘lite’ telematics solution as well as a more complicated ‘high end’ product.”