Wialon has reached a new record of 3.6 million fleet vehicles and assets connected on the platform worldwide.

Aliaksandr Kuushynau, head of Wialon at Gurtam

The new milestone come just three months after the global fleet management platform passed the 3.5 million benchmark, making it the largest in the world by number of connected vehicles and other assets.

Created by European software developer Gurtam, Wialon provides software solutions for fleet management and security, via over 2,400 partner companies in more than 150 countries. It now works in diverse sectors such as cargo shipping, delivery services, security personnel, long-haul transportation, cold chain transportation and agribusinesses.

And, as revealed by Aliaksandr Kuushynau, head of Wialon, in a recent media roundtable, the technology is also used for other many other applications, including ATMs, underground fuel tanks and power stations.

Wialon shared its new record for connected assets at the Securex security expo in Africa as it highlighted how South Africa is a key market for fleet management. The platform now has 34,000 vehicles and assets connected in the country.

Berg Insight data also lays bare the upward trajectory in the fleet management market in South Africa, with a forecasted CAGR of 12.6%. The data relates to the number of active fleet management systems deployed in commercial vehicle fleets in South Africa, which reached an estimated two million in Q4 2021, and is predicted to grow to about 3.6 million by 2026.

Wialon’s Aliaksandr Kuushynau, who attended Securex to meet with South African partners and clients, said: “There is growing interest in fleet management in Africa, and a marked increase in the adoption of telematics, the use of electric vehicles, and in the emphasis on safety and data analytics, reflecting the continent’s focus on efficiency and sustainability.

“However, it is also important to acknowledge the security challenges that the region faces. Theft, hijacking, and vehicle vandalism are serious issues that can have a significant impact on businesses and the local economy. As a result, fleet managers need to adopt security measures to protect their assets and employees.”

Wialon’s GPS tracking and geofencing technology, combined with remote vehicle disabling, and the option to integrate security technologies, enables fleet managers to monitor their vehicles in real-time and respond quickly to safety and security incidents.

Carla Greyling, sales executive at Tracking Africa, explained that the top priorities in fleet management in South Africa centre on safety and security of vehicles, goods and drivers (including stolen vehicle recovery), video surveillance, fuel control and asset tracking.

“Features such as driver identification, panic buttons, remote engine blocking and real-time location monitoring have seen high growth in the demand and adoption rate for businesses in South Africa,” she added.

Kuushynau also explained that integrating GPS tracking systems and video telematics into a company’s operation can bring significant savings for businesses.

“The potential of IoT can revolutionise not just the way we do business, but the way public infrastructure as a whole operates, with the potential to facilitate dramatic improvements in efficiency, reliability and customer service. We believe that collaboration between fleet managers, security agencies, and technology providers is essential for addressing the safety challenges in the region. By working together, we can create a safer and more efficient environment for businesses and communities in Africa,” he added.