Driver behaviour management and fleet optimisation service provider Optix Africa on September 11 hosted the first leg of its Future Vision conference, in Sandton, during which the company showcased its strategy and solutions, and also launched new technologies it is pursuing as part of its future growth strategy, with the aim of engendering enhanced safety for clients.

The second leg of the conference will be held in Cape Town on September 15.

CEO Steve Ford pointed out that there were three trends underpinning the company’s  future growth ambitions. These were the powerful capacity of driver cams; the use of AI to detect danger in real-time and enabling drivers to respond quickly; and the ability to integrate devices both in-cab and in-Cloud.

He also mentioned that Optix was focusing keenly on transforming the data it collected into useful information, transmitting it to the correct stakeholders, and simplifying information to make it more efficient and accurate, in the vein of ensuring that drivers could return home safely. “Our aim is to be predictive, rather than reactive.”

Delivering the keynote address, CTO Waldo Boshoff cited independent research which showed that 84 out of 100 incidents on the road were caused by human error, which underscored the company’s focus on drivers’ response times and the factors that impacted this, with texting impairing times the most, while cannabis, drowsiness and alcohol were also considerably harmful.

Boshoff said that as the jurisdiction in which the company operated did not have driverless vehicles, the company’s focus was on the driver, with the aim of ensuring they were healthy and rested, alert and present, empowered and supported and future-fit and engaged.

Optix’s new predictive fatigue detection system, launched at the conference, fits into the first category.

This system comprises hardware, with in-cab real-time response to fatigue-related signs and symptoms. A control tower is used for rapid response to notify operations of fatigue and critical-risk incidents. There is also analytics, with an in-depth analysis of fatigue risk, identifying trends, hotspots and high-risk times and days. The predictive platform solution provides a live view, with forecasting and predictive insights of the fatigue levels and risk exposure within a fleet.

The company’s Optix Academy was also highlighted, with this said to provide an interactive learning and learner management system designed to support both learners and learning administration – tracking the learning journey from start to end.

Participants can participate in a range of courses, with these tailored for drivers and coaches across various industries, and supporting existing and new Optix clients.

During a panel discussion, several key points emerged, including the need for Optix to listen to the feedback of customers and drivers, and ensure that solutions are being designed to cater to their needs and respond to their real-life experiences on the road; as well as the need to provide after-sales support for technology, to ensure that once it is deployed, it is working properly and that risk is continually driven down.