NASHVILLE – Cummins Engine made it clear Monday  night at the opening session of the Technology & Maintenance Council’s Annual Meeting that it is investing heavily in expanded telematics offerings for the North American trucking industry. At a press conference on the TMC show floor, the company announced its new Connected Advisor telematics system, which allows customers to receive information analyzed by engine experts at Cummins, who then report on both critical and noncritical issues, making it easier for fleet managers to make service decisions about the vehicles in their fleets.

The system is designed to isolate and interpret key engine and aftertreatment data every day, and provide Cummins Engine customers with prioritized, time-based recommendations to distinguish between immediate repair needs and those that can be scheduled a few days out. Fault reports, including probable causes and recommended actions, are sent to fleet managers daily to help initiate the repair process. For faults requiring prompt attention, immediate notification reports are provided to alert a fleet manager. 

“A differentiating feature of our Connected Advisor product is the estimated time-to-failure provided for each issue identified," explained Lori Cobb, vice president, Connected Solutions. "With a time frame in mind, customers can proactively manage the issue before it becomes a failure or causes an interruption in the vehicle’s operations.”

Cobb said Cummins Connected Diagnostics customers can choose to enhance their remote monitoring capabilities by purchasing the Connected Advisor product. Connected Advisor provides an additional level of support in interpreting engine issues and improving  efficiency with time-to-service recommendations.

Additionally, Cobb said Cummins has introduced Connected Software Updates, delivering secure over-the-air programming through a telematics service provider. Through the Cummins Connected Solutions portal, fleet managers are notified of software updates available to engines in their fleet. This enables fleet managers to upgrade an individual engine or all eligible engines, or they can choose to pre-approve updates automatically.

In other telematics news, Cummins announced it is launching a new mobile app that uses advanced algorithms and cloud computing technology to improve the service experience of its customers. The new Guidanz app allows customers to quickly read Cummins fault codes and other key information on 2007 and newer engines, reducing the need to drive to a certified service location or wait for a technician to arrive on site.

Cummins customers can view prioritized engine faults using the Guidanz mobile app paired with an Inline mini Bluetooth adapter, which provides critical information they can quickly share with their operations manager or service provider. By emailing the operations manager directly from the app or calling Cummins Care, the service process is initiated more quickly and easily. The app also links customers to an online service locator, helping them identify the closest certified repair location. Even when offline, Guidanz can provide a list of engine faults to the customer.

A Bluetooth-enabled nine-pin connector that plugs directly into the standard SAE J1939-13 interface allows users to quickly retrieve engine information with a Bluetooth-equipped iOS or Android smartphone or tablet.

The Guidanz mobile app will be available in April on iOS or Android as a free download at the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store. The Inline mini and the Immediate Assessment feature are available through Cummins-authorized channels.