The challenge:
outdated fleet safety platform troubled by vendor lock-in
Operating since 1992, Spillard Safety Systems has evolved into one of the UK’s largest suppliers of vehicle safety equipment to the construction, extraction, and transportation industries.
The company relied on a third-party platform built on an increasingly outdated tech stack. The legacy system lacked scalability, preventing Spillard from effectively adapting to evolving business needs and expanding its services.
The core issue was vendor lock-in. The platform only worked with Streamax devices and required a Windows environment. It operated on one central virtual server, quickly using all memory and generating high maintenance costs. This limit effectively meant that Spillard’s clients could only use Streamax devices. When they wanted to add equipment from other manufacturers, they also had to add another platform, which drove costs and complexity up.
Analysing requirements & possible solutions
Spillard needed a flexible system that could support different devices and operating environments without forcing additional software on their clients. They also needed a platform that could scale across fleets, process real-time data, and reduce reliance on vendor-specific infrastructure. That’s why they partnered with Internetum, a European IoT development agency.
The solution: a modular, cloud‑native telematics system
Internetum designed and built a new platform using .NET and Microsoft Azure, with a modular software structure for consistent performance at scale. It was developed to support different operating systems and handle data from a variety of telematics and camera devices, removing the need for separate vendor-specific tools.
The platform supports horizontal and vertical scaling, so performance stays stable whether managing ten or ten thousand connected units.
Key features of the new platform:
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No vendor lock-in
The platform’s new design supports software and devices from various producers, including Howen and Teltonika. This feature guarantees compatibility and flexibility for current and future integrations.
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Driver behaviour analytics
Advanced algorithms let Spillard monitor driver performance and identify areas for optimisation. Built-in data models track speed, braking, idle time, and other indicators to support safer driving across fleets.
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Route processing and optimisation
The platform minimises travel times and fuel consumption across the fleet vehicles thanks to real-time route data analysis. GPS data is aggregated and run through algorithms to suggest fuel‑efficient routes and dynamic rerouting.
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Live tracking and streaming
Spillard’s customers can monitor their vehicles in real-time, while live video feeds provide otherwise inaccessible situational awareness and security levels.
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Incident processing and analysis
The platform automatically captures and analyses critical events, offering actionable insights to improve safety protocols and operational procedures.
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Business intelligence reporting
A suite of custom Power BI dashboards offers fleet managers detailed KPIs on safety, utilisation, and uptime for data‑driven decisions.
Results: vendor-agnostic fleet safety tooling that accommodates growing demand
By implementing the new platform, the company quickly reaped significant benefits:
A01
Enhanced operational efficiency
Automating workflows and improving resource management reduced downtime and increased productivity. Services scale separately, improving reliability and easing updates. Azure Functions automatically spin up when telemetry spikes, then spin down, optimising cost and uptime.
A02
Improved safety measures
Live video streaming and real‑time GPS tracking give operations teams immediate situational awareness. Any unsafe behaviour or unexpected event triggers instant alerts, allowing faster incident response and reducing overall risk.
A03
Better resource optimisation
Advanced telematics analytics track speed, braking, idle time, and route efficiency. These insights help managers fine‑tune driver coaching and fleet deployment, cutting fuel use and wear‑and‑tear on vehicles.
A04
Advanced data insights
Custom dashboards update in real time with key performance indicators on driver performance, route planning, and incident trends. This level of visibility lets leadership make data‑driven decisions without waiting for end‑of‑month reports.
A05
Increased customer satisfaction
Faster response times and more reliable services improve the client experience. With fewer service interruptions and better safety outcomes, Spillard has strengthened customer loyalty and boosted repeat business.
The new platform reinforced Spillard’s position as the UK’s leading provider of fleet safety solutions.
With this upgrade, Spillard has strengthened its leadership in fleet safety telematics. The new system’s flexibility, scalability, and reliability let the company focus on growing services rather than wrestling with technology limits.
