roadmap monthly newsletter december 2011

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Roadmap monthly newsletter

Editorial

s we approach the end of 2011, it’s time to start gearing up for 2012. Unless you believe in doomsday predictions, that is.

There are in fact a number of predictions about the end of the world in 2012. Some say that on an ancient Mayan calendar leaves no room for doubt. They even pick an exact day, December 21st, 2012. Others speak of a Nostradamus 2012 doomsday prediction.

Other more credible predictions for 2012 are generally not as apocalyptical as the ones above, but they still warn us that the world is facing huge challenges. It is not easy to pinpoint where this economic crisis started and even more difficult is to predict when it will end, both chronologically and geographically.

So, for what kind of challenges should we prepare ourselves for 2012? I guess it is like someone gearing up for crossing a desert. 1) get rid of all unnecessary weight; 2) save your energy; and 3) be sure to walk on straight line. In company terms, that means to lose unnecessary costs; manage money and other assets rigorously and diligently; and make sure your company does not lose focus in the process.

Again, Frotcom is well positioned to help companies reduce their fleet costs whilst improving productivity. We estimate that Frotcom International will end 2011 with a 30% increase in revenues, and see no reason why 2012 should not bring some good news as well.

As for the doomsday prediction, I wouldn’t worry too much. I always remember how Woody Allen described in his book “Side Effects” that when prophets predicted the end of the world and it didn’t happen, “there was great disappointment when Monday came and everyone had to go back to work.”

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Valério Marques

CEO - Frotcom International

A note from the editor – If you would like to have your own say in the next edition of this newsletter please do

not hesitate to get in touch at [email protected].

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December

2011

In this issue

New Features

Improvements in

immobilization of vehicles

New Monthly mileage alarm

Case Study

Mara Conservancy –

Security plays a key role

News and events

Frotcom´s new website

shows positive impact

This and much more…

mailto:[email protected]


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New Features

Improvements in Immobilization of vehicles

Frotcom users can now execute more

easily the immobilization of vehicles

from Frotcom’s web interface. After the

immobilization command is issued, the

status of the vehicles can be visualized

in the application. Moreover, users can

track the activation/deactivation

history of the immobilizers.

New Monthly mileage alarm

The purpose of the Monthly mileage alarm is to detect situations in which a

vehicle surpasses a maximum limit of kms per month. In those circumstances, an

alarm is triggered.

This alarm can be useful for instance

when a company has rented their

vehicles with a maximum total mileage.

Hence, it is necessary to adequately

control the mileage in order not to

overshoot the contracted amount of

kms.

Map options panel becomes collapsible

This new feature allows users to expand the map to the right, by hiding the map

options panel.

Users just need to click on the arrow to

close the panel and have more room

for the map. Clicking again on the

arrow will reopen the panel.

This option is especially useful in the

case of computers with low resolution

screens.

Did you know?

New website allows easier consultation of traffic rules across Europe

The need to adapt to new technological

developments in terms of road safety

led the European Commission in

building up a new website which can be

accessed via smartphones.

This site allows consultation of traffic

rules in force in all EU Member States

as well as in Iceland, Norway and

Switzerland.

It is available in 21 official EU

languages and can be visited at:

http://ec.europa.eu/transport/road_safety/mobile/index.htm.

The website provides information on

aspects such as speed limits on

motorways and in rural and built-up

areas, alcohol limits, rules for daytime

running lights and winter tires and

safety equipment for cars and cyclists.

Let´s see for example the speed and

alcohol limits in Portugal and Sweden:

Portugal

Sweden

Source: http://ec.europa.eu/transport/

Newsletter “On the move”

http://ec.europa.eu/transport/road_safety/mobile/index.htm

http://ec.europa.eu/transport/road_safety/mobile/index.htm

http://ec.europa.eu/transport/


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Case study

Mara Conservancy – Security plays a key role

Mara Conservancy, a not-for-profit management company, was

set up as a response to the concern of the local leaders about the

levels of mismanagement in the Mara Triangle, the North Western

section of the Maasai Mara National Reserve, in Kenya.

A list of their ongoing achievements and goals include among others: improving

infrastructure within the Triangle; maintaining a network of secondary roads and

tracks to improve wildlife viewing; strengthening relationships between the

Reserve and the surrounding areas by encouraging community projects and

reward schemes for co-habiting with wildlife.

Mara Conservancy manages the Mara Triangle with a fleet of seven vehicles

that are fitted with Frotcom tracking devices. Additionally, Seiya Ltd. which is

managing the Mara North Conservancy, has a fleet of six vehicles where

Frotcom tracking devices are installed.

According to Charles Gitau Ngugi, Finance & Administration Manager, “Frotcom

devices have played a key role in the following areas: ensuring that security

surveillance is carried out only at designated areas within Kenya and Tanzania

borders; warnings are sent when vehicles go beyond the authorized radius;

ensuring proper handling of vehicles by reporting over speeding; enforcing park

rules – max speed allowed within the Park is 50km per hour; monitoring fuel

consumption aimed at improving efficiency; satellite tracking which acted as an

anti-theft device by giving us almost real time alerts on where our vehicles are.”

ROADMAP congratulates the Frotcom East Africa team for this successful project!

Tip of the month

Frotcom’s Cost management module

allows users to upload/import cost

files from their computers to Frotcom.

Some entities like fuel suppliers,

highway and parking services among

others, give their customers the option

to receive files with all the costs

incurred for a certain period (usually

one month).

Frotcom is able to import these cost

files directly, by the user uploading the

corresponding file from his/her

computer.

The file is validated and the resulting

data inserted in the Cost management

module.

Here are some examples of

companies from which customers

already import cost files to Frotcom:

GALP, Via Verde, Petroibérica, Repsol,

Petrolina and EKO.

http://www.galpenergia.com/EN/Paginas/Home.aspx

http://www.viaverde.pt/

http://www.petroiberica.pt/portal/

http://www.repsol.com/es_en/

http://www.petrolina.com.cy/

http://www.eko.com.cy/intro.aspx?lan=1


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News and events

Frotcom´s new website shows positive impact

On October 16, 2011 Frotcom launched its newly designed website offering

more functionality and easier navigation, with more images and in-depth

information about Frotcom and vehicle tracking.

Recently a survey was conducted in order to find out the visitors opinion about

the new website. The results of the survey indicate a very positive impact with a

high percentage of the respondents evaluating the new website as better/much

better in terms of:

Content (text, images) - 91%

Design (layout, concept) - 81%

General quality - 81%

This survey is of great value as

it offers Frotcom an insight into

publics first impressions about

their new website.

2011 - A year of great achievements for the FLS Rally Team

In a previous newsletter, Roadmap introduced to its readers the Spanish FLS

Rally Team with whom Frotcom Spain signed a sponsorship agreement.

The FLS Rally Team objectives for 2011 turned into great accomplishments as

the team ranked top positions in three major competitions listed below.

"Rallye Race Comunidad de Madrid" 2nd place - Challenge Twingo R2 2nd place - Categoria R2 absoluta España 2nd place - Copilotos Femeninos "Campeonato Asfalto" 3rd place - Challenge Twingo R2 4th place - Categoria R2 absoluta España 7th place - Dos ruedas Motrices 2nd place - Copilotos Femeninos "Campeonato Tierra" 2nd place - Dos ruedas Motrices 1st place - Copilotos Femeninos

ROADMAP congratulates the FLS Rally Team for their achievements in 2011!

Next, on Roadmap

News and events,

more new Frotcom features

and tips will be presented.

This and more, so don’t miss

the next issue of Roadmap.

roadmap monthly newsletter december 2011

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