Alba Smart Automation was born in its present form in 2015-16 with its focus on safety & security in public transportation. In its former avatar, Alba Systems Control offered security solutions using video surveillance and analytics. With more investments being pumped into road infrastructure, there is a major shift being witnessed in the way telematics is being accessed and utilized, and that is what Alba Smart Automation is cashing in on.
The entire automotive industry is experiencing complete overhaul and is balancing fleet budgets by removing operational and maintenance lacunae and reducing misuse of the vehicular assets. Alba Smart Automation promises to improve all these aspects by offering real time information and verifiable data to the fleet operators – be it SRTUs or private players. And this was the exact reason why Alba Smart Automation came into being – to offer an ‘efficient system that allows operators to save operational and maintenance costs while offering safety and security to the customers’.
Mr. Rajeev Bajaj, Executive Director, shared: “India’s huge population needs safety and security, besides improvement in the quality of life by improved service quality. Our focus has always been this – be it schools, hospitals, trucks or other automotive segments. For schools, we have launched a solution earlier this year called Bus Okay. We began with the NCR and have offices in Mumbai and Bangalore and are currently servicing about 25 schools with this solution.”
Bus Okay for school kids
Bus Okay, an end-to-end solution through a process-based approach to address safety, security, tracking, transport operation and compliance in a comprehensive manner, comprises of a web app for campus administration where data such as which student has to board which bus, his / her pick-up and drop points and other such information is fed into. The solution is integrated with GPS tracking and real time video too. There is also a ride assistant tab provided which is used either by the driver or the ride assistant to access the details of the child, and all the information thus collected is managed through the app.
Bus Okay’s tracking app provides the parents of the children the real time whereabouts of the bus. They are kept updated with notifications while the school manages the backend. The hardware is installed in the bus along with the panic button, RFID reader, cameras and the mobile DVRs.
Intelligent transport system
Alba Smart Automation is working with the public transportation segment where a mini computer is attached to the cameras, TIS, LED signage, and GPS tracking device. The computer feeds the cloud application which enables the operators to perform real time monitoring and analytics of the telematics of the vehicle. Additional information is provided by the recorded video.
Mr. Bajaj added: “We have a route planning module and we provide APIs for the customers to build their custom applications. This way the end users can use the app to board the bus, know its whereabouts and make payments. We are trying to collaborate with private operators, STUs and SRTUs too. Right now, along with Bus Okay, we do video surveillance for coaches and private buses and have installed advanced driver behaviour monitoring systems. About 20 vehicles are undergoing tests with these devices installed which can also detect smoking, phone usage, driver fatigue or his distraction. All these are generated as alarms within the vehicles as well as sent to the control room where the analysis is possible.”
Similar technology is installed in a few ambulances too where the cameras are recording the driver behaviour and monitoring the status of the patient inside the ambulance as well. Through the control room, the feedback is provided to the hospital where the medical team is provided with real time information about the patient’s condition.
He said: “This is a new technology that we are offering to hospitals because, with the kind of traffic density we have today, this solution can offer remote assistance by giving real time feedback saving precious time. Most of the hospitals outsource the ambulance services, so we talk to them directly.”
Freight & 3PL segment
Alba Smart Automation is working with about 50 trucks owned by different freight forwarding companies that ferry expensive cargo. He explained: “Our equipment is vibration proof and works fine upto 65-70 degrees temperatures. All the cables installed are armored ones, the cameras are rain, fire, water and vandal proof. The entire journey is monitored live. So when something goes wrong, we instantly communicate with the driver, and at the nearest point available, we service the vehicle. Our service engineers are currently supporting seven locations across India.”
Be it schools, hospital ambulances, freight forwarding vehicles or passenger buses, Alba Smart Automation enables the operators and fleet owners to monitor engine and driver behaviours, so that the safety of the passengers, cargo and the crew always remains a top priority. The company’s telematics ensures complete transparency of vehicle location besides helping their customers optimize mileage, control fuel costs and work towards better maintenance of the vehicles.