Focus on feedback

Changes and innovations in Stoneridge’s products are largely driven by legislation changes, for instance the One Minute Rule. Its aim is to have the equipment developed and ready before any particular regulation comes into effect. However, when it knows law changes are on their way, the company pro-actively meets with fleet owners, drivers and operators to get first hand feedback on features they would like to see in digital tachographs. Colin said, ‘A good example of this is the feature of “Driver Decision Support” (also known as Duo features) in the Exakt Duo digital tachograph, which was an idea born from such a meeting. This functionality provides drivers with some very valuable information in relation to driving and rest times and helps them remain within the legal requirements.’

He continued, ‘We work closely with our customers and take feedback from a range of sources into account when developing new products or updating existing ones. We never develop a product for the sake of it but only because there is a real need and demand for it in the marketplace. We hold regular focus groups with our fleet and workshop customers, which give us an insight into the challenges our customers face on a daily basis. We also get valuable feedback from our annual customer satisfaction surveys conducted amongst our OPTAC3 and Fleet Viewer tachograph analysis customers and our workshop surveys. Moreover, customers also always have the option to leave us feedback on our website or over the phone and via e-mail.’

Stoneridge’s digiDL remote download unit

The company’s Tacho Link dongle

Not only are the latest digital tachographs drawing customers’ interest, so too are tools for remotely downloading digital tachograph data, claims Colin. By attaching Stoneridge’s digiDL remote download unit to a digital tachograph, it provides what he described as a ‘simple, fail safe’ way of downloading tachograph data. It uses GPRS technology to transmit the VU and driver data. All that is required is for the company card to be connected to the internet. Also proving popular is the company’s Tacho Link dongle (a Bluetooth dongle that connects digital tachographs with Android smartphones) and two smartphone apps.