Are economic conditions forcing you to find ways to operate more efficiently with fewer people on the job? Turning to technology may be the answer. Remote monitoring systems take the data generated by your assets and serve it up to you in an easy-to-understand, easy-to-use format — so you can make smarter, faster decisions about operation, maintenance and repairs. Here are five ways remote monitoring can help you reduce downtime and costs, plus some tips on what to look for as you’re choosing a system.

1. Avoid costly surprises. You can’t keep a human eye on every piece of equipment every minute — and even if you could, some issues just aren’t visible. A remote monitoring system is always on, always tracking asset data, and when performance doesn’t align with the thresholds you’ve established, it notifies you about the issue. Find a system that lets you set up customized, real-time alerts via text, email or phone so the right person gets the information and can take action immediately.


2. Pinpoint exactly where problems lie. Too often, too much time is wasted trying to determine if an issue lies with the engine, compressor, transmission or pump — and wasted time is wasted money. Look for a remote monitoring system that integrates with any manufacturers’ telematics hardware (any brand and any type of equipment). Having a comprehensive view of fleet or trailer health makes it easier and faster to make a targeted call on maintenance or repair needs.


3. Eliminate unnecessary travel. Maybe your equipment operates over too large of a geographic area for technicians to visit in person. Or maybe you don’t have enough people to travel to every asset. With remote monitoring, they won’t have to. A good system will inform your techs which assets are working perfectly and which ones actually require a site visit (along with what parts to bring). That reduces travel time and costs and allows you to service your equipment more effectively without increasing your payroll.


4. Identify assets working under capacity. These days, you need every asset that’s still running to be doing so at peak efficiency. Remote monitoring is one of the easiest ways to spot equipment working below capacity. Seek out a system that lets you easily view equipment utilization and compare run time versus idle time. That way, you can identify inefficient use and make any necessary adjustments fast.


5. Reduce the chance of human error. What if a technician manually recording engine hours types in 50 versus 500 and you miss an important oil change interval as a result? Remote monitoring systems automate tasks like that, eliminating the opportunity for error and freeing up technician time for more valuable work. Or what if a site inspector forgets to return a generator to standby mode, leaving it off instead? With an alert generated by your remote monitoring system, you’ll know before it becomes a problem that costs you money.

Do you want information — or information + insights?

Here’s something else to consider as you shop around for a remote monitoring system: Do you and your team have the time and expertise to interpret the information as it comes in — or would you rather focus on running your equipment and let someone else analyze the data? That’s the beauty of a system like Cat® Remote Fleet Vision, which lets you choose the approach that works best for your operation.

Remote Fleet Vision gives you all the features and benefits described above, and if you decide to pair it with a condition monitoring program offered by your Cat dealer, you get predictive maintenance and repair recommendations, too. Another option is to include Remote Fleet Vision as part of a Customer Value Agreement — a combination of services that results in hassle-free ownership, more uptime, lower maintenance costs and a safer work environment for you.

Start with a demo.

The best way to see the benefits of remote monitoring — and Cat Remote Fleet Vision in particular — is to watch it in action. Ask your dealer how to access the online demo to get started.