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Telematics

Telematics is a technology that combines telecommunications and informatics to transmit data over long distances, enabling remote monitoring, tracking and management of vehicles, machinery and equipment. The technology integrates GPS positioning, onboard diagnostics, wireless communications and data analytics to collect and relay real-time information about asset location, performance, fuel consumption, operator behaviour and maintenance needs. Telematics systems typically consist of hardware devices installed on equipment, cellular or satellite communication networks, and cloud-based software platforms that process and present the data to users. In the mining and construction sectors, telematics enables fleet managers to optimise equipment utilisation, reduce downtime, improve safety and lower operating costs by providing visibility into machine health and productivity metrics. The technology supports predictive maintenance by identifying potential failures before they occur, allowing operators to schedule repairs during planned downtime rather than responding to breakdowns. Telematics data can also inform decisions about equipment replacement, operator training and process improvements. Major equipment manufacturers and third-party providers offer telematics solutions tailored to specific industries, with features ranging from basic location tracking to advanced analytics incorporating machine learning algorithms. The adoption of telematics has accelerated as mining companies pursue digitalisation strategies and seek to integrate equipment data with broader enterprise systems. Telematics forms a foundational layer for more advanced technologies such as automation, digital twins and remote operation centres. The technology emerged in the late twentieth century with the convergence of GPS, mobile communications and computing power, and has evolved rapidly as connectivity and data processing capabilities have improved.

Telematics News


a mini excavator
Automation, efficiency drive equipment demand
26th June 2026 By: Devina Haripersad

Productivity, automation, safety and sustainability initiatives are increasingly shaping investment decisions in South Africa’s earthmoving and surface mining equipment sector, says diesel engine... 


a motor grader
Made-in-SA grader awarded accolade
26th June 2026 By: Devina Haripersad

A motor grader range engineered and manufactured by South African heavy equipment manufacturer Bell Equipment received the Innovation for Surface Mining Award at the Mining Equipment Manufacturers... 


Connected Cold-Store Fleets Offer an Operational Advantage for KZN Citrus Farmers
Connected Cold-Store Fleets Offer an Operational Advantage for KZN Citrus Farmers
24th June 2026

Cold-store facilities that support citrus farming operations demand far more from material handling equipment than standard warehousing environments. Between temperature-sensitive produce, strict... 


Warehousing: Connected Fleets Promote Safety and Efficiency
Warehousing: Connected Fleets Promote Safety and Efficiency
15th June 2026

Intelligent safety systems and telematics are no longer optional extras for the increasingly complex warehouse industry. They are essential tools that play a critical role in improving safety,... 


Smart or Analogue Tractors? How FUCHS Lubricants Help Farmers Make the Mechanisation Choice
Smart or Analogue Tractors? How FUCHS Lubricants Help Farmers Make the Mechanisation Choice
5th May 2026

In South African agriculture, every planting and harvest season brings high stakes: unpredictable weather, tight margins, long days in the field, and machinery that must perform without fail.... 


An image of Gavin Kelly
Technology, safety programme would improve operations
1st May 2026 By: Trent Roebeck

Road freight operators with truck fleets should proactively seek to combat ongoing safety concerns in the country by integrating modern technologies into their fleets while implementing a safety... 


Probe IMT partners with Optix to enhance mine fleet safety across Southern Africa
23rd April 2026

Probe IMT, a leading provider of productivity and safety solutions for mining, has announced its partnership with Optix, a global expert in fleet safety and management. This collaboration brings... 


The above image depicts Bell Equipment ADT marketing manager Brad Castle
Truck maker floats 4×4 dump truck as better for mines
10th April 2026 By: Lynne Davies

With hybrid truck fleet models becoming more common at African mines, designing articulated dump trucks (ADTs) to enable them to operate all year round and in different climates offers mixed truck... 


Magazine cover image
Technology central to overcoming mining’s growth constraints
13th March 2026 By: Lumkile Nkomfe

Given the increasing depths and complexity of orebodies, high and volatile energy costs, logistics bottlenecks and growing demand for safer and sustainable operations, the adoption of digital... 


Magazine cover image
Technology central to overcoming mining’s growth constraints
13th March 2026 By: Lumkile Nkomfe

Given the increasing depths and complexity of orebodies, high and volatile energy costs, logistics bottlenecks and growing demand for safer and sustainable operations, the adoption of digital... 


Image of SM55 surface miner from Vermeer
New compact surface miner now available
6th February 2026

A compact, transportable surface miner designed to deliver production-level performance on a range of jobs, such as continuous surface mining in quarries and mines as well as civil construction... 


Image of a steering wheel and dashboard
Shared technology improves safety of heavy equipment
15th January 2026

Mine safety, reliability and productivity are being enhanced through the use of technology such as proximity detection systems (PDS) and telematics, says heavy equipment manufacturer Bell... 


Diagnostic technologies for failure prevention becoming the norm
5th December 2025 By: Halima Frost

Remote diagnostics and on-site interventions have become the standard for South African earthmoving equipment manufacturer and supplier Bell Equipment, as these technologies are used to predict... 


Heavy Lift Delivers ‘Monster’ Reach Stacker to C. Steinweg Bridge
Heavy Lift Delivers ‘Monster’ Reach Stacker to C. Steinweg Bridge
25th November 2025

Heavy Lift, a division of CFAO Equipment, has delivered Konecranes’s largest standard reach stacker, the massive SMV 4646 TC5, to logistics services provider, C. Steinweg Group, under a 60-month... 


The above image depicts Bell Equipment's proximity detection systems
Shared safety tech improves systems integration, use
31st October 2025 By: Lynne Davies

To ease the management and improve the usability of its graders and articulated dump trucks (ADTs), heavy equipment manufacturer Bell Equipment’s use of shared technology – such as proximity... 


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