Final Draft #3

According to Zonarsystems (2018), Zonar V4 is the latest Telematics Control Unit (TCU) released to monitor and track fleets of vehicles using mass transit. It optimizes “decision-making” capabilities. The main function is to track vehicles’ location with high accuracy using GPS and BeiDou satellites. One of the unique features is the “Intelligent Logging Algorithm”, which records vehicle activities. Zonar V4 has interconnectivity with other systems such as the Transportation Management System (TMS), thus improving services.

Drivers can trust that the data collected by Zonar’s V4 will be sent over a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to data centres through compression, encryption and transmission. Nationwide coverage is provided through the built-in 4G radios. Data collected in the last six months will be backed up if drivers are within an area with restricted cellular coverage. By using Zonar’s Ground Traffic Control software, it optimizes the driver’s performance by overseeing fleet operations. Zonar also has many competitors in this rapidly advancing world, possessing similar features and functions with other telematics car control product brands such as OCTO Telematics Ltd. What differs Zonar from one of its competitor, OCTO Telematics, is its broader capacity coverage in its TCU technology and the implementation of artificial Intelligence in the tracking of location. This makes it unique and stand out from the rest of its competitors.

Zonar V4 is both a software and hardware product which can be installed into a vehicle through 4G with "Intelligent Logging Algorithm" with sensors and tracks places anytime and anywhere immediately. This provides much greater flexibility for drivers as compared to normal pinging with a fixed timing. Verizon only pings location to monitor and track which is a commonly used method. Together with the Zonar V4, there will be a rider visibility software called the "MyBusVue" Application which are add-ons to the connectivity. Zonar telematics technology can be used to keep track of seatbelts, door faults and wheel-chair lift activation when Zonar V4 is installed in a bus. Thus, it provides a high level of safety, security and maintenance. In addition, most of its competitors such as Verizon focused mainly on cars but Zonar also has unique features for not only cars but school buses etc. Zonar V4 is made in a way that it can be used in all types of vehicles with light, heavy or off-duty . This makes it set apart from other TCU products from Verizon and OCTO Telematics Ltd. The other TCU products' focus is mostly on the connected car software system in the automotive sector whereas Zonar systems has embarked on other vehicle projects such as the Thomas Built Buses collaboration as well, shifting in another similar perspective.

In conclusion, Zonar is a rapidly evolving successful product brand utilizing and innovating using new technologies with fresh and unique ideas. With its ability to use and collaborate with indutries beyond automotive just by using a TCU product, the future of mass transit vehicles will improve steadily as a whole, attracting more companies from many other sectors. It is indeed an impressive and rising brand with its Intelligent Logging Algorithm and software applications within their products.

References :
Zonars Systems. (2018, March 28). V4 Telematics Device Solutions. Retrieved September 23rd, from https://www.zonarsystems.com/solutions/v4-telematics-device/

School Bus Fleet.(2016, November 9). Zonar Telematics to be made standard on some Thomas Built Buses. Retrieved on September 29th, from
https://www.schoolbusfleet.com/news/717595/zonar-telematics-to-be-made-standard-on-some-thomas-built-buses

OCTOTelematics. (2017). Automotive. Retrieved on September 29th from
https://www.octotelematics.com/automotive