Geotab has released its 2024 sustainability report analysing its current position on its ambitious goals, all while helping the infrastructure industry with its own.
As one of the global leaders in connected transport, Geotab recognises its responsibility to lead by example in reducing emissions and promoting sustainable practices.
The telematics company has committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2040 and a 50 per cent reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
These ambitious goals and its progress have been highlighted in Geotab’s 2024 Sustainability and Impact Report.
Will Batty, Associate Vice President, Business Development at Geotab says the report is Geotab’s way of being transparent on a key pillar of the business.
“We want to be at the forefront of the industry when it comes to sustainability, and this report is Geotab’s way of displaying the commitments we have in place,” he says.
“We want to be an innovative driver in the industry as we continue to push innovative solutions for all industries, including the roads and infrastructure sectors.”
For more than 20 years, Geotab has invested in ground-breaking data research and innovation to enable partners and customers to transform their fleets and operations.
This is on top of providing telematics, vehicle and asset tracking solutions to over 55,000 customers in 130 countries, including Australia.
Connecting to over 4.7 million vehicles and processing more than 80 billion data points a day, Geotab aids its customers in increasing productivity and achieving their sustainability goals.
Supporting industry
As a global leader in telematics, with millions of subscriptions around the world, one of the biggest impacts Geotab can have is assisting the transportation industry’s transition to a clean future.
Two years ago, Geotab launched its Impact Agenda to focus its efforts on three core areas where it can make the biggest difference.
These include accelerating decarbonisation in vehicle fleets, powering driver and road safety and advancing progress to net zero through data, research and partnerships.
“We know the transportation industry is rapidly evolving and having access to data that empowers the roads and infrastructure industry to plan, manage and transparently report on progress is essential,” says Batty.
With this model, Geotab hopes its customers can build a foundation for working through their own sustainability goals.
“Many of Geotab’s customers are now looking for ways to drive more sustainable practices right across the roads and infrastructure industries,” says Batty.
“Whether its transitioning to electric vehicle fleets or looking at ways to reduce fuel wastage or reduce carbon emissions, they are actively working on their sustainability.”
Batty says those in the sector can use Geotab’s tools to focus on key metrics such as excessive idling or driver behaviour to reduce costs, while also delivering a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.
“There are a number of tools in the platform that are relevant to the roads and infrastructure industries and can help drive sustainable practices,” he says.
“In 2024 particularly, Geotab launched a number of new tools and resources that can help support organisations with their efficiency and electrification goals.
“One of our motivating factors from the report is to help our customers understand how to move their data into actionable insights.”
Geotab’s newly launched Sustainability Centre can provide actionable insights to address decarbonisation, cost management and opportunities to improve performance.
“This centre helps customers balance the dual challenge of enhancing operational efficiency while minimising their environmental impact,” says Batty.
“The Sustainability Centre is a fleet’s environmental dashboard and a central platform where businesses can easily see the environmental impact on aspects like fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions.”
Batty says the Sustainability Centre can also help guide customers transition from a traditional vehicle fleet into an electric vehicle fleet.
“This assists fleets in determining which vehicles are suited for electrification, because not every vehicle today is suitable to be an electric vehicle replacement,” he says.
“It looks at historical patterns like distance travelled, maintenance and fuel cost while also looking at the overall environmental impact and the cost to acquire an electric vehicle. All used to analyse the potential transition to an electric vehicle.”
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In addition to the establishment of the Sustainability Centre, Geotab has also introduced its Safety Centre.
Described by Batty as a central hub for fleet safety, the Safety Centre unites all data in one place to aid businesses when making decisions about safety.
Two of Geotab’s focusses include driving sustainability in the industry and promoting the safety of drivers and their vehicles.
“The Safety Centre uses smart technology to predict and prevent risk,” Batty says.
“We want our customers to move from a reactive standpoint to a proactive position where we can prevent accidents from happening.”
For example, Batty says fleet managers can look at patterns in risky driving to potentially avoid accidents from occurring.
“This is done so we can get ahead of the game and help drivers stay safe on the road, reduce accidents and lower expenses that are associated to them.”
With over 700 partners and 55,000 companies using Geotab worldwide, Batty says Geotab hopes the report can help pave the way when it comes to everyone’s own sustainability goals.
“A change in thinking is required when it comes to sustainability where we start to think of it more as a competitive advantage, and at Geotab we have a number of different tools that the roads and infrastructure industries can utilise to further their sustainability goals,” says Batty.
“Geotab can support their transition to electric vehicles, and we can also look at improving safety and reducing risks, as we know safer operations means fewer accidents and less downtime.”
“We can also provide the data to help businesses report on their sustainability performance,” he says.
Goal-driven
In the past year, Batty says Geotab has noticed a growth in its sustainable solution adoption across the company.
“Sustainability is driven by practical benefits such as cost savings, and not just about things we can do to help lower emissions,” he says. “There has been a 39 per cent increase in the use of Geotab’s sustainability platforms, which means the tools are being used by our customers.”
Batty says Geotab understands the urgency of climate action and the need to accelerate decarbonisation and the circular economy.
Geotab employs the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standards for emissions disclosure. It analyses three scopes across the board compared to a 2019 baseline.
Scope One looks at direct emissions sourced, owned and controlled by Geotab. Scope Two is comprised of indirect emissions from electricity, steam, heat and cooling. Scope Three is comprised of indirect emissions from the supply chain through the procurement of goods.
In 2024, Geotab achieved a 40 per cent reduction in Scope One and 78 per cent in Scope Two. Batty says the decrease is primarily due to changes in facility operations and signifies a shift in the right direction.
“In 2024, Geotab continued to make progress in decreasing direct operational emissions,” he says. “We are actively exploring opportunities to increase renewable energy procurement and are evaluating the feasibility of on-site renewable energy generation to support our sustainability goals.”
This article was originally published in the June edition of our magazine. To read the magazine, click here.
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