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The telematics market is still trying to throw off its “double-glazing” image according to the European vice-president of one of the sector’s biggest firms. Tony Neill, who is VP for Europe, Middle East and Africa for Navman, says that the number of high quality technology providers for  the transport industry can be “counted on the fingers of one hand; globally – two hands”.

He warns that there are two many small, financially unstable players in the sector selling poor quality products. He adds: “Most technology providers are bad providers still. Even though technology should be relatively straightforward, they cut corners and don’t put in the correct infrastructure.

“There’s a ‘double-glazing’ reputation of the industry and trying to change that perception takes an awful lot longer because the damage has already been done.” He says that this is one of the reasons that take up in the transport sector has been relatively low; he estimates that just 12% of operators use telematics in one form or another.