Introducing Our Azuga Integration

We’ve just discovered an exceptionally fun word. 

Azuga.

Say it with us now: AZUGA!

Fun to say, more fun to hear, and best of all, it’s not just a word — it’s a company, and it is in fact the newest member of Fullbay’s GPS integration team.

It’s a pretty rad partnership, and not just because we keep saying the name “AZUGA!” over and over again in meetings, or when the microwave dings, or when this writer chugs another cup of coffee. 

So, what is Azuga, how did they get started, and why are they a fabulous fit for Fullbay? We sat down with their Director of Partnerships, Matt Curtis, to learn more. 

WHAT EXACTLY IS AZUGA?

Azuga provides GPS tracking, AI safety cameras, and maintenance support for fleets all over the world. Ananth Rani founded the company in 2012. Back then, folks often regarded GPS tracking with some level of suspicion — regarded as a way to spy on employees and bark at them for speeding or idling. 

(As a side note, back in the early aughts having a company name that started at the top of the alphabet was very important for getting listed in a directory, hence the name AZUGA. Which, by the way, is derived from a Sanskrit term for fast-moving.) 

The team at Azuga approached tracking a little differently. They focused on using their tools and software to drive (no pun intended) positive driver reinforcement instead of acting as a “gotcha!” to get people into trouble. Initially the team brought in customers by targeting small- or medium-sized businesses like plumbers on the road, calling them, and describing themselves as a way to “make their business more efficient.” 

It definitely worked. They were acquired by Bridgestone — yes, that Bridgestone — in 2021 and have since doubled their business. 

THE AZUGA WAY: SAFETY FIRST

“[GPS tracking] used to be just for, I wanna know where my trucks are. I wanna use it for maintenance purposes,” Matt says. And yes, it is very useful for both those things. But Azuga looked at tracking and safety cameras as a way to keep drivers safer and protect them from, well, less-than-scrupulous people.

Fraud Prevention

We like to think that most of the world means well, but unfortunately, there are plenty of bad actors out there. If you’ve been reading our blog, you know that repair shop fraud happens and can hit shops hard; drivers also must be aware of commercial insurance fraud. This is when a vehicle pulls in front of a work truck sporting a professional logo — “the kind that screams I have commercial insurance” — and slams on their brakes. The plumbing truck rear-ends them. 

Ugh. 

“If you don’t have a camera, you’re kinda guilty until proven innocent in the eyes of the courts,” Matt explains. If they’re found guilty, the fleet’s insurance costs go up, and the driver may lose their license (and therefore their livelihood). 

Rewarding Safe Drivers

The safety camera can provide evidence needed to exonerate the driver in a he-said, she-said situation. When paired with the information provided by Azuga’s telematics, it can also be used to create an effective driver reward program, producing an overall Driver Score that both fleet managers and drivers can see.

As you can imagine, this opens up a lot of avenues for bonuses — the first driver to hit 90 gets $500, for example — and can inspire some friendly competition amongst driver pools (leaderboard, anyone?). Matt reports that one of Azuga’s customers even gives out an F-150 to their best driver at the end of the year (an entire truck! Just for driving decently!). 

When a driver is in it to win it (sorry), they tend to drive a little bit better. Fuel and maintenance costs go down. Tires see less wear and tear. Overall, the savings make rewarding drivers “a drop in the ROI bucket.” And that’s on top of the layer of protection provided to a driver and fleet. 

AZUGA + FULLBAY

As you’ve no doubt noticed, Azuga and Fullbay share a mission to make the roads safer for everyone. Azuga does this through telematics and cameras; Fullbay does it with preventive maintenance. 

Odometer Data

At the moment, the integration allows Azuga customers to send odometer and GPS data directly to Fullbay. As you are no doubt aware, most preventive maintenance is based on usage . How many miles are on this component, and when can we expect it to wear out? We’d better get it in before that happens!

The odometer information reduces the time a tech spends manually entering information. It also keeps the shop up to date on mileage and how the vehicle is doing even when it’s not in the shop. If it hits a service-based mileage, Fullbay can alert the shop and the fleet manager.

“The unsung hero of telematics in general is having a maintenance program so those vehicles are properly maintained,” Matt says. “They’re getting the oil changes and the tire rotations.” 

GPS Data and More

GPS data, meanwhile, is very useful for those who are sending out trucks for mobile repair. There’s no need for the driver to describe their location, such as beneath a creepy willow tree while across the abandoned highway from a field full of creepy clowns. Instead, the GPS address gets sent directly to Fullbay and a technician can be guided right to the spot to rescue the driver from being cast in the next IT sequel.

On its own, Azuga also provides diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) and hours of service data — and as the partnership moves on, it’s possible the Fullbay integration will have access to those, too. 

“Our technology gives you a lot more than just where the truck is and how it’s being driven on the road,” Matt says. He describes Azuga’s service as making it easy for companies to manage “the boring stuff,” knowing that in the morning, a fleet or shop manager can check the platform and see, Aha, this vehicle has a low battery…this one has maintenance coming up…this one’s tires are under-inflated…

“Those things,” he says, “help companies make better decisions.” 

AZUGA YOUR WAY TO BETTER UPTIME

If you already have Fullbay, you can get the Azuga integration by contacting your customer representitive. You’ll need Fullbay Connect, which comes with a host of other add-ons, so really, it’s a win-win situation.

Don’t have Fullbay yet? Intrigued by all our chatter about preventive maintenance and shop management? Schedule a free demo so we can show off all the bells and whistles! And if you like everything we said about Azuga, then hey, check them out and find out everything you need to know.