At Kögel, innovation is not limited to trailer development. Digital services are growing in importance. Based on Kögel Telematics, they provide customers with a variety of added-value services – all with the aim of giving customers complete control over their trailer and costs, as well as minimising their carbon footprint.

Barely 200 metres away from the administrative building and the factory are the offices of the Kögel Telematics staff. There, on the premises of Kögel Rent, where Kögel rental trailers await collection, Kögel is moving full speed ahead towards the future. Under the leadership of Thomas Gregor, the employees of Kögel Telematics play a pivotal role in shaping the digital services of the Burtenbach-based trailer manufacturer.

No full-service contracts without Kögel Telematics

Through optimised, forward-looking service and maintenance processes, Kögel Telematics helps customers to deploy trailers even more economically. That’s why, as of last year, the telematics unit is part of the standard equipment on all Kögel trailers. With individually tailored contracts, customers can activate precisely the functions they need. Accordingly, Kögel Telematics fulfils its promise to its customers: “Economy meets Ecology – Because we care”.

Kögel Telematics also forms the basis of Kögel's full-service offer – the all-round carefree package for all trailers from Kögel. Customers can determine the scope of the package themselves. The affordable monthly fixed rates cover regular inspections and wear parts, and – excluding intentional damage – provide complete financial control and ensure the perfect condition of the trailer. Emergency breakdown services are also covered. Even for breakdowns abroad, which are nerve-racking enough, customers are completely financially covered.

Sensors and algorithms prevent unplanned downtime

Thomas Gregor’s teams is continuously working on further optimising the performance, handling and operating modes of Kögel Telematics. “We are constantly reassessing the performance of the system to extract even more benefits for the customer,” explains Department Head Thomas Gregor, who is responsible for added-value services throughout Europe at Kögel. For example, the team determines the optimum positioning of sensors on the trailer. These sensors enable the diagnosis of functions and, with the help of algorithms based on intelligently networked information from the various sensors, permit customer-specific predictions of when a trailer requires a service. This means that the trailer has no excess or unplanned downtime, maximising the availability of the trailer.

And when the trailer does require a service, the clever software from Nexmo helps provide an overview. On the portal, customers can manage workshop visits and view which services are required, which parts need to be ordered, and when the trailer is ready for operation.

Only pay full fees when the trailer is earning money, thanks to pay-per-use

Kögel Telematics also provides the basis for “pay-per-use” models. This means that, on top of the basic fee, the customer only pays the usage fee when the trailer is actually in use and earning money. This considerably reduces the cost of downtimes.