AI in Fleet Management: From Data Hype to Fleet Risk Intelligence

From "Where to Begin?" to a Real AI Strategy

Artificial Intelligence is the biggest talking point in business, but for many, it’s a solution in search of a problem. The hype is hard to escape, but the practical starting point can be unclear.
This was the very subject our Product Lead, Stephen Bloomer, discussed on a recent panel at Big Data Belfast 2025 titled, "Where to Begin with AI – Setting Out an AI Strategy." The panel explored how businesses can cut through the noise to define and deploy an AI strategy that delivers real-world value.
Reflecting on the discussion, Stephen explains how this applies directly to fleet managers, no matter where they are on their technology journey:

"The question ‘Where to begin with AI?’ is one I hear a lot. For fleet managers, the answer isn’t in the futuristic hype; it’s in solving your biggest problems today: your soaring insurance premiums, your preventable incidents, and your mountain of administrative data.
Whether you have no cameras at all or a system that just drowns you in videos, your starting point is the same: you need to move from raw data to intelligence. An effective AI strategy isn't about replacing your team; it's about augmenting them. It's about giving them the one piece of critical information they need to prevent an incident or win a claim, freeing them from the 99% of data that's just noise."

Applying an AI Strategy to Your Fleet

Stephen’s point about "data noise" is a critical one. As an article featuring Webfleet recently highlighted, modern fleets generate "mountains of data," leading to an overload of dashboards and alerts. The true value of AI is its ability to analyse these vast datasets in real time, "filter out the noise," and highlight what matters most.
This marks a fundamental shift from reactive firefighting to proactive decision-making.
For fleets without cameras: Your AI journey starts by gathering the right data. Installing an AI-powered camera system isn't just about recording; it's about instantly creating a rich source of fleet risk intelligence that you never had before.
For fleets with basic cameras: You are likely drowning in video files and false alerts. Your next step is to apply an AI layer, like MANTIS RECON, to automatically analyse that data and deliver only the actionable insights, turning your "data overload" into a manageable, prioritised workflow.

MANTIS RECON: Your Fleet Risk Intelligence Engine

This is where the MANTIS platform transforms theory into practice. Our MANTIS RECON solution is the AI engine that does the heavy lifting for you. It’s not just a video platform; it's a risk intelligence system.
RECON uses sophisticated AI to proactively monitor driver behaviour in real-time, identifying high-risk events like fatigue, mobile phone use, and distraction.
Crucially, it then filters and prioritises these events, presenting you with a clear, simple list of coachable moments. Instead of you hunting through hours of footage, our AI does the work, allowing you to focus your time on what humans do best: coaching your drivers and building a safer culture. It turns your data into a proactive tool to prevent incidents before they happen.

How AI Reconstructs Incidents to Lower Your Premiums

Prevention is the primary goal, but when an incident does occur, your AI strategy shifts to protection. This is the power of MANTIS Collision Insights.
In the chaotic moments after a collision, our AI instantly gets to work reconstructing the incident. It automatically fuses multiple data points into a single, comprehensive First Notification of Loss (FNOL) report. This includes:
HD video footage from all relevant cameras
G-force sensor data to show the force and direction of impact
Vehicle telematics including speed, braking, and acceleration
Precise GPS location
This "digital witness" report is sent to you and your insurer in minutes. The impact on your business is immediate and profound:
Accelerates Claims: You provide irrefutable, objective evidence instantly, allowing insurers to accept liability (or prove non-fault) on day one.
Stops Third-Party Costs: By settling claims instantly, you stop the spiralling costs of third-party hire cars and legal fees, which are a major drain on claim costs.
Lowers Your Loss Ratio: This is the key. Your insurance premium is directly linked to your loss ratio (the amount your insurer pays out vs. your premium). By preventing incidents with RECON and minimising the cost of those that do occur with Collision Insights, you actively lower your loss ratio. This gives you the hard evidence to prove you are a low-risk fleet and negotiate significantly lower premiums.

The Human Strategy: AI is an Enabler, Not a Replacement

Perhaps the most important point, as echoed in the Van Fleet World article, is that AI isn't here to replace people. Fleet management will always rely on human expertise, judgement, and leadership.
AI is the enabler. It’s the tool that finally allows your team to manage all your fleet's risk, all of the time. It automates the 99% of manual analysis, freeing your managers to focus on the 1% that truly matters: managing your drivers, improving safety, and making strategic decisions that drive your business forward.
Ready to move from data hype to real fleet intelligence?

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