Rand McNally Introduces Practical AI: New Functionality Reduces Safety Event Review by 70 Percent

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Oct 29, 2024, 10:00 ET

BOISE, Idaho, Oct. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Rand McNally, a leader in fleet management technology, today announced the rollout of its pioneering Practical AI framework within its SafetyDirect solution that uses machine learning to analyze vast amounts of driver and vehicle performance data. This new approach surfaces the most important insights for fleet managers and safety directors, helping them focus on what truly matters.

The first new feature enabled by Practical AI is Automated Event Ranking (AER) that automatically classifies and prioritizes safety events. AER allows fleet managers to concentrate on critical incidents while reducing the time spent reviewing non-essential data. In testing, Rand McNally demonstrated a 70-percent reduction in the number of safety events requiring manual review, which enables managers to focus on high-priority incidents and make faster decisions that improve fleet safety and operational efficiency.

"Data is only as valuable as it is actionable," explains Andre Tokman, Global Head of Data Science for Rand McNally. "The idea is to take big data and make it feel smaller and more useful—not just overwhelm our customers with more of it."

AER leverages data collected from proprietary onboard ADAS systems, ranking safety events—such as sudden braking, lane departures, and other driving behaviors—based on their severity. By minimizing false positives and delivering actionable insights, AER empowers fleet managers to make quicker, more informed decisions that lead to safer driving outcomes.

Bill Woolsey, Safety Director at Freymiller, highlighted the real-world impact of Practical AI: "We coach our drivers directly from the SafetyDirect data, which enables us to quickly and easily separate key signals from 'noise' in the data. That saves us time and makes our coaching more precise and effective."

AER is the first of many ways Rand McNally is enhancing fleet technology with practical, real-world applications of AI. Looking ahead, Rand McNally plans to expand its use beyond safety management.

Leveraging its access to proprietary data from onboard sensors and telematics systems, Rand McNally will apply AI-powered insights to areas such as predictive maintenance and vehicle health monitoring. This will allow fleet managers to not only improve driver performance but also enhance overall fleet efficiency by anticipating and addressing maintenance issues before they become critical.

About Rand McNally – With over 165 years of trust and reliability, Rand McNally has been by your side on every journey, from the open roads to intricate highways. Today, we blend our rich heritage with advanced technology and intelligent systems to ensure your travels are safer and smarter. With innovations like the RandOne platform and SafetyDirect by Rand McNally (formerly by Bendix), we stand with you, making every mile meaningful and every journey unforgettable.

SOURCE Rand McNally