Thursday, 06 October 2022 – Centurion – Smart IoT solutions provider Macrocomm announced that it been contracted by Nelson Mandela Bay Metro to roll out a smart fuel management innovation aimed at eliminating fuel wastage and theft.
Councillor Mokgethi Mogatosi, the member responsible for roads and transport for the municipality said that fuel theft had had a negative impact on the metro, and that the system was a much-needed intervention that would improve fleet efficiency and enhance the reputation of the institution. “We identified weaknesses in our existing system and looked at how we could use innovation to ensure accountability and reduce costs,” he said.
Macrocomm’s smart fuel solution provides a digital ecosystem that delivers real-time, evidence-based fuel transaction validation and reporting to fleet managers and administrators. Drivers can request a fuel top-up on demand and authorized administrators can approve the request from almost anywhere.
Drivers are directed to participating service stations and depots, where their vehicle presence, transaction and purchases is verified before payment is authorized through a secure one-time-pin (OTP)
Deputy director for fleet management services Zukile Magongo said the system had already been installed in a number of its municipal vehicles. He explained that their key aim in using this technology was to eliminate misuse and combat alleged corruption. “Unlike the fuel card-based system, this platform provides us with live data on transactions for real time reporting and analysis. It also makes it possible for us to know the exact geographical location of our fleet and who is driving the vehicle” he said.
Macrocomm Group CEO Sivi Moodley applauded the municipality for being one of the early adopters of the innovation. He said the smart fuel management system was part of Macrocomm’s holistic solution for fleet management and operations; and a demonstration of how technology can solve the challenges of our day. “At a time where both consumers and businesses are burdened with rising costs, we need to change our ways of doing things. Technologies like these present enormous benefits not only from an economic perspective, but also from an environmental, social and governance standpoint,” he said.
