Caterpillar to offer machine solutions designed to improve performance

Caterpillar, an equipment manufacturer based in Deerfield, Illinois, has announced a whole-machine solution designed to help original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) provide machine owners the ability to view data output in real-time. The goal is to help operators better understand and use their equipment. 

According to a news release from Caterpillar, customers using this technology can locate, track and manage all their connected assets independently. The system can be integrated with existing telematics regardless of brand. The engine-ready solution can help provide a clear picture of a machine’s health by collecting all the machine data and displaying the results through an easy-to-read online dashboard.

“Cat-powered equipment operators have been using Cat telematics technology for years,” says Tom Nankervis, connected services strategy manager for Caterpillar. “But it’s always been offered as an aftermarket solution until now. Regardless if a machine manufacturer is using their own telematics solution or is looking to introduce a new one, our factory-fit telematics solution can give OEMs and their customers access to powerful information about their machine operation and other parameters. We want anyone who is using our solution to be able to take the right actions that will help them improve efficiency, prolong the life of the engine and lower operating costs.” 

Users of the offering can keep track of equipment location, uptime, fuel use, maintenance alerts and more in one convenient online dashboard, Cat says. They also can customize the data they want to see and schedule reports to share with teams. 

“It’s like having inside access and understanding of the inner workings of machines, and even entire fleets,” says Jamaal Crayton, senior digital manager at Caterpillar. “Users can see in real-time if connected assets are underperforming. They can also compare uptime between machines, helping fleet owners understand which ones are crucial versus supplemental to their operation. And services can scale as needed so customers can choose the features they want to use.”        

The company says the engine-integrated telematics solution can help minimize downtime with remote troubleshooting that can run diagnostic testing and pinpoint potential issues while the machine is in operation. If a repair is required, an OEM or dealer technician would be alerted and can complete the repair correctly in a single visit.  

“The remote capabilities are great for late-night operators, like a customer of ours in Canada,” says Nankervis. “They run their machines during the middle of the night and can make repairs by analyzing data provided from our connectivity solution and perform any software updates at times it’s convenient, like when a shift is over or a machine is done for the day."

“At the end of the day,” Crayton says. “we’re reducing the guesswork used in understanding the most complex component of any machine including the engine and everything it powers. Because once you’ve done that, the rest seems to fall into place.”