Indian supply chain company Locus and Californian telematics firm Lytx have combined their technologies  to create automated route planning.

Locus, a B2B SaaS company, automates human decisions in the supply chain. It has integrated its technology with Lytx, a specialist in video telematics, analytics, safety and productivity for commercial and public sector fleets.

While Lytx provides GPS location information on vehicles, Locus uses the information to prepare the most optimised route. Additionally, Locus can use the planned route and location information to compare planned versus actual performance as well as power analytics and insights. The combined product will enable fleet managers to reduce costs by fuel economy monitoring, driver analytics, visibility, compliance management and predictive maintenance alerts.

For fleets, this smart management platform should help with higher asset use, optimised route planning, better driver communications, and seamless interactions with shippers and warehouses, translating into cost and time savings for the fleet managers.

“We are very excited to join forces with an innovative partner like Lytx and take our combination to the market,” said Krishna Khandelwal, chief business officer at Locus. “This partnership offers the perfect blend of analytics and routing capabilities to our customers. The optimised routing reduces both capital and operational costs for local distribution while increasing service levels and revenue-generating activities.”

Locus’ deep-tech platform automates human decisions in the supply chain to provide efficiency, transparency and consistency in logistics operations. The platform uses deep machine learning and proprietary algorithms to offer smart logistics such as route optimisation, real-time tracking, insights, analytics, beat optimisation, warehouse management, and vehicle allocation and use. Locus also helps companies optimise their end-to-end supply chain network through consulting.

“Many fleet managers today leverage multiple technologies and are looking for ways to consolidate so they can save time and focus on things that matter more,” said Frank Schneider, director at Lytx. “This integration will allow customers of Locus and Lytx to have a seamless view of all the data they need from both systems, so they can make informed decisions in an instant. Fleet managers can keep track of their vehicles through GPS, get insights into driving behaviour through our proprietary video and machine vision and artificial intelligence offering, dispatch technicians, and route vehicles.”

Working with clients across south-east Asia, North America, Europe and India, Locus has raised $29m across multiple rounds from tier one investors.

Lytx provides machine vision and artificial intelligence-powered video telematics, analytics, safety and productivity technology for commercial, public sector and field service fleets. It harnesses the power of video to empower drivers and fleets to be safer and more efficient, productive and profitable. Customisable services and programmes span driver safety, risk detection, fleet tracking, compliance and fuel management. Using what is said to be the world’s largest driving database of its kind, along with proprietary machine vision and artificial intelligence technology, it helps protect and connect thousands of fleets and more than 1.3 million drivers worldwide.