At its 2017 spring conference, ACFO will be turning the spotlight on the latest generation of connected cars and both the benefits and dangers that come with the huge amount of data that these systems generate. The conference takes place on 18 May at Whittlebury Hall in Northamptonshire.
The conference will see Nick Mitchell, service and technical manager at Audi UK giving a manufacturer’s perspective, while Alex Ktorides – partner at legal and professional services firm Gordon Dadds – will tackle the potential legal ramifications of ‘big data’ as its known. Furthermore, ACFO also says that a representative from a major insurance company will address the attendees, as will an ACFO member on how these changes may affect fleet operations.
John Pryor, ACFO chairman, said: “We are currently at the tip of an iceberg. The arrival of ‘big data’ will have a major impact on fleet operations and company car drivers. Today’s connectivity is the start of the journey towards the autonomous car and while the secure exchange of data builds the foundations for new business activities and applications, there are significant risks and challenges regarding safety, security and privacy, that need to be addressed.”
Supporters of the use of big data point out that by using this data, fleets will be able to reduce vehicle downtime, improved safety and duty of care, as well as enable early detection of potential faults, reducing SMR costs.
Elsewhere, however, there are concerns over how all of this data will be protected, especially in the new era of cyber crime and with forthcoming changes to data protection legislation. This builds on existing laws, with a particular focus on the digitisation of technology, as well as establishing new principles of transparency and accountability, with being able to prove consent a key part of the new legislation.
Pryor went on to say: “The relationship between motor manufacturers, the vehicle leasing and fleet management industry, fleet decision-makers and company car drivers is set to change with the advent of big data and connected vehicles.
“Fleet managers want clarity on what the issues are; they want to understand how suppliers such as vehicle manufacturers and contract hire and leasing companies will access and use big data; and, critically, they want to know what the law is in respect of managing and using big data sourced directly from ‘intelligent’ vehicles.
“Every fleet is unique and how user-chooser and job-need fleets use and interpret big data will potentially be different. But the seminar will see experts deliver independent views on the impact of big data on fleet operations. It is then up to managers to analyse how big data will then impact on their own vehicle operations and employees.”
The event will start at 9am, finishing at 3pm with a Q&A session with the panel. To attend, email Fiona Spencer at info@acfo.org, or visit www.acfo.org.
