NIG launches telematics app for small fleets

Broker-only commercial insurer NIG has launched FleetManager, a telematics smartphone app and portal software for small fleets.

The Direct Line Group-owned insurer will pilot the product with members of the NIG First Club, the club for its top brokers, over the coming months.

It will launch the product with a wider but still select group of brokers in the second half of this year.

The FleetManager app uploads data to the portal, which allows fleet owners to monitor driver performance, route tracking and fuel mileage and tracking.

NIG managing director Jon Greenwood told Insurance Times: “We think all the benefits available to larger fleets fitting black boxes would prove extraordinarily useful for businesses running smaller fleets of vehicles, but the problem in the past has always been one of cost.

“The app neatly deals with that cost aspect. We will be providing the app free of charge to owners of small commercial fleets.”

The app could result in insurance discounts for fleet owners. The app monitors driving behaviours such as braking, cornering and speed as well as environmental factors such as location and road condition.

These elements will be combined to give the driver a score out of 100. Greenwood said: “Based on our experience over time we will develop different discounting factors according to what experience we have based on different scores, but that is very much going to be developed as time passes.”

As well as the potential for discounts, NIG said that the driver data collected would also encourage drivers to drive more safely.

NIG developed the app and portal in conjuction with telematics technology firm The Floow.