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August 22, 2024

Beekeeper: Manage Your Fleet Like a Pro Without the Handcuffs of SaaS Software Contracts

TLDR

Commercial fleets needed something better, so we built Beekeeper—a powerful software product on top of the Bee LTE dashcam. We didn't just guess at what fleet managers wanted; we went out and listened. The result? Fewer accidents, no asset misuse, and optimized routes.

No expensive contracts. It's designed for small and medium commercial fleets that want to win.

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A few years ago, commercial fleets started reaching out to Hivemapper, interested in using our dashcams to manage their vehicles. Frankly, our older devices weren’t designed with their needs in mind. But instead of just guessing at what they wanted, we took the time to sit down with business owners and fleet managers from all kinds of industries:

Shipping Couriers
Pest Control Services
HVAC Services
Traveling Nurses
Taxi Services
Utility Companies
Food Distributors

Each conversation gave us new insights into the challenges they face and what they really need from a dashcam. With over half a million commercial fleets in the U.S. alone, these businesses are crucial to the economy, and we knew we had to get it right.

Today, we're excited to introduce Beekeeper, a powerful software product built on the Bee LTE dashcam. Beekeeper combines powerful, cost-effective tools designed specifically to help small and medium-sized commercial fleets keep their drivers safe and secure on the road every day.

Beekeeper: What Commercial Fleets Actually Need

Commercial fleets are the backbone of the global economy, with over 200 million vehicles out there delivering goods, providing services, and keeping industries running smoothly. From food delivery to telecom repairs, and traveling nurses to utility trucks fixing critical infrastructure, these fleets handle essential tasks every day. But managing a fleet is tough. It demands modern, cost-effective technology that can keep up with the challenges.

Telematics has become the go-to tech for fleet managers—nearly 83% rely on it according to Expert Market. But the real focus here is safety. With high driver turnover and rising vehicle insurance costs (up 50% in places like California), the pressure is on to prevent accidents and keep operations smooth. Monitoring systems aren’t just about tracking vehicles; they’re about making sure specialized, expensive equipment is used properly, avoiding unauthorized use that can lead to costly damage.

Fleet tracking software is proving its worth—42% of drivers report fewer safety incidents since adopting it, according to G2. And then there’s logistics. Efficient routing isn’t just about saving time; it’s about saving money, especially when inflation is driving up costs across the board. Verizon’s 2024 Fleet Technology Trends Report shows that 79% of U.S. fleet businesses felt the sting of inflation this year, compared to 44% in 2021. Every mile counts, and optimizing logistics can make a huge difference in both customer satisfaction and the bottom line.

Now, let's take a closer look at how Beekeeper is designed to tackle these core challenges, giving commercial fleet operators the tools they need to thrive.

Dashcams You Control From Anywhere

Managing a fleet of dashcams is usually a hassle, but with Bee LTE, it’s almost too easy. Fleet Managers can add, register, and monitor every dashcam through the Dashcam tab, which basically handles the hard parts for you. It’s the kind of simplicity that scales, whether you’re dealing with ten vehicles or a thousand.

Remote management isn’t just a feature — it’s a game changer. Instead of wasting time on manual checks or troubleshooting, you manage everything from a single interface. One dashboard to control them all. The ability to see the real-time status of each dashcam isn’t just convenient; it’s empowering. You know instantly if a dashcam is working, and more importantly, if it’s mounted correctly, without ever leaving your desk.

This kind of visibility and control is what sets Bee LTE apart. It’s not just about making fleet management easier; it’s about fundamentally changing how you think about it. Once you see what’s possible, it’s hard to go back to the old way of doing things.

The Driver Co-Pilot That Never Sleeps

Commercial fleets are like the circulatory system of our economy. They've got to keep moving, come hell or high water. Sunshine or storms, swanky suburbs or sketchy alleys, smooth highways or bone-rattling dirt roads - they're out there. This isn't a choice; it's a necessity. And necessity, in this case, breeds risk. A whole lot of it.

Now, throw in the wild card of driver turnover. You've got fresh faces behind the wheel, often piloting vehicles that are about as familiar to them as the cockpit of a Boeing 747. It's a recipe for... well, let's just say it's not ideal.

Enter the Bee dashcam. It's like having a tireless, ever-vigilant co-pilot. It doesn't just watch the road; it watches for specific events that make fleet managers break out in cold sweats. Here is a rundown of the currently supported AI Events the Bee LTE detects:

Harsh braking? Check.
Tailgating at speed? Yep.
Front collisions? God forbid, but yes.
Swerving like a stunt driver? Absolutely.

But here's the kicker: it doesn't just see these events. It captures them and serves them up for review faster than you can say "insurance premium hike." It's not about Big Brother watching. It's about turning a liability into an asset, transforming each potential incident into a learning opportunity

Watch Your Fleet in Real Time

In the world of commercial fleets, each vehicle isn't just a set of wheels — it's a $75,000 investment on the road. And like any smart investor, you want to keep a close eye on your assets. That's where Hivemapper's monitoring tools come in. They're not just about tracking dots on a map; they're about transforming those expensive hunks of metal into data goldmines. Real-time location tracking isn't Big Brother watching; it's smart business keeping its finger on the pulse of operations.

But it's not just about protecting your assets from weekend warriors with a taste for off-road adventures. It's about ensuring your fleet is a well-oiled machine, hitting its marks and keeping customers happy. Hivemapper's trip history feature isn't just a log; it's a powerful tool for optimizing routes, validating deliveries, and holding your team accountable. In an industry where margins are tight and customer expectations are sky-high, this level of insight isn't just nice to have - it's the difference between thriving and barely surviving. Remember, in the fleet game, knowledge isn't just power - it's profit.

Find nearby vehicles instantly and cut costs with Proximity Search

Gas costs typically account for about 30% of fleet operating expenses, making efficient management crucial. Fleet managers frequently grapple with questions such as:

Technician availability: "We need one of our field techs to respond to a customer at this location. Do we have anybody nearby?"
Route compliance: "Are our delivery drivers following their scheduled routes?"
Service area expansion: "A new customer wants our service. Does it make sense to service this customer given their location? Do we have any field techs who regularly operate near this customer's area?"

Proximity search technology has emerged as a powerful solution to these common fleet management issues. This tool allows managers to instantly locate nearby fleet vehicles, optimizing routes and improving response times.

Proximity search isn't just about finding the nearest vehicle. It's about unlocking insights that can reshape your entire operation. When a potential customer from a new area comes knocking, you're not just guessing whether you can service them. You're making a data-driven decision based on your fleet's real-world movement patterns. It's like having a constantly updated heat map of your operational reach.

But here's the real kicker: this technology isn't just a neat tool, it's a competitive advantage. Fleet managers who leverage proximity search are playing a different game altogether. They're not just reacting to demands; they're proactively optimizing their operations. They're cutting costs without cutting corners, improving customer satisfaction without burning out their staff. In the cutthroat world of fleet management, that's not just an edge—it's a cliff between you and your competitors.

Beekeeper Pricing

With the Beekeeper FREE plan, you get a powerful suite of tools to provide a fleet with top-tier management capabilities, all without ongoing fees. It’s a robust software solution that delivers real value, right from the start.

But if you’re ready to take your fleet to the next level, the Beekeeper Pro plan is here. For just $9 a month per device, you unlock a world of unlimited possibilities, from comprehensive monitoring to AI-driven event detection, and yes, dedicated customer support. It’s not just an upgrade; it’s a revolution in how you manage your fleet.

All Beekeeper plans require the Bee LTE dashcam and a data plan. See the next section for more details.

Bee LTE - Wireless Carrier Support

The Bee LTE device gives you the ultimate flexibility and freedom by allowing you to bring your own SIM card, letting you choose the right data plan and wireless carrier for your organization.

Whether you’re in the U.S., Canada, Australia, Europe, or Asia, the Bee LTE will support major certified carriers. As Hivemapper expands carrier support, your options will continue to grow.

Interested in learning more? Head to our Commercial Fleets page and find out how we can support your business needs!