Telogis was a privately-held US-based company that develops location-based software to manage mobile resources.[2] Telogis sold software as a service (SaaS) which incorporated location information into applications for fleet owners as well as geospatial software development toolkits.[3]

Telogis
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustrySoftware as a service
Founded2001
HeadquartersAliso Viejo, California[1]
Number of employees
500-1000 (2015)
ParentVerizon Connect
Websitewww.telogis.com

In 2016, Telogis was acquired by Verizon.[4]

History

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Telogis was founded in 2001 by Newth Morris, Jason Koch and Ralph Mason, as a trunked radio hardware and software provider. Former Novell Inc. Chairman and CEO Jack Messman was chairman of the board of directors.[5][6] The company was started with investments from its founders, and by 2012 the privately-held company had approximately $69 million in revenue.[7]

Wall Street Journal reporter Don Clark stated of the company's technology that, "Telogis exploited the evolution of software-as-a-service–placing data from vehicles in the cloud ... so that companies that own vehicle fleets can track their cars and trucks without the need to set up their own servers for the purpose."[8] In July 2010 Telogis acquired the assets of Remote Dynamics,[9] then in February, 2011 Telogis acquired the assets of Intergis, a provider of routing, mobile resource and fleet management software for approximately 2,000 small to mid-sized business fleets.[10] In July 2012 Telogis acquired Navtrak. The acquisition resulted in Telogis Navigation, commercial navigation software that gives professional drivers built-in feedback systems to provide up-to-date road network information.[11]

The company's first outside venture capital was announced in October 2013, with $93 million from Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers.[3] In February 2011 private investors provided $2.9 million.[12] Additional funding was received from GM Ventures in 2014.[13]

On 21 June 2016, it was announced that Telogis will merge with Verizon via an acquisition.[14]

On 6 March 2018, a press release[15] announced that Telogis would be rebranded along with sister companies–Fleetmatics and Verizon Telematics–as Verizon Connect.

Software

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Telogis software collects location-based data from embedded and installed hardware in vehicles, as well as from mobile devices. It works on over 40 different hardware platforms from 12 different manufacturers and collects an important array of data.[16] Telogis also provides a software development kit for users to create location-based mobile and desktop applications.[17] One of the primary functions of Telogis's software is to provide United States Federal Government mandated hours of service commercial driver activity logs.

OEM Agreements

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Telogis provides a built-in telematics option for several OEMs including Ford, GM,[18] Volvo, Mack, Hino, Isuzu (United States based trucks), and Manitowoc. This allows fleet owners to opt for factory-installed telematics hardware when purchasing selected new cars and trucks. The advantages include immediate over-the-air activation when adding new vehicles to their fleet management system and additional data points such as DEF (Diesel Exhaust Fluid) quality, water in the diesel and extra DTCs (Diagnostic Trouble Codes) across the body, powertrain and chassis. For off-highway vehicles, Telogis also works with John Deere.[19]

In addition to the OEM built-in options, selected Freightliner trucks offer a pre-wired option that makes it simpler to add the required hardware for tracking trucks.[20]

Uses

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In October 2013 the Wall Street Journal reported that trucking companies were using Telogis to monitor their drivers, using the data they received to either reward or discipline their drivers.[21] This has led some employees to become concerned about privacy issues.[22] Councilman Lewis Rotella of Niagara Falls, New York, stated that, "It’s almost like big brother’s watching you ... You have to put some trust into the employees doing the job," in response to a 2006 contract placing Telogis devices in Niagara city vehicles. He stated further that he believed that such devices can be used to ensure safety, but should not be used for "surreptitiously trailing employees". Rotella also admitted to using the devices himself in his private business to monitor safety.[23] Stephen Roy, president of Mack Trucks, another Telogis partner, also stated that the software would be used by Mack to help manage workflow and not to track the minute-by-minute decisions of its employees.[24]

Recognition

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  • In March 2014, Telogis was listed among Inc. Magazine's "Build 100" for sustained year-over-year growth.[25]
  • In November 2013, Telogis was ranked among Deloitte's "Technology Fast 500".[26]
  • In October 2010, the company was ranked on the Inc 5000.[27]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Douglas MacMillan (2 October 2013). "Telogis Raises $93 Million From Kleiner Perkins to Track Fleets". Bloomberg News.
  2. ^ "Telogis Inc Company Profile". 2010.
  3. ^ a b Alex Williams (1 October 2013). "Telogis Raises $93M From Kleiner Perkins in Pre-IPO Round To Extend Location Intelligence SaaS Platform For New Mobile Workforce". Tech Crunch. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  4. ^ "Verizon buys Telogis to drive deeper into the connected vehicle market". TechCrunch. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
  5. ^ Bill Quinnan (6 January 2014). "Telogis Focuses on 'Culture of Creativity and Excellence'". Orange County Register. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  6. ^ "Jack Messman bio". BusinessWeek. Archived from the original on 23 May 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  7. ^ "Inc. Telogis Company Profile".
  8. ^ Don Clark (2 October 2013). "Dot-com Bust Survivor Telogis Finally Takes Funding". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  9. ^ "Telogis Buys Remote Dynamics". 2010.
  10. ^ "Telogis Buys Integris". 2011.
  11. ^ "Telogis Buys Navtrak". 2012.
  12. ^ Lora Kolodny (11 February 2011). "Telogis Raises $2.9 Million More To Help Companies Manage Fleets, Reduce Emissions". Tech Crunch. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  13. ^ "GM Ventures Makes a Strategic Investment in Telogis". Yahoo Finance. 27 October 2014.
  14. ^ "Verizon to enhance significantly its connected vehicle business with the acquisition of Telogis | Telogis". www.telogis.com. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
  15. ^ Morningstar (6 March 2018). "Introducing Verizon Connect and a New Era of Connected Vehicle Solutions". Archived from the original on 15 March 2018. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  16. ^ Rebecca Grant (2 October 2013). "Bootstrapped Telogis raises $93M to bring location-based data to vehicle fleets". Venture Beat. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  17. ^ "Telogis". Forbes Magazine. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  18. ^ "GM Offers Fleets Insights on the Road". GM. 5 March 2014.
  19. ^ "New York Times". markets.on.nytimes.com. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  20. ^ "Freightliner Trucks to Offer Pre-wire Option for Telogis Telematics Platform". Bloomberg. 28 March 2011.
  21. ^ Spencer Ante (22 October 2013). "Memo to Workers: The Boss Is Watching". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  22. ^ Anthony Kaylin (6 November 2013). "Yes, it is Big Brother. You Got a Problem With That?". American Society of Employers. Archived from the original on 24 May 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  23. ^ Denise Jewell (1 November 2006). "NIAGARA FALLS: Technology gives bosses view from afar". Niagara Gazette. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  24. ^ Sean Kilcarr (24 February 2014). "Mack's New President Shares Insight on OEM's Strategic Initiatives". Fleet Owner. Archived from the original on 29 June 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  25. ^ "The Build 100 List of Sustained-Growth Companies". 2014.
  26. ^ "Deloitte Technology Fast 500 Rankings". 2013. Archived from the original on 9 May 2013. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  27. ^ "Inc.com Company Profile - Telogis Inc". 2009. Archived from the original on 17 August 2009.