Omniplus: Digitalisation opens up new paths for maximum vehicle availability, fleet management and replacement parts procurement

• Omniplus On: digital services for bus fleets
• Omniplus On: four pillars for maximum availability, fleet management and replacement parts procurement

All-round service for all buses of the Mercedes-Benz and Setra brands: That's the promise of Omniplus, the service brand of Daimler Buses. With more than 600 Support Points in Europe, Omniplus is a Europe-wide and bus-specific service network. Innovative services are continually being added to the scope on offer. The new Omniplus On portal integrates existing and new services. Thanks to Omniplus On, service has gone digital and a whole range of totally new possibilities have been opened up to bus companies and drivers alike.

Omniplus On: four pillars for maximum availability, fleet management and replacement parts procurement

Omniplus On stands on four pillars:

• "Omniplus On advance" ensures bus companies enjoy maximum availability of their fleet, for example thanks to the Omniplus Uptime service for monitoring vehicle systems in real-time
• "Omniplus On monitor" brings together telematics services for efficient fleet management
• "Omniplus On drive" assists the driver, for example, in carrying out the prescribed daily departure checks
• "Omniplus On commerce" enables bus firms to enjoy a rapid and targeted purchasing process around the clock, for example for replacement parts from the Omniplus eShop

Customers of the current model variants of the Mercedes‑Benz Citaro, eCitaro, Conecto and CapaCity, the current Mercedes‑Benz Tourismo and all Setra touring buses from the ComfortClass 500 and TopClass 500 model series benefit from Omniplus On. From this year, all of these buses have been equipped as standard with the "Bus Data Center" telematics box. This serves as the transfer unit for various pieces of data.

Omniplus On advance: Omniplus Uptime for maximum availability

A bus can only earn money if it's actually in use. And that's where the forward‑thinking Omniplus Uptime service comes in. With the Uptime service, Omniplus is demonstrating new networking possibilities. Omniplus Uptime creates transparency about the technical condition of the fleet, creates planning security, prevents downtime and thus overall ensures increased vehicle availability.

Omniplus Uptime continually checks the status of the vehicle systems in real time. That includes all of the technology equipped with sensors whose data is able to be called up in the data bus system. In all, Omniplus Uptime monitors around 30 components and functions.

The data is continually analysed and interpreted on a Daimler server. If a need for repair or maintenance work becomes apparent, the information is automatically transmitted to the bus company and, depending on the urgency, also transmitted to the authorised service support point. In this way, any repairs required can be combined with the maintenance work.

If there is a risk of downtime as a result of an acute technical malfunction, the customer is called by the Omniplus 24h Service within minutes and also informed via the Omniplus On portal. Associated with that is a specific set of qualified recommendations for action. If required, Omniplus can search for a workshop and organise the repair work. In this way, an unplanned stop can be prevented or reduced to the bare minimum.

Omniplus Uptime also makes visible things which may have been missed, for example the particle filter regeneration which hasn't been carried out or the tyre pressures which are permanently too low. Such aspects also result in recommendations for action.

Omniplus On monitor: telematics services for efficient fleet management

Companies which keep their fleet in check right down to the fine details will enjoy the greatest efficiency. Telematics are an indispensable support in this respect. Fuel consumption and the evaluation of the operating data of individual buses or the entire fleet, not to mention driver card downloads are just some of the professional instruments which they open up.

Individual services provide an overview of the fleet

Specific individual services already provide businesses with numerous items of useful information whilst also ensuring transparency within the vehicle fleet. These services provide information on such things as the current mileage of the bus fleet, the current position of the buses, and fuel savings potential for the entire bus fleet on the basis of current consumption values and driving styles. This information can be called up in the Omniplus On portal, both in a desktop and a mobile version. Accordingly, bus companies have access to the basic data of their fleet without the need to be bound to a desk.

Comprehensive telematics services for bus companies from Q3/2019

In order to provide bus customers with a central point of call for digital services, Omniplus On will be replacing the varied telematics services provided by Fleetboard with a new structure.

In addition to all of the information about their buses which customers were previously able to call up via the Fleetboard services, they will, in future, have access to even more innovative services via the Omniplus On monitor. Examples include functions for geofence geographical vehicle monitoring, SafetyScore, route planner, checklist management and operating data for the eCitaro.

Driving style analysis

Transparency about driving style is created by the driving style analysis, which allows companies to look over the shoulder of their drivers. This serves to provide a realistic basis for analysis with an aim to reduce both fuel consumption and wear on the vehicle, as well as to increase the safety of passengers on-board. The driving style analysis evaluates the individual driving style of a driver and provides information about any specific training which may be required.

Tracking services

The location services ensure complete transparency about the position of the fleet's vehicles. These services allow the location and the previously covered route of all buses to be called up at any time. Besides the current location, a digital road map also shows detailed tracking of where the vehicle has been. With the aid of geofence geographical vehicle monitoring, businesses can control and monitor the entry into and departure from pre-defined geographical zones.

Operations planning

Operations planning provides businesses with an online route planner which has everything to offer that a bus company, bus driver or logistics expert needs in their daily planning activities.

Time management

Touring bus companies benefit from "Time management". This service simplifies the legally prescribed, regular reading out of driver cards and the archiving of the data. With the driver card download and mass storage download of the digital tachographs, businesses can call up data directly from the vehicle, irrespective of its current location. Current driving and rest times are also visible here.

Fleet Performance Monitoring

For the entry into the innovative world of telematics at Daimler Buses, from the third quarter of 2019, Omniplus will be offering a free service bundle at fleet level under the designation "Performance Monitoring". Besides consumption data for conventionally-powered buses, this bundle also includes values about the charging status or the remaining range of the new Mercedes-Benz eCitaro.

For funded research projects concerning the electrification of public transport, Omniplus provides a feature for obtaining and evaluating data under the designation "Download minimum dataset". Furthermore, on the basis of the consumption and driving style data, savings potential of the fleet is calculated. Departure checks and individual checks can be monitored and managed with the aid of the "Vehicle checks" feature.

Vehicle Performance Monitoring

With Performance Monitoring at vehicle level, Omniplus offers businesses the possibility to analyse the familiar services from "Fleet Performance Monitoring" at a precise vehicle level. Companies therefore don't just have their whole fleet in check, but also every single vehicle too.

In the future, bundling in Omniplus On will allow services for efficient fleet operations to be more specifically tailored to the needs of bus customers.

Omniplus On drive: support for driver and business

Omniplus On has its eye on both businesses and drivers alike, and this becomes really clear in Omniplus On drive. Numerous functions support the driver. A whole new digital world is opened up with the likes of departure checks, online Operating Instructions and the possibility to register damage. Fundamental vehicle functions can be detected using the "Remote Bus" app. This includes, for example, the pressure of each individual tyre, the diesel and AdBlue fill levels as well as the exterior lighting check. The driver can now call up these values using an app installed on their smartphone.

Don't just search, find: The proof of maintenance, Operating Instructions and Supplements from Mercedes‑Benz and Setra buses can be called up using the mobile-friendly "Bus Guides" web page.

At the departure check, Omniplus On guides the bus driver through the various tests using a checklist. Each point of this is documented. The driver can note down problems and take a photo of them before sending these together with the protocol back to the company. This ensures that the company has proof of the departure check. At the same time, it also allows for the rectification of any problems to be scheduled.

Equally, drivers can also document any damage which occurs during operations. These messages are saved and can be called up by the company in the Omniplus On portal, from where they can be processed accordingly.

Omniplus On commerce: Replacement parts procurement in the new Omniplus eShop

We've all gotten used to it: Online shops are open 24 hours a day. Search, select, buy – everything is as easy as a simple click. Even when it comes to replacement parts for vehicles, ordering online has grown in importance. One of the leaders in the field is the Omniplus OnlineParts Shop. In September 2019, this was re-branded as the Omniplus eShop – and it's now even better than before.

The new web shop from Omniplus offers the entire parts catalogue. It knows the individual fleet of the person ordering so that only suitable parts are shown to the customer. Users can also call up information on whether the selected component is in stock at their preferred service support point. Alternatively, the order can be dispatched directly to the company's own location. By the way: Your employees will no longer need to traipse around from the workshop to the computer in the office with their little scrap of paper – the Omniplus eShop now also works on smartphones and tablets.

Plus, direct ordering of digital services, e.g. Omniplus Uptime, has been possible via Omniplus On commerce since January.

Omniplus 24h Service is available for you 365 days of the year

The digitalisation also provides support to the traditional services of the Omniplus service brand. These, too, continue to be expanded.

Should a bus experience a breakdown, the Omniplus 24h Service is available to you around the clock in conjunction with one of our ServiceCards. Customers can reach the service by calling our free hotline on 0800 40 20 40 20 from anywhere within Europe. The driver simply speaks to the Omniplus 24h Service international hotline personnel in their own native language who will then be happy to provide information on the nearest service support point.

Omniplus ServiceCard and Service Contracts: staggered concept

Mercedes-Benz and Setra bus customers have access to the Omniplus ServiceCard Premium for two years free-of-charge. Companies who don't need all of the comprehensive services the package has to offer, can select the ServiceCard Basic. It is valid for six years and also includes the Basic Mobility Package. With this, customers of Mercedes-Benz and Setra have uncomplicated and cash-free access to specific service offerings, including rapid regular vehicle servicing.

If businesses place particular value on top-level fleet maintenance and easy-to-calculate costs, they should opt for a Service Contract. In the BasicPlus Package, all maintenance work in accordance with the Service Booklet, as well as selected wear and tear repairs are included. For a small fee, the services of Omniplus Uptime can also be used. The Premium Package of the Service Contract includes all further repairs to the vehicle, excluding tyre replacement or damage caused by external force. Omniplus Uptime services are also included.

Genuine replacement parts now also directly from the printer

As a manufacturing brand, Omniplus Genuine Parts for Mercedes-Benz and Setra are full-fledged series-production parts in original quality. Meanwhile, Genuine Remanufactured Parts promise to save you money, but don't scrimp on quality. They are of the same quality as new components. Omniplus also uses the advantages of 3D printing. Numerous components for customer vehicles have already been printed and dispatched to customers. Presently, Omniplus is checking more than 4000 bus replacement parts for their ability to be created using 3D printing. Each 3D component can be retroactively ordered by the customer using the specific part number. These will also be available, all over the world and for decades, in a digital warehouse.

BestAge Repair: Keeping ageing buses in good shape

Buses which have been operational for many years need repairs and freshening up from time to time in order to maintain their value. To this end, Omniplus offers the BestAge Repair service with measures appropriate to the current residual value of the vehicle. This includes Genuine Parts for older model series as well as Genuine Remanufactured Parts as a more affordable replacement option for wear-and-tear parts. Maintaining residual value can also be guaranteed by freshening up the interior with new materials and seat upholstery, or by sorting out issues with bodywork using Omniplus SmallRepair – the affordable way to have minor damage and imperfections professionally rectified.

Omniplus Training – the right training courses for every task

Further training for drivers and training for workshop employees round off the services which Omniplus offers. Theoretical and practical aspects are combined in a balanced relationship; only experienced and qualified trainers are deployed.

A good example: In 2018, Omniplus Safety Training celebrated its 25th year of existence. Since 1993, 19,000 drivers have been trained – a real safety boon for all road users.