Omniplus: Digitalization opens up new ways to maximize availability and the fleet management system

• Digital services further developed for electromobility
• Transport companies benefit from their data
• Comprehensive monitoring, analysis and evaluation data
• Omniplus On Uptime pro: Improved vehicle availability for bus fleets
• New ways to transmit data streams and data packages
• Omniplus eProcurement: Interfaces for the digital procurement process
• Omniplus Training and eService contracts

Together with the drive system, the service is also changing and has taken on a new dimension in the eCitaro and eCitaro fuel cell. eServices have been specifically geared toward electric mobility with city buses and add digital solutions to the traditional service portfolio. The focus is on a continuous and comprehensive monitoring of the complete vehicle technology, as well as the operational condition and the infrastructure down to the last detail, for safe and economical operation.

Digital services evolved for e-mobility

A city bus with new electric drive technology also includes new digital services. These are based on modified services specifically tailored to the eCitaro. Omniplus Uptime, the permanent monitoring of all key vehicle components, has also been extended to include the components of the eCitaro and eCitaro fuel cell.

However, Omniplus On’s digital services are now going much further by networking buses and the transport company’s control center even more intensively with each other. And the digitalization everyone is demanding? At Omniplus, it has long been part of everyday life.

Transport companies benefit from data streams and packages

Omniplus ON makes digitalization usable for transport companies, so that operations run at optimum efficiency. The eCitaro and the eCitaro fuel cell communicate with the control center and the control center communicates with them in real time. Whether it’s the monitoring of an individual bus every second of its operation or the holistic analysis of a complete fleet – the continuous flow of data makes it possible.

This works via the OMNIplus ON portal, where information on trip data or the current technical status of the bus can be viewed, for example, energy consumption, the state of charge or the condition of the batteries. Data points can also be integrated into the existing fleet management systems of individual companies using an interface – also in the ITCS (Intermodal Transport Control System), which can be used to control schedules and service plans.

Comprehensive monitoring, analysis and evaluation data

The continuous monitoring of all electric vehicles in real time also includes timely warnings when the battery state of charge drops – so that, for example, unforeseen traffic issues or detours don't lead to a breakdown due to low a state of charge.

Consumption analyses not only show the relative power consumption of individual vehicles. They also state the causes, for example, increased energy consumption during longer downtimes in winter or in summer with open doors or a low recuperation rate.

One of the classic functions is the continuous determination of the energy consumption and energy level on board. In the case of electric city buses, however, it is of considerably greater importance compared to gasoline refueling, due to the currently still limited range and the longer charging process. OMNIplus Uptime, the continuous monitoring of all essential technical components, is on the way to becoming a classic. OMNIplus Uptime has been supplemented with specific electric components for the eCitaro. One example of this is monitoring the batteries to prevent damage. Today, comprehensive monitoring of every single bus down to the last detail is alredy possible for the eCitaro.

Omniplus On Uptime pro: Improved vehicle availability for bus fleets

The Omniplus On Uptime pro service is aimed specifically at transport companies with their own workshop. This digital solution provides both fleet management and the workshop with important diagnostic information in real time. Omniplus On Uptime pro permanently monitors all relevant vehicle systems in Mercedes-Benz buses. All models since 2018 can be integrated into Omniplus On Uptime pro.

The Omniplus On Uptime pro service provides the company’s workshop with detailed diagnostic data in addition to accessible data and analyses, which thus helps the workshop prepare for upcoming work, bundle repairs and maintenance, and optimize servicing times. In the web-based Omniplus On portal, the workshop has access to full remote diagnosis with all active and stored faults as well as freeze frame data, without having to physically connect to the vehicle's diagnostic device as before. In addition, dispatchers have access to real-time information related to every message on the driver’s display and to critical status values in the respective vehicle – meaning there are no misunderstandings between drivers and dispatchers.

Transport companies are kept informed about the condition of all vehicles at all times

The uncluttered display in the Omniplus On Portal prioritizes analysis data for the entire fleet sorted by urgency and contains concrete recommendations for action. On the one hand, this helps avoid the need for complex, costly vehicle replacement during ongoing operation in the event of non-critical malfunctions. On the other hand, the system can also efficiently prevent consequential damage and reduce the extent of damage. In addition, workshop personnel can use the remote query for fault detection and shorten servicing times. In the event of a fault message, there is no longer any need to travel to the vehicle and run a manual diagnosis.

Bus diagnostic experts and experienced software specialists from Daimler Buses have developed Omniplus On Uptime pro in close cooperation with large transport companies like Hamburger Hochbahn. Omniplus On Uptime pro is continuously optimized on the basis of intensive practical tests. Omniplus On data package digital interfaces allow transport companies to import data from Omiplus Uptime pro to their own systems and use this data as they see fit.

New ways to transmit data streams

The demand of transport companies for additional vehicle data is increasing rapidly, especially in the electromobility field. The current FMS interface in the vehicle is thus reaching its limits. Omniplus On provides operators with different data packages as required. The range extends from 90 to over 350 data points.

In addition, the health status of the vehicle can be recorded by a full remote diagnosis. Transport companies can thus integrate the vehicle data relevant to them into their systems using an interface. This can happen simply and without the need to retrofit additional hardware. The data points have been extensively checked and meet the highest quality standards in order to be further processed in the operators' system environment and used for analysis purposes. This can also be done by the telematics providers commissioned by the transport companies. More than 13 major European telematics and ITS providers are already involved in this pioneering technology for data transfer and processing.

Omniplus eProcurement: Interfaces for the digital procurement process

Omniplus On, the digital service platform by Daimler Buses, is gaining momentum in eProcurement – the electronic procurement of replacement parts – in Europe. Thanks to the integration of up to four digital interfaces, bus customers can now connect the ERP system (Enterprise Resource Planning) to the Omniplus eShop. As a result, spare parts for buses can be identified and ordered directly from the ERP system. The digital interfaces make the purchasing process easier and even more efficient.

In addition to the catalog interface for parts identification and the order interface for an automated sending of orders, the Omniplus eProcurement portfolio will, in future, include two new interfaces. This is a net price as well as an availability interface that supports customers in particular with stock replenishments. Individual prices for spare parts can be accessed from Omniplus BusWorld Home service outlets using the net price interface. The information can be displayed directly in the ordering system. In doing so, the system takes into account the customer-specific conditions and promotional discounts so that the guaranteed correct price is provided. In addition, the availability interface at authorized Omniplus service outlets can be used to access the currently available stock levels before placing the order.

eProcurement customers also include companies that use software solutions by industry software developer COS for their fleet and spare parts management. COSware can be easily linked directly to the eProcurement interfaces through a cooperation. Further cooperation with providers of ERP systems is also planned in the future.

When implementing eProcurement interfaces, the focus is on the individual procurement processes. That’s why competent and experienced teams of experts from Omniplus support every connectivity project in order to respond flexibly to customer requirements and to implement the interfaces in the customer’s system in the best possible way in efficiently designed projects.

OmniplusTraining and eService contracts

With Omniplus Expert Handling Training, drivers learn how to optimally understand and use the vehicle systems. Thanks to the consistent use of highly efficient driver assistance systems in the new Mercedes-Benz eCitaro fuel cell, this makes an additional contribution to the profitability of bus companies. This training course is intended to familiarize participants with the possibilities and functions of these new technologies and to apply them correctly.

Omniplus Workshop Training ensures that workshop staff always remain highly qualified. In order to carry out repair and maintenance work in the workshops, workshop staff are required to always be up-to-date with the latest technical expertise. In the Omniplus Workshop training course, participants benefit from the knowledge and qualification of Omniplus bus experts. This ensures smooth and economical workshop operation as well as a bus fleet in top shape.

Omniplus eService contracts offer a professional service for e-mobility at predictable costs. These are adapted to the requirements of electromobility. The optimal service scope for electric bus fleets can be individually configured according to requirements.