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This paper will examine factors that should be considered by a vehicle OEM when implementing a telematics solution in heavy on-and off-road mobile equipment markets. For the purposes of this paper, heavy mobile equipment will be inclusive of agricultural, construction, industrial, forestry, and on-road truck vehicles. Telematics will be defined as two-way, wireless communication between a vehicle and its external environment. Although many of the concepts discussed will be relevant to consumer, light automotive, or fixed industrial applications, the scope of this paper is directed toward heavy, mobile equipment OEMs.

The history of off-road equipment manufacturing has been based on proven designs and long times between model updates. In sharp contrast with this strategy is the electronic manufacturing services (EMS) industry. The EMS industry is driven by the larger consumer product industry's continuing pressure for lower costs. Because of this, EMS tools, processes, and practices have evolved to support rapid technology and component changes. However the increasing consumer demand for features like better user-interfaces, more efficient fuel consumption, and the desire for increased operational controls in equipment have forced the off-road industry to increase the frequency of product updates to meet customers' needs. Equipment manufacturers make running changes leading to a “Learning-by-doing” development and manufacturing process. But rapid changes sometimes have an unpredictable impact on the reliability of the final product.