Scope Technology heralds a new era of enterprise telematics with Microsoft Azure and OpenAI

A global leader in automotive connected services, Scope Technology harnesses vehicle telematics data to provide actionable insights for fleets, insurance and automotive companies. It has expanded its operations to over 50 countries, helping businesses of all shapes and sizes innovate their services. “We've gone from a smallish local company into a massive internet of things (IoT) and data enterprise that provides tailored connected mobility solutions around the world,” states Sean O’Regan, Head of Research and Development (R&D) at Scope Technology.

One of the key success factors behind that evolution is Scope’s innovation-oriented ethos. “We are pioneers, and when new technology comes out, we quickly incorporate it into our products,” explains Cassio Enrico Campos, Managing Director and Board Member at Scope Technology. “We do this to ensure we can foresee what our customers will need in two or five years from now. Instead of following the market, we create disruptive solutions using technology.”

Upgrading to embrace emerging technologies

Around eight years ago, Scope migrated to Microsoft Azure cloud to enhance its telematics ecosystem. “This was a natural transition for us, as our platforms have been built on Microsoft technologies from day one,” says O'Regan. The migration was seamless, as expected, providing the company with the enhanced security and stability required for the new age of its AI-based solutions. Furthermore, considerable infrastructure savings followed. “The Microsoft team assisted us in optimizing our cloud use to the extent that our monthly expenses dropped by 20%, despite our data processing increasing by more than a third,” reveals O’Regan.

With a solid technological foundation, Scope had everything it needed to augment its offering. Chief among them was a Usage-Based Insurance (UBI) system—a technology that adjusts insurance premiums based on individual driving behavior data, like how much, how well, or when a person drives. “Shifting to a very strong focus on artificial intelligence (AI), we began utilizing Azure Cognitive Services to automatically detect vehicle damage from images,” O’Regan explains. “We had a product that reconstructed accidents from telematic data with 3D playback, and then users would upload images of the damage. The question arose: Can we automatically identify that there is damage, so a human doesn't have to review it?” Scope solved it with AI.

Harnessing AI for personalized user engagement

The UBI use case laid the foundation for the AI work that the company continues to this day. The next step was to offer customers the ability to create personalized engagement programs that encourage safer driving habits. "Many of our clients aim to truly change customer behavior, not just offer cheap premiums,” explains Campos. To help them achieve that, Scope uses Azure OpenAI to generate ideas and configurations for gamified challenges. “This includes creating engaging user experiences with gamified elements and delivering on that experience with real-world rewards.”

When executing a game, the system can send tailored messages to the users, using generative AI capabilities. “It has changed the game for us, allowing for personal interactions instead of static digital communication,” explains O’Regan. “For fleet drivers, it feels like their manager is with them through the messages. This personal touch is extremely powerful.”

Advancing understanding of AI

Scope continues its fearless application of modern technologies in new industries and markets. "We aim high, looking at what others simply accept as not feasible, and we go for it,” Campos shares. For instance, the company has created a fleet solution for the pharmaceutical industry, enabling tracking vehicles without identifying the driver. “Initially, the customer voiced privacy concerns over fleet tracking,” admits Campos. “This changed when we suggested this improvement.”

The company is also introducing personal digital engagement to healthcare, enabling a rapid and accurate response to patient queries. According to O’Regan: “

Our AI assistant knows your psychological profile gathered before the treatment. It can act as a virtual practitioner, considering factors like pain, mood, and former doctor interactions.” Such innovations are facilitated by a strong partnership with Microsoft. "Microsoft teams introduce people to AI through Bing and extensive co-pilot programs,” O’Regan summarizes. “They understand the importance of AI literacy at the foundational level, paving the way for companies like ours."