Meet the Virtual Vehicle Marketplace: How to Power Up Your Fleet's Operations

There are more than 7 billion smartphone users worldwide, representing roughly 90% of the global population, and no two phones are set up exactly the same. Most of us customize our phones with apps we like or need, whether it’s for maps, music, fitness, or work. 

The shift from simple phones to personalized, multi-functional tools was a major technological disruption in communications, and today’s commercial trucking industry is entering a similar time of massive change. After decades of relying on one-size-fits-all technology, fleets now see the benefits of something better: the power to choose. 

The Power of Choice for Fleets

Forward-thinking fleets are starting to adopt more flexible, open systems that let them choose the best solutions for their business. Just like adding apps to your cellphone, fleet managers can now browse and select technology that improves safety, productivity, training, compliance, and more. It’s all about finding the right tools for the job and putting them to work where it matters most. 

What is Virtual Vehicle?

Virtual Vehicle is the backbone of a software platform delivering North America’s leading fleets a streamlined approach to fleet management and data tools, improving efficiency, compliance, and driver satisfaction. Virtual Vehicle provides direct access to real-time vehicle data using either OEM systems or aftermarket hardware, and is designed to be extremely flexible and open, growing with fleets and allowing a wide range of customization options.

This integrated approach removes the silos of data traditionally encountered by fleets trying to increase their insights and makes virtually every aspect of operations smoother and more efficient. Virtual Vehicle also lays the groundwork for fleets to further customize their system with an extensive add-on app library, the Virtual Vehicle Marketplace.

Read more: Virtual Vehicle: The Future of Fleet Management

What is the Virtual Vehicle Marketplace?

One of the biggest advantages of using the Virtual Vehicle platform is access to the Virtual Vehicle Marketplace, a growing ecosystem of apps built to solve real-world problems for fleets. Whether you’re focused on safety, fuel management, maintenance, routing, or driver training, you can find apps that help your team work smarter and faster.

Just like adding apps to your smartphone, the Marketplace lets you customize your fleet’s tech with tools that fit your specific needs. You’re not locked into a one-size-fits-all setup—you can build the right mix of solutions that work for your drivers, your routes, and your operation.

With 90+  trusted solutions available (and more being added all the time), fleets can quickly discover, try, and roll out new tools without overhauling their entire system.

Fleets can browse available add-on apps via several focus areas, including:

• Asset and Trailer Tracking: Real-time trailer verification, automated yard checks, real-time monitoring, notifications.
• Bypass and Tolling: Nation-wide bypass network, GPS-based toll auditing, hassle-free toll management.
• Compliance: Easier tracking and management of items like HOS, fuel tax, carbon credits, truck weight, licensing, and more.
• Document Management: Streamlined document sharing and management, including image capture, PDFs and scanning, and precheck lists.
• Driver Productivity & Safety: Countless ways to make drivers’ days more efficient and compliant, including communication tools, reduced busywork, in-cab notifications, training options, compliance alerts and more.
• Fuel Management: Locate the best prices along the route, reduce fraud, monitor and coach on driver fuel efficiency, and streamline fuel tax reporting.
• Human Resources: Tools to automate transportation per diem.
• Maintenance: More efficient and accessible pre-trips, remote diagnostics and fault code action plans, AI integrations, preventative maintenance tools, breakdown management, and more.
• Navigation and Routing: HOS trip planning, scale and preferred fuel stop locations, Cloud-based automated dispatch, turn-by-turn directions and lane guidance, and routes that integrate commercial truck considerations, like bridges and overpasses.
• Sensors: Real-time, in-cab notifications on items like tire pressure, trailer ID, and more.
• Security: Improved management of cyber, safety, and maintenance risks; more control over when and how cabs can be accessed; single-button press to request emergency services to the driver’s location.
• Supply Chain: Tools to reduce time waiting in line at a distribution center, including load tracking and improved workflow.
• Systems Integrators: Partners who specialize in designing and maintaining integrations between various data systems, like IoT applications and TMS. 
• TMS: Enterprise-level management systems for all aspects of distribution operations and fleet management.
• Training & Learning Management: Traditional and non-traditional tools for tracking, coaching, and continuing education, including gamified modules or videos that can be completed remotely while drivers are on rest time. 
• Video Safety: Capture and analyze higåh-def camera video immediately, including advanced AI object detection, safety pictures via alerts, video-on-demand, and more.

See the full library of Virtual Vehicle Marketplace apps now.

How the Virtual Vehicle Marketplace Helps Your Fleet

For years, fleets have had to accept whatever came bundled with their tech—whether it worked for their operation or not. But with the Virtual Vehicle Marketplace, that’s changing. Fleets now have the freedom to build a system that fits them, not the other way around.

Freedom to Choose: The Virtual Vehicle Marketplace helps fleets avoid vendor lock-in. Instead of rigid, one-size-fits-all solutions, fleets can now pick and choose the apps that meet their needs. You can decide what works best for your operations, adding or removing apps as your needs evolve. 

Faster Time-to-Value: Apps in the Virtual Vehicle Marketplace can be readily deployed to your drivers and many apps have deep integration levels, making rollout even easier. It’s tech that moves at the speed of your business. 

Fleet-Centric Experience: Every app in the Marketplace is designed with fleets in mind. That means intuitive interfaces, less clutter, and smarter workflows that help – not hinder – your team on the road. From real-time safety alerts to automated BOLs, the Marketplace helps your fleet stay safe, compliant, and productive. 

Case Study: Stevens Transport Automates Temp Checks, BOL Verification, & More with Vector Capture Add-On App

Stevens Transport, one of North America’s top refrigerated carriers, recently set the goal of making their drivers’ days more efficient and streamlined, specifically focusing on their documentation and delivery processes. Since Stevens operates on Virtual Vehicle, they were able to tap into the Virtual Vehicle Marketplace and tailor their system to their exact needs.

Through the platform, Stevens began partnering with Vector, a technology provider that specializes in supply chain issues. Stevens selected Vector Capture, a document-scanning technology that helps eliminate document damage/loss and processing delays, significantly expediting processing. Thanks to support from both Platform Science and Vector, Stevens implemented the solution across 2,300+ trucks in just 60 days.

With the new app seamlessly integrated into their drivers’ Platform Science workflows, Stevens drivers could now scan delivery documents from their in-cab tablet and instantly transmit them to the back office. They could also offer access to BOLs at the time of pickup – including verified temperatures, weights, and products shipped – along with proof of delivery and automated confirmation while still onsite. 

Since the app delivers verified temperature checks and confirms temperatures at certain times and locations quickly, it saves drivers significant time by eliminating extra phone calls, stops for verification, and image captures. This results in faster invoice submission and quicker pay turnaround. Stevens estimates that the Vector app has reduced their temperature verification times by at least 90%. Additionally, Stevens also chose to integrate Vector's Facility Solution to further streamline facility check-ins via Vector Fast Pass.

Learn more about the solution created by Stevens, Vector, and Platform Science.

Customizing your fleet solution is not just a nicety; it can make a real difference in your bottom line and operations. Integration between a trusted platform framework and innovative industry developers opens up a whole new horizon of possibilities for fleets.

Start a conversation today with Platform Science to see how Virtual Vehicle can make a difference in your fleet operations.

‍For more information on Platform Science’s full suite of fleet tools that help drivers thrive and deliver operational efficiencies, visit our website now.