We are excited to announce the winners of this year’s 2024 Samsara Connected Operations™ Awards for the UK and Ireland. This is the first time that businesses and organisations outside of the US, Canada and Mexico have been invited to take part in the awards. And we were not disappointed. 

The entries we received reveal how businesses and organisations on this side of the Atlantic are transforming their operations creating impactful outcomes in safety, efficiency, performance, sustainability, and innovation. 

On behalf of the Awards Committee, I would personally like to extend our gratitude to all applicants for taking the time to submit their stories and share their accomplishments. 

What links them all is a genuine desire to transform the world of physical operations by modernising and building new digital infrastructure while continuing to move and deliver our goods, and keep us connected to our family and friends.  

We're proud to stand alongside our customers as they push boundaries and shape the future of physical operations. Please join us as we celebrate the achievements of the 2024 Samsara Connected Operations Award winners from the UK and Ireland as we learn about their remarkable journeys.

• Safest Operator: FM Conway

• Most Sustainable Operations: Otto Car

• Industry Innovator: AO

• Excellence in Driver Engagement: Lanes Group plc

• Top Driver: Eddie Burns, Midland Tyre Services

Safest Operator: FM Conway

The Connected Operations Award for Safest Operator recognises organisations that protect employees, safeguard communities, and prevent incidents. This year’s winner leveraged data to identify the root causes of incidents and combined technology with coaching to lead drivers toward a safer mindset.

Based in Seven Oaks, Kent, FM Conway is an essential infrastructure partner working with network operators, local authorities, and private clients. They supply a variety of services that keep the nation operating efficiently including highway maintenance, civil engineering, and traffic management. FM Conway set a new standard of safety and gained insight into driver behaviour with Samsara Vehicle Telematics and Video-Based Safety. Now, proactive driver coaching tools and individualised data enable drivers to improve safety habits at scale.

As a result, FM Conway reduced moderate speeding by 80% in one year, achieved a 21.9% reduction in road accidents, and reduced potential life-changing harm across the 16 million miles they drive annually. In the event of an incident, AI Dash Cams enabled FM Conway to provide more data and evidence to insurance providers, resulting in cost savings of £212,000 and a 12% reduction of third-party claims. 

Finalists: Countrystyle Recycling

Most Sustainable Operations: Otto Car

The Connected Operations Award for Most Sustainable Operations recognises organisations that drive reductions in fuel waste, carbon emissions, energy usage, and food waste. This year’s winner successfully partnered with Samsara to work towards the single, purpose-driven goal of improving air quality for the next generation.

London-based Otto Car is Europe’s largest provider of electric vehicles to private-hire drivers. They offer easy access to reliable cars and support more than 5,400 rideshare drivers. From car ownership to driver coaching, licensing to claims advice, Otto helps drivers to become their own boss.

Samsara Vehicle Telematics enabled accurate vehicle tracking, including battery health, state of charge, and miles driven, allowing Otto Car to manage and reduce its CO2 emissions. As a result, Otto Car avoided 50,000 tons of CO2 emissions across their fleet. Using Samsara’s sustainability solutions, they continue to invest in and scale electrification. Currently, their EV fleet has driven over 100 million miles, equivalent to the amount of CO2 absorbed by two million trees annually. 

Finalists: WeFlex

Industry Innovator: AO

The Connected Operations Award for Industry Innovator recognises organisations that have achieved a digital transformation by introducing new technologies, integrating data to uncover new insights, and delivering a measurable shift in operational performance. This year’s winner introduced new technology to drastically cut down costs, reduce accidents, and drive efficiency gains across their fleet. 

AO's mission is to become the UK’s most trusted electrical retailer, delivering household appliances and electrical goods to over 2.5 million customers annually. Based in Bolton, Lancashire, AO partnered with Fraikin as their full-service, contract-hire fleet provider for over 1,000 commercial vehicles, inclusive of MYSMARTFLEET connected technology services. The collaboration enhances efficiency and reduces costs for their business. Fraikin uses Samsara’s Vehicle Telematics and Video-Based Safety solutions — including in-cab alerts and driver training tools — to encourage safer driver habits.

By using Vehicle Telematics and the Samsara Platform to monitor vehicle and driver performance, AO has saved millions of pounds to date. They report fewer monthly accidents, resulting in cost savings, a decrease in insurance premiums, fewer vehicle damage claims as well as lower maintenance costs. Additionally, by digitising paper-based processes with the Samsara Driver App, AO saved thousands in printing costs and provided a more intuitive experience for drivers.

Finalists: Reynolds Logistics, Kelly Fleet Services Ltd

Excellence in Driver Engagement: Lanes Group plc

The Connected Operations Award for Excellence in Driver Engagement recognises organisations that have achieved outstanding driver engagement programs, empowering drivers to build safer habits, protecting them from false claims, and delivering improved driver engagement scores. This year’s winner identified driver pain points within the business to create an incentive programme that enables drivers to form safer habits for the long term. 

Sapphire Utility Solutions is a company within Lanes Group plc, the leading wastewater utility solutions provider and the largest independent drainage specialist in the UK. By implementing Samsara AI Dash Cams and the Driver App, they gained a 360-degree view of their operations and incidents, using this information to form a strong driver engagement strategy. 

Since rolling out AI Dash Cams and the Driver App, Lanes Group plc has improved driver safety across the board, increasing the number of drivers with a Driver Safety Score of 90+ by 180% in just eight months. Lanes Group plc used AI Dash Cams to identify risky driver behaviours, reducing mobile phone use while driving by 92%, severe speeding by 25%, and camera obstruction by 67%. Leveraging the Driver App to assign vehicles to the right driver at the right time, Lanes Group plc decreased DVIR administrative manual processes by 100% as a result of automation with Samsara.  

Finalists: Core Highways, Olleco

Top Driver: Eddie Burns, Midland Tyre Services

The Connected Operations Award for Top Driver recognises a professional driver who has an outstanding record behind the wheel and champions safety. This year’s winner spent his 20+ year career proving his dedication to safety as an exceptional driver and role model to his fellow drivers. 

Midland Tyre Services is Ireland’s largest independently owned tyre supplier, providing the highest quality tyre services to the commercial vehicle industry. By using Samsara Vehicle Telematics and AI Dash Cams, Midland Tyres set a new standard of safety enabled by Driver Safety Scores and individualised reporting. They use this data to inform their coaching program that encourages safer habits among drivers. 

Eddie Burns, driver at Midland Tyres, champions Samsara technology and driver training. He maintained an impressive Driver Safety Score of 99 in the last year and continues to aim for 100. Eddie motivates his entire team to achieve their own perfect Driver Safety Scores through in-person training. Midland Tyre Services’ average Driver Safety Score is currently a remarkable 96. Midland Tyres also reduced road accidents by 54% in two years using AI Dash Cams, which helps them renegotiate insurance premiums to keep costs low. 

Finalists: Liberty Group

Congratulations to our 2024 Connected Operations Award Winners.

The 2024 Samsara Connected Operations Award winners are leading the way to a better, connected future in physical operations. We’re honoured to support these organisations as they provide the services and products that keep the world running, and we're excited to continue our partnership with these customers as they drive even more innovation to transform the future of physical operations.