BOBCAT is celebrating a milestone after revealing it has sold more than 30,000 Machine IQ-connected units in Europe.
Launched in 2019, the manufacturer’s proprietary telematics platform is designed to provide customers and dealers with near real-time access to ‘critical’ machine data.
Installed at the factory or by dealers as aftermarket kit, Machine IQ connects supported Bobcat models to the cloud. Features such as maintenance progress tracking and machine grouping are included in the Standard Package, which is free for the first two years. Geofencing, advanced utilisation reporting, fault code histories, and configurable notifications are available as part of the Premium Package, which also includes remote engine disable/enable functionality for connected skid-steer and compact track loaders, mini-excavators, compact wheel loaders, and now also telescopic loaders and handlers.
From locating and recovering equipment to setting geofences and curfew alerts that flag unexpected movement, operators and fleet managers are using Machine IQ to tighten security and keep projects on track. By monitoring fuel consumption and usage, Bobcat said customers can make faster, more informed decisions. Near real-time fault codes, meanwhile, enable dealers to prevent minor issues from becoming major repairs.
Tomas Plechaty, senior digital program manager, Doosan Bobcat EMEA, said, “Passing the 30,000 mark for Machine IQ not only underscores our team’s commitment to innovative, efficiency-centric solutions, but also reflects the genuine value that our connected machines deliver on the ground. With real-time data at their fingertips, Bobcat customers across Europe are using this technology to bolster security, drive productivity and improve decision-making.”
Bobcat has added a new Remote Engine Disable/Enable feature on the Machine IQ telematics platform also for telehandlers. This allows customers in Europe to remotely enable or disable their machine’s engine through the Owner Portal or Machine IQ mobile app.
Sandy Gray, director of Grays Machinery Ltd in the UK, said one customer is leveraging Machine IQ to safeguard a Bobcat S450 that is frequently left away from the main yard. The firm uses geofencing functionality and live error codes to ensure security and guide proactive servicing for the machine, which operates in remote, rugged locations.
