From data to decisions: How AI and machine data are redefining construction rental

“If I were running a rental business—bear in mind, I’m more comfortable with AI than most people—I’d be using my utilisation data for everything,” says Matt Gaffin, head of AI at rental software specialist Point of Rental.

Gaffin says that the tech is not only capable of going through reams of data produced by construction machines but, increasingly it can interrogate it and make its own decisions about how to optimise efficiency based on the data provided and follow that through.

“Give it a job site, and it can analyse internet data, equipment availability, technician schedules, and even traffic patterns. It can recommend efficient routes, personnel needed and proactively schedule service tech visits based on past patterns,” he says.

Optimising efficiency

“I’d optimise my rental pricing strategies; you could add it in whichever AI platform you like most, cross-reference it with depreciation reports, and have it tell you what price you’d need to rent items for to generate whatever margin you need.”

“I’d have it analyse utilisation, return on investment and maintenance reports to make fleet acquisition/disposition recommendations or even generate a marketing campaign for underperforming items when selling isn’t the best option.”

Certainly, as generative AI systems evolve, rental companies are looking at the ways they can use the tech to boost efficiency.

Volvo CE’s Site Operations platform, launched at Bauma. Image: Volvo CE

For Gaffin, one of the key ways AI can do this is by going through the reems of telematics data generated by modern machines and turning it into actionable tasks which can help to keep machines running.

“We have fault codes, sensor readings, and I’ve even seen sound and vibration pattern recognition that can tell you when an engine is out of nominal,” Gaffin says. “Some truly transformative ways to collect different types of data. And AI is making this even more accessible, because—let’s be honest—humans miss things a lot. We all want to see less unplanned downtime, fewer emergency repairs, and extended equipment lifespan.”

In the rental sector, companies like Loxam are already embedding AI-assisted systems into day-to-day operations.

David Rudnianski, chief digital officer at Loxam, points to the growing importance of live telemetry, geolocation and usage data in improving efficiency and service levels.

“Sharing live equipment geolocation can improve delivery and pick-up reliability,” he says, “while usage data ensures ‘accuracy and transparency’ in customer invoicing.”

He highlights the company’s Ramishare and LoxShare platforms, which allow customers to share equipment across large jobsites.

Location sharing

“Data without context does not significantly aid in understanding usage behaviour,” he says. “Specialised expertise and knowledge of customers behaviour is essential to determine if the machine is being utilised to its full potential.

“The same value can have different meanings depending on whether it pertains to a site, construction, or maintenance. Therefore, to decide if a machine is being used productively, data must be complemented by human accuracy checks, analyses & support.”

Trackunit’s IrisX platform takes AI a step further, using predictive analytics to anticipate faults before they cause disruption.

“This supports predictive maintenance, asset failure risk scoring, and anomaly detection,”says Laerke Ullerup, chief product and marketing officer at Trackunit, allowing users to address problems early, optimise dispatch, and reduce costly downtime.

Ullerup highlights the potential for data points such as CAN bus fault codes, connectivity status, and operator access logs to reveal inefficiencies that might otherwise go unnoticed.

“The platform also gives teams greater control over fuel, maintenance, parts, and labour, resulting in 18–25% savings on maintenance costs.

“These efficiencies reduce downtime by up to 30% and improve customer satisfaction, with some users seeing an 8% increase in repeat business—contributing directly to productivity gains across the fleet.”

And, as AI tools continue to evolve from chat-based tools into so-called ‘agents,’ their ability to take on more complicated tasks across the industry continues to grow.

AI agents are systems that perceive, reason, and act—often using large language models (LLMs) paired with tools such as code interpreters or API integrations. They can carry out structured tasks like scheduling, diagnostics, or document generation without constant human direction. AI agents can book meetings using tools, search the internet, even generate code.

But barriers to implementation remain. Integrating much of the telematics data produced by construction machines often remains a headache for rental firms with mixed fleets as each OEM tends to produce its own version designed exclusively for its own machines.

Volvo CE’s Site Operations platform, launched at Bauma, is designed to tackle this with a brand-agnostic, real-time view of site activities.

“Productivity is all about reducing waste in the operations. We see a lot of waste in terms of machine idle time, machine underloading, machine queueing, unnecessary machine movements and material being handled twice,” says Jeroen Snoeck, solution sales manager at Volvo CE.

Reducing waste

“In particular, dumping material in the wrong place ends up being very costly because you not only have to lift the material again, but you may end up having to clean up the whole stockpile.”

JCB’s LiveLink system, with its rental-specific tools and support for mixed fleet management, offers similar functionality:

“JCB LiveLink allows the remote management of all a hirers equipment in one centralised location, regardless of brand.

“With LiveLink’s mixed fleet solution, rental firms can connect the entire fleet — no matter the make, model, or size to receive full visibility of operations in one central location.

“Users can easily manage API feeds and access real-time insights for complete data transparency. By bringing all assets into one platform, LiveLink gives the clarity and control to hirers to make informed decisions with confidence.”

Image: Trackunit

As platforms become more interoperable, companies such as Trackunit and Point of Rental are investing heavily in open standards and API ecosystems.

“Our desire has always been to partner with hardware-agnostic and hardware-specific providers alike, and we’re always looking for new ones,” adds Gaffin. “There are way too many tools out there and things people want to do to try and tackle everything alone.”

Trackunit says its platform consolidates data into a “single pane of glass,” giving both office teams and site operators immediate access to fleet status and performance.

“This streamlined access typically saves each user five to 10 hours per week,” Ullerup says, “time that can be reinvested into higher-value tasks and decision-making. But productivity isn’t just about time savings; it’s about working smarter.

“With greater visibility, customers report up to a 79% drop in potential safety incidents and a 20–30% decrease in idle time, two major contributors to jobsite delays and cost overruns,” she adds. “By optimising machine utilisation and enabling faster, data-informed actions, the platform helps construction teams run more safely, efficiently, and ultimately, more productively.”