Italian telematics firm OCTO has extended the functionality of its KeyLess technology in the wake of the Coronavirus epidemic. The new functionality is aimed at meeting the needs of fleet managers, carsharing and corporate carsharing operators in the new market and operating environment created by the epidemic.

Launched in 2017, the OCTO KeyLess technology is already in wide use by operators. More than 400,000 unlocking and locking of doors are performed through the smartphone application every month.

OCTO has developed Smart KeyLess, which offers new features allowing operators and users a touchless rental process with a wire-free installation. Services now remain entirely unaffected by the absence of GSM coverage, which may occur when the vehicle is parked in a garage.

OCTO says that installation can be completed in less than 15 minutes by connecting the OCTO telematic device to the vehicle’s OBD socket and linking it to an OCTO SmartKey.

A smart key then replaces the factory keys originally supplied with the vehicle with all security and convenience functions, both electronic and mechanical. The expensive factory keys can then be safely stored away to prevent loss or damage.

The vehicle can now be used with OCTO KeyLess. This is a dedicated smartphone application that allows users to unlock and lock the car doors without any other type of contact with the car. The fleet manager is also able to manage the car remotely, and take advantage of all the Fleet Telematics features offered by OCTO.

OCTO Smart KeyLess provides a touchless rental process helping to ensure the safety of drivers, while increasing the efficiency of the rental process. OCTO Smart KeyLess is also fully compatible with other OCTO solutions, including those dedicated to the ‘New Normal’ such as OCTO PurePlace (pureplace.octotelematics.com) a solution to sanitise a vehicles and controlled environments, as well as solutions for more advanced Fleet Management and Insurance Telematics.