Across the UK, Ireland, and mainland Europe, companies are putting digital transformation at the heart of their operations. And they're embedding the technology into their culture and processes, using the insights to make a positive impact in areas such as safety, efficiency, and sustainability. 

That’s just one of the key themes to emerge from this year’s Connected Operations Awards, where the number of entries has jumped by over 50% compared to last year. The awards span five categories that reflect real business priorities:

• Safest Operator

• Excellence in Driver Engagement

• Most Sustainable Operations

• Industry Innovator

• Top Driver

Each category celebrates tangible improvements our customers have experienced, driven by Samsara’s Connected Operations Platform — from reducing collisions and coaching drivers more effectively to cutting fuel usage and streamlining back-office processes.

Samsara’s awards celebrate real-world impact 

But what makes these awards stand out is their focus on real-world impact. These are not awards for ambition or intention. Instead, they’re about measurable change that affects an industry that impacts us all. And while we are still in the process of determining winners, there are already some themes that have emerged among our customers.

For instance, early analysis of the award entries reveals that those firms using Samsara’s Connected Operations Platform saw risky behaviours like mobile phone use, speeding, and seatbelt non-compliance plummet. Similarly, collisions are down and safety scores are up. 

I was really taken by how many companies spoke about building trust with drivers, engaging teams more openly, and embedding safety into day-to-day conversations and behaviours.

We’re seeing companies using personalised insights and AI-powered tools to deliver targeted coaching that actually strikes a chord with drivers – a shift that is leading to faster improvements and better engagement.  

It’s clear that real-time data is playing a central role by helping teams move from reactive problem-solving to proactive risk management. More and more, safety is becoming a shared value across entire organisations. 

Technology is helping fleets improve safety, save time and reduce cost

At the same time, fleets are becoming more efficient — cutting spending on fuel, streamlining admin, and reacting faster when incidents happen. In some cases, the digitisation of admin processes – everything from driver workflows to office-based tasks – has eliminated the need for paper altogether. 

And finally, sustainability continues to top the agenda, with emissions tracking, route optimisation, and fuel insights helping organisations to cut costs and reduce environmental impact, making it clear that efficiency and sustainability go hand in hand.

On their own, each of these areas shows a marked level of improvement. Taken together, these trends signal a bigger shift that is impossible to ignore. Technology is no longer a bolt-on solution. Instead, it’s become the foundation for how they think, work, and grow.

For me, one of the most powerful aspects of the awards is the opportunity they give companies to pause and take stock. In a sector that rarely has the chance to draw breath, it’s not always easy to find the time to look back on how far a team has come. And yet, the very act of applying for the awards has given businesses the opportunity to assess their performance. 

In fact, several businesses described the experience to me as a “lightbulb moment” – a rare chance to sit back and take note of how much progress they’d made. And once they make these discoveries, many are keen to share their experiences. 

Building a community of innovators

That’s because the growth in awards submissions has been matched by growth in peer-to-peer engagement. Finalists and winners are increasingly sharing their stories at our user groups, industry events, and internal leadership meetings. Drivers like last year’s winner,  Eddie Burns, are using their newly found platform to promote safety and inspire others to focus on what matters. 

This visibility matters. It gives customers the opportunity to showcase the value of their work — not just to their peers, but to their own teams, executives, and stakeholders. It also creates healthy competition, as organisations see others being recognised and are inspired to tell their own stories.

In some cases, companies that entered one category now plan to apply across multiple areas next year — having realised that their work spans more than one dimension of operational excellence. 

As more companies invest in connected operations, the stories emerging from this programme are becoming more ambitious, more data-rich, and more human. What began with Samsara in the US is now spreading to all corners of the UK, Ireland and Europe, including France, Germany, Austria and Switzerland. I want to personally thank everyone who has taken part this year and wish every single one of them all the very best of luck. I’m really looking forward to being able to share these memorable stories with you in the coming months. 

Winners of the 2025 Connected Operations Awards will be announced in June, with the winners invited to celebrate their win at Beyond in San Diego, US, 23rd-26th June.