What Handsfree Group does

Handsfree Group is a privately held vehicle technology installation services company founded in 2004 in Manchester, UK by Matthew Johnson and Scott Cassell. The company specializes in professional installation of fleet communications, GPS tracking, ELD devices, camera systems, telematics hardware, and specialty vehicle equipment, deploying 120+ MECP-certified mobile technicians across the United States to perform on-site work at customer locations. Beyond the US, the group operates a UK headquarters in Manchester, a specialist Installhub in York, and Handsfree Group Ireland (opened 2019), serving fleet operators, logistics and final-mile delivery companies, first responder agencies, airport ground service equipment operators, and the UK Home Office.

The company's core offering is a portfolio of six service lines — GPS fleet tracking installation, ELD solution installation, camera system installation, specialty equipment installation, fulfillment and shipping services (warehouse, kitting, provisioning), and cradles/consumables installation — supported by a 400,000 sq ft Chesterfield, MO headquarters. Handsfree generates revenue primarily through professional services fees for installation work performed by its technicians, supplemented by managed services revenue from its warehousing, kitting, and fulfillment operations via the Datalive software platform. In 2022 the company moved beyond pure services by launching the Handsfree R5, its first proprietary MCX LTE Fixed Vehicle Device hardware product, developed to fulfill the 2021 UK Home Office Emergency Services Network (ESN) contract.

The go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales, with project-based engagements spanning pre-planning, kick-off meetings, implementation, and post-project services. Handsfree functions both as an installation partner to major telematics platforms (Verizon Connect, Lytx, Geotab, Smart Drive, Smart Witness) and as a direct provider to enterprise fleet and government end-customers. The firm is founder-controlled (no disclosed external funding), operates as Handsfree Group Ltd. in the UK with HFG LLC in Missouri, and owns the CKO International trade-sales subsidiary acquired in 2020.

Name

Handsfree Group

Legal name

Handsfree Group Ltd.

Website

https://handsfree.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Handsfree Group is a nationwide vehicle technology installation services company that deploys 120+ MECP-certified mobile technicians across the US to install GPS tracking, ELD, camera, and telematics systems for enterprise fleets, logistics carriers, airport ground service operators, and government agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Chesterfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Installation Services: Professional vehicle installation services including GPS fleet tracking, ELD solutions, camera systems, specialty equipment, and cradles/consumables. Revenue is generated through service fees for installation, replacement, and servicing work performed by MECP certified technicians.
2. Fulfillment and Shipping Services: Warehousing, provisioning, kitting, and shipping of equipment to customer locations. Services include climate-controlled storage, tracking, reporting, and RMA processing.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Handsfree Group is a nationwide vehicle installation company that delivers professional installation services for fleet telematics, ELD solutions, camera systems, and specialty vehicle equipment. The company also provides fulfillment and shipping services alongside proprietary software (Datalive) and hardware (Handsfree R5) to support fleet technology deployments.

Product overview

Handsfree Group is a nationwide vehicle installation company providing professional installation services for fleet telematics and vehicle technology equipment across the United States. Their service portfolio includes GPS Fleet Tracking System Installation, ELD Solution Installation, Camera System Installation, Specialty Equipment Installation, Fulfillment and Shipping Services, and Cradles and Consumables Installation. The company also offers Datalive Software as a software product and has launched proprietary hardware (Handsfree R5 MCX LTE FVD in 2022). They partner with industry equipment providers including Verizon Connect, Lytx, and Geotab. The company operates across UK and USA with over 100 employees and 120+ technicians.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Datalive: Software platform/service mentioned on the website for fleet management and data services

Products and services

• GPS Fleet Tracking System Installation
• ELD Solution Installation
• Camera System Installation
• Specialty Equipment Installation
• Fulfillment and Shipping Services
• Cradles and Consumables Installation
• Datalive Software
• Handsfree R5 Hardware

Quantifiable outcome

• 98.75% customer satisfaction - customers would use Handsfree Group again
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• UK Home OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Handsfree Group was selected by the Home Office in 2021 as one of the suppliers to provide LTE Fixed Vehicle Device (FVD) for the ESN (Emergency Services Network) contract. This led to the creation of the Handsfree R5 product.
• CKO InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Acquired CKO in 2020 to improve B2B trade sales operations and capabilities.
• Verizon ConnectcoreTechnology or IntegrationHandsfree Group installs Verizon Connect telematics products as part of their fleet technology installation services. This is a core partnership where Handsfree serves as the installation partner for Verizon Connect customers needing nationwide installation coverage.
• LytxcoreTechnology or IntegrationHandsfree Group installs Lytx video telematics and drive cam systems. As an installation partner, Handsfree provides certified technicians for Lytx product deployment across customer fleets.
• GeotabcoreTechnology or IntegrationHandsfree Group installs Geotab fleet management and telematics solutions. Listed among top five telematics providers that Handsfree partners with for installation services.
• MECP (Mobile Electronics Certified Professional)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHandsfree Group has a MECP training partnership where they collaborated with MECP to create an extensive technician certification course. All Handsfree US technicians are trained to MECP standards and the company holds MECP partnership status.
• NAFA Fleet Management AssociationminorOthersHandsfree Group is affiliated with NAFA Fleet Management Association, a professional organization for fleet management professionals.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Motive: Motive (formerly KeepTruckin) provides fleet management, video telematics, and compliance hardware, much of which it sells direct-to-customer with simplified self-installation. Comparable as an emerging fleet-tech player whose product design philosophy (plug-and-play hardware) directly threatens the professional installation services model.
• Samsara: Samsara is a connected operations platform providing fleet telematics, video-based safety, and IoT hardware that fleets typically self-install or contract out for installation. Comparable because it both competes with Handsfree's partner telematics ecosystem and increasingly offers turnkey deployment that could displace third-party installers.
• Azuga: Azuga is a fleet telematics and GPS tracking provider serving SMB and enterprise fleets. Comparable as an adjacent fleet telematics player that could either route installation volume to Handsfree (partnership) or compete by simplifying installation requirements (competition).

Broad incumbents

• GPS Insight: GPS Insight is a fleet telematics and field service management software provider serving commercial fleets. Comparable as a long-standing fleet telematics incumbent that requires installation partners like Handsfree to deploy hardware at scale.
• Verizon Connect: Verizon Connect is a large fleet telematics and fleet management platform and one of Handsfree's core installation partners. Comparable as a major customer/partner in the same ecosystem; represents significant revenue concentration risk for Handsfree.
• Geotab: Geotab is a global telematics platform whose products Handsfree is a listed installation partner for. Comparable as a fleet telematics incumbent; relevant because Geotab's channel strategy directly drives demand for Handsfree's installation services and represents both a partnership and competitive vector.
• Lytx: Lytx is a video telematics and driver safety provider and one of Handsfree's named core installation partners. Comparable as a telematics incumbent that drives deployment volume through Handsfree while also competing for fleet technology budget.
• Teletrac Navman: Teletrac Navman is a global telematics and fleet management provider with a hardware-heavy product portfolio. Comparable as an incumbent fleet telematics vendor in Handsfree's addressable partner/customer ecosystem.

Direct peers

• Velociti: Velociti is a fleet technology deployment and installation services company that partners with telematics OEMs to install GPS, cameras, and other in-vehicle technologies. Most directly comparable peer because it competes for the same telematics-vendor installation contracts as Handsfree.
• InstallerNet: InstallerNet operates a nationwide network of certified installers for vehicle electronics, consumer electronics, and home technology. Comparable to Handsfree in operating model (certified installer network, on-site professional installation), though with a broader consumer/home focus versus Handsfree's fleet specialization.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/HandsfreeGroup
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UChpVpU3-5kEoBuDnpO_mIQQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/Handsfree.us
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/handsfree-us

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Handsfree Group