Despite transport businesses being under immense pressure to achieve more with less, fleet managers tend to avoid investing in new technologies, unless it’s deemed critical to survival. After all, the economy is only getting tougher and rising expenses can make it difficult to consider putting limited capital down on unfamiliar solutions.
But the reality is that today’s fleet management technology is almost always a worthwhile investment. Digitalization is the way forward and businesses that don’t adopt it soon will be left behind by the competition. This is especially apparent when you consider that technology can solve the main challenges hindering proper fleet management.
This includes time, money, customer service, and communication. There are many aspects to each, but the examples that follow are the most universally applicable.
Fleet Management Challenges
Time: Factors such as traffic congestion and unexpected breakdowns impact cash flow by increasing fuel spend and limiting the number of trips each vehicle can do in a day. Additionally, one survey carried out by TomTom found that 59% of respondents said they spend too much time reporting hours.
Money: Increasing fuel costs and over-usage of fuel can drain more money from the business than they should.
Customer Service: Due in part to the above factors, drivers often fail to reach their destinations within the first ETA. Of course, this further contributes to lost profits as customers switch to competing companies.
Communication: Effective communication is the key to productivity. It also ensures driver safety and satisfactory delivery times.
So, how can you use technology like digital fleet management solutions to solve these problems and ensure the long-term prosperity of your transport company?
Keep an Eye on Drivers
Telematics technology allows workers at the head office to remotely access information about vehicles on the road. This includes their locations and the health of their vehicle. By knowing their location, you can use traffic data to recommend more efficient route options. Having data about the health of the vehicle allows you to identify issues before they arise.
Track Times
Thanks to electronic logging devices (ELDs), you can accurately record hours spent on the road and eliminate the need for drivers to waste valuable time carrying out the process themselves. ELDs are also capable of tracking mileage, as well as when the vehicle is moving when the engine is running, and the duration of engine operation.
Improve Road Safety
Modern fleet management technology allows you to monitor the wellbeing of your drivers. Monitoring systems can determine their activity and alert the driver if they’re falling asleep. Additionally, voice communication tech can allow you to relay messages to drivers without them needing to take their eyes off the road.
Encourage Better Driver Behaviour
Digital fleet management can help you obtain data about the way your drivers perform on the road. You can leverage this data to encourage efficient driving and discourage speeding, sudden braking, excessive accelerating, and other costly habits.
Conclusion
These aren’t the only ways that technology can benefit your transport business. Take the time to consider the solutions currently available on the market and the amount of potential they have to be immensely beneficial to your company will quickly become apparent.