Fleet managers facing challenges have to juggle with priorities and find problem solving methods to keep critical assets running with minimal downtime. Even though prudent investments in service and maintenance are done, proactive methods are also needed to face challenges ahead, to operate the business or service streamlined and profitable.
Digitalization of Vehicles
By adopting digital applications, fleet managers are able to track the routes of vehicles, check the compliance records, send and receive notifications, access service history data and manage drivers. With the advent of telematics, wireless internet and IoT tech, fleet managers are further empowered to perform their tasks better.
Managing Fuel Costs
By far the highest recurring cost that’s impacting a fleet is the fuel costs. The budget for fuel also depends on the type of vehicles operated in the fleets. Managers have a difficult task to manage as even a small fluctuation in fuel prices will impact the bottom line. Whereas maintenance teams have to work with reports to keep fuel efficiency right, resolve issues for reducing downtime and increasing life span.
Managing Environmental Controls
Awareness of climate change issues have led to new legislation and standards around the world. So, fleet managers have a mandate to meet legislation demands with strategies, such as the phasing out of IC engines.
Better Route Optimization
Software built for fleet management can identify the right vehicle to dispatch for an assignment and optimise the routing too. The GPS enabled data is useful for maintenance and environmental factors.
Managing Driver Behaviour
Driver behaviour is correlated to maintenance requirements. By analysing reports and aggressive drivers behaviour, like excess idling, deactivation of safety controls, these are all identified and can be used for training and correcting drivers. It can lead to better efficiency and results.
Future Autonomous Vehicles
It may be too early to see autonomous driving vehicles deployed, but there is evidence it represents a safer and more efficient transport model and the related software and hardware are being developed. However, public opinion is still divided about this tech being used on highways and managers have to be on the lookout.
Rising Popularity of Electric Vehicles
As per current estimates, the inflection point of EVs (electric vehicles) could be during 2035 and 2040, when about half of vehicles being sold would be electric. The industry is now focusing R&D in this direction and analysing the costs and savings that can impact on the bottom line of the operators in future.
Safety & Security
When vehicles become autonomous and digitally empowered, maintenance of fleets will be a critical factor. Industry has to ensure transportation will remain safe and secure for all stakeholders in this environment. Technicians and engineers would have to ensure back-up systems and safeguards are maintained, monitored or inspected to ensure proper functioning of the whole system and fleets.
How FMS software can help Fleet Management
Modern fleet management systems (FMS) have evolved digitally and the FMS software application has greatly empowered fleet managers and maintenance teams to keep fleets on road running healthy, efficiently and profitably. The system, usually integrated with mobile and GPS technology, generates data that can be analysed for reports and insights. Business Intelligence applied here can identify the factors influencing the fleet business and help in developing strategies for growth and higher ROI.
The fleet managers have in the past and present faced the challenge of driver shortage, owing to the increasing demands for freight and passenger transportation, but FMS software helps them to optimise the utilisation of drivers and also in on-boarding and training them. Fleet maintenance too has been greatly benefited to bring better results with the software applications in place. The alerts and notifications for technicians and drivers go a long way to cut down costs and wasteful expenses, keeping the fleet in good shape and better uptime.
Trinetra’s Fleet Management software applications are developed as intelligent fleet management solutions enabled with telematics technology, mobile app integration and data analytics. Fleet Managers and fleet owners must prepare for the challenges ahead in the digital age, where businesses and industries will be highly inter-connected and data-driven.
Those interested can request for a ‘Demo’. It is arranged for better understanding of our FMS software solution. Just contact our team and they will respond as soon as possible.
