Time is money for fleet operators

Time management is critical to the success of any business. But as cost pressures mount and resources are increasingly stretched, it has become one of the biggest challenges facing modern fleet managers.

With the gamut of responsibilities ranging from driver and fuel management to vehicle maintenance and asset utilisation – interspersed on a daily basis with a wealth of other ad hoc, potentially disruptive jobs – multitasking is the norm.

Fleet tech has become the panacea to ensuring these can be carried out efficiently, without compromising business performance.

DIGITAL SIMPLICITY

New ways of working can be triggered by systems designed to automate business processes and improve workflow management.

With Webfleet, for example, Bridgestone’s fleet management solution, access to accurate vehicle and driver insights, including fuel consumption, driving times, vehicle locations and driving behaviour, can lead to better decision-making and choices on where to invest management time.

Jobs and orders can be sent with automatic routing information directly to drivers’ dedicated terminals or to a mobile app.

Routing and scheduling tools allow managers to improve the visibility of daily workflow and optimise the sequence of jobs. Customers, meanwhile, can also be kept up to date with automatic email or text notifications, making them aware of ETAs and changes to schedules. Information from the customer can be relayed into ERP, CRM or accounting software suites and invoices can be automated, with accurate data detailing time spent with clients.

Webfleet’s remote download and archiving module Tachoshare can help to keep trucks on the road and reduce admin, while giving users the compliance tools they need.

Drivers’ tablet-style terminals can also host a range of applications to simplify and streamline transport processes. Business partner apps on the Webfleet PRO 8 series, for example, can be used to simplify order management, scan barcodes and capture signatures for proof of delivery and conduct vehicle checks, with results instantly relayed to the back office.

ELECTRIFICATION OPTIMISED

Transitioning to, and optimising the performance of, an electric fleet can also prove time intensive.

Webfleet’s Fleet Electrification Planning Report draws upon ‘real world’ mileages, and criteria ranging from road types to standstill times, to enable fleets to more easily identify the combustion engine vehicles that could be cost-effectively replaced with EV alternatives.

EV solutions also provide fleet managers with access to other vital information at the touch of a button, including real time battery levels, remaining driving ranges and energy usage, charging processes and vehicle charge levels.

SERVICE CONSOLIDATION

Pressure on fleet staffing resources has meant that businesses are also looking for ways to streamline service provision from suppliers.

Bridgestone has responded to this market need with the launch of Fleetcare and the Fleetcare Go Plan, which help businesses consolidate products and services to reduce their total cost of ownership – while enhancing safety and sustainability in line with the Bridgestone E8 Commitment – in the most cost-effective way possible.

The integration of tyres, maintenance and connected vehicle insights offers a convenient, modular solution that allows businesses to address their fleet needs from a single mobility partner.

It may be a cliché, but when it comes to business, time really is money. With the right systems in place, fleet managers can rest assured they’re making the most of their working day.

*More from webfleet.com

Published On: 23/02/2023 16:00:21

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