The success of any fleet management company rests on the fleet manager. 

Whether it is acquiring vehicles, managing fuel costs, improving vehicle health and safety, or meeting compliance standards – the fleet manager is responsible for it all, and the role is steadily expanding. 

Fleet Management

With the evolution of technology, fleet managers are now expected to control the environmental impact of the company, asset management, and mobility management. 

If you’re a fleet manager, this must sound overwhelming! But you can easily manage all your responsibilities with fleet management software. 

How To Pick The Best Fleet Management System

Here are some key aspects for fleet managers to consider before finalizing their software purchase:

• Understanding Fleet Requirements: Fleets differ, and so do their requirements. Find a software program that solves your unique business problems.
• Complexity Levels: The complexity of the software will vary according to the size and requirements of your business.
• Ease Of Operation: The software should be user friendly and facilitate a seamless transition from paper-based operations.
• Return On Investment: To know if the benefits justify the investment, you need to find out the return on investment earned by similar-sized fleets.
• Data Security: The software should provide multiple levels of protection, and a security check should be carried out before buying it.
• Scalability: The fleet management software should be easily scalable and swiftly adapt to the needs of your business.

Now that you know what you should look for in fleet management systems, let us find out their pros and cons.

Pros Of Fleet Management Systems 

Better Driver Safety

With improved technology like fleet telematics, you can provide your drivers with the safest routes, thus reducing the risk of accidents. 

The software also helps in monitoring driver behaviour and identifying drivers in the high-risk category for accidents. Thus, managers can take the necessary corrective measures to ensure their safety. 

Higher Fleet Productivity

The productivity of your fleet improves with the software. With simplified and effortless communication, you can guide drivers towards the fastest routes and save time and money. 

Tracking vehicles is easier using technology similar to locating missing airplanes, and you can even create a database for your information. 

Automated fleet reports keep you updated on the whereabouts of your fleet and driver’s habits, thus ensuring they are making the best of their time on the road.  

Improved Fuel Efficiency

It is easy for the fleet manager to track aspects such as the frequency of refuelling. This data can be fed into the software to improve the fuel habits of drivers and achieve higher fuel efficiency. 

Since managers can provide the best routes to the drivers, the refuelling frequency will automatically come down – and so will your company costs. 

Greater Customer Satisfaction

With faster delivery and lower wait times, customer satisfaction will undoubtedly improve. The software makes it easier to serve customers by guiding drivers to the least congested roads.  

Insurance Benefits 

Efficient fleet management means greater insurance benefits. The software reduces the possibilities of accidents, thereby resulting in higher discounts from insurance companies.  

Higher discounts mean lower insurance costs, which, in turn, means increased profit margins for your company. 

You can find out the discounts your insurance company is offering for the installation of fleet management systems. 

Additional Assignments For Drivers

With GPS tracking, managers can know the exact location of the vehicle and the time left to complete the daily work quota of the driver. Thus, they can efficiently assign additional jobs to new and existing drivers. 

Opportunities for improving their earnings is the greatest motivation for drivers. A motivated fleet translates to progress for your organization. 

Cons Of Fleet Management Systems

Poor Implementation Of Technology

The success of the fleet management system depends largely on how well managers and drivers can operate it. Employees who cannot adapt to the new software will eventually get left behind.

If you are investing in technology, make sure the people use it optimally. The end-users need to understand the benefits they stand to get from this software to implement the instructions properly.

Employees must be trained well and participate actively in operating the fleet management software to give you the desired results.  

Wrong Technology

Not doing your homework before installing the system could result in choosing the wrong technology for your fleet. 

Although software programs and devices allow fleet companies to stay afloat, it’s imperative to pick one that is appropriate and easy to use by staff members.

The best way to avoid this would be opting for a trial before buying the software. 

Malfunctioning Of GPS

Fleet management software depends highly on multiple satellites for tracking vehicles. These signals are disturbed when there are storms, skyscrapers, or any other obstructions in their way. 

The GPS strength is weakened, leading to inaccurate results. When the driver is in unfamiliar territory, they will not complete the trip on time and contribute to significant business losses. 

Despite the flaws of GPS systems, they are becoming more powerful with technological innovations. Still, drivers and managers need to understand the risks to GPS-based fleet management systems to avert any disasters.

Drainage Of Battery

GPS devices also need a high battery charge. If the battery strength falls, the GPS stops working, and the driver may lose their way to the destination. 

The solution for battery drains is alternating between the active and the passive tracker mode. With passive trackers, the directions are already stored on the device and easily accessible.

Employee Resistance

The software may be approved and greenlit by the company, but your efforts to implement its use will be futile if drivers resist the transition to digital operations. 

Drivers may feel that devices like dashboard cameras and ELDs are an invasion of their privacy. In addition, they may not be confident in their abilities to use these devices.

To overcome this resistance, you need to educate them about the benefits of the software and how it can make them more efficient. 

A heart-to-heart discussion will make the transition to digitization easier for the technologically challenged staff of your organization and reduce any resultant apprehensions.

Make Your Fleet More Efficient

An efficient fleet management system improves the quality of service you provide to your existing customers and expand your business by attracting new clients. 

Technology like fleet telematics makes it easier for the fleet manager to manage their responsibilities more effectively. 

But to get the best fleet management system, you need to understand your business well. The better your research, the greater the quality of your fleet management software. 

Choose the right fleet management system and drive up your profits!