The ever-increasing demand for efficiency means fleet managers can’t afford to get swamped in details.
Here's 7 ways an external fleet management provider makes you a better fleet manager.
The business is your priority
Whether your fleet forms 80% of your business, or simply plays a small role in the bigger picture, fleet managers no longer have the luxury of spending all their time focusing on fleet operations. It seems a bit of a contradiction, but with the current global economy (which has been ridiculously tough for the better part of a decade), fleet managers are also business managers. A fleet is a big cost centre for any company, so there is massive pressure on fleet managers to ensure not only efficiency, but also to ensure that fleet operations are always aligned with the overall business goals and direction. For this reason, fleet managers have to be much more involved with the overarching business plan than ever before, which leaves a lot less time for nitty-gritty daily details of the fleet management process. Partnering with a reputable fleet provider is therefore important for the overall fleet process as well as for the business a whole.
Data is power
As with everything else, fleet management has become data-driven. Even entry-level telematics provides massive amounts of data, but it’s worth nothing if it’s not interpreted and applied correctly. A fleet provider that can effectively interpret all this data – and use it to implement solutions to keep optimising your fleet – is an invaluable asset.
Focus on your biggest asset – drivers
A good fleet partner can help you identify your strongest and weakest drivers, and also help you identify the exact problem areas that need to be addressed through training. Having a fleet provider that can collect all this data, frees up fleet managers to spend more time building good relationships with drivers and ensuring they do their job to the best of their ability. A good team of drivers is the most important asset to any fleet manager. The support of a solid fleet provider allows fleet managers to keep improving driver performance, and this in turn makes you a much better fleet manager.
You get to keep up with the Jones’s
Like all technology, fleet tech is developing at a blinding pace, and a top-notch fleet provider will help you select the right systems for your specific fleet needs. It’s not always about having the latest technology (you’d be upgrading every week if you tried), but rather about identifying the systems that will be most beneficial to your operations. The best fleet managers know to trust their fleet providers when it comes to selecting the right tech, because part of a fleet provider’s service is to stay on top of industry developments. Outsourcing your fleet technology needs will dramatically improve your performance as a fleet manager.
It’s about who you know
The most successful fleet providers have excellent relationships with vehicle manufacturers and they can often get you a much better deal on new vehicles than companies can get on their own. Fleet management companies prioritise their relationships with manufacturers in order to provide the best solutions for their clients. Appointing a good fleet provider gives you access to huge benefits when it comes to replacing / adding to your fleet, which is essential to becoming a brilliant fleet manager.
Guarding your fleet
One of the most important aspects of fleet management is taking excellent care of your fleet. It’s the only way to ensure efficiency and safety, and it’s a full-time job. From checking tyres and maintenance schedules to tracking driver behaviour, keeping your fleet in optimal condition is about the smallest detail. The support of a reputable fleet provider greatly reduces vehicle downtime and potential accidents due to faulty vehicles. Every fleet manager wants a good reputation when it comes to maintaining their fleet, and employing a provider to take care of the daily checks will notably increase your effectiveness as a fleet manager.
Reports and predictions
A large (and tedious) part of fleet management is regular reports on fleet efficiency and also predicting future optimisation. Doing so is, once again, dependent on accurate data and in-depth industry knowledge in order to predict the future of your fleet. Finding the ‘perfect match’ in fleet providers means you’ll have accurate reports allowing you to make the best decisions for your fleet as well as the business in the long run.
The reality is that fleet management has become an integral part of business operations, no matter the size of your fleet. Running and continually optimising fleet operations plays a big role in the success of a company, and modern fleet managers need decent support to keep improving. A good fleet provider will offer this support and play a vital role in your success as a fleet manager, as well as the success of your business.
