Every fleet manager knows that good supplier and OEM relationships play a key role in running an efficient fleet. Good relationships give you access to everything from discounts to expert advice.
Whether you’re operating a fleet of 5 or 5000, the impact of good working relationships with everyone from staff to suppliers and vehicle manufacturers cannot be emphasised enough. Without these, you are effectively operating in a silo and will miss out on opportunities and current best practices in the industry.
The role of OEM relationships in the running of your fleet:
Access to the latest industry insights
To run any successful business, especially one that includes fleet operations, you need access to the latest industry information. From upcoming legislation to new vehicles being released, if you’re not in the loop it could lead to uninformed decisions that may cost you a small fortune in the long run - so make sure you get to know your OEMs/manufacturers.
By building good relationships with trusted suppliers, you know that you will always receive the best advice from them. These relationships take time, but you also want to ensure you pick reputable suppliers from the start. You want to partner with companies that have a reputation for excellent service and long-lasting client relationships.
Cost-saving opportunities for your fleet
Your fleet may consist of a single-vehicle brand, or a variety, depending on your fleet needs. Make a point of building a strong relationship with the companies supplying your vehicles.
The benefit of long-standing OEM relationships is that they will get to know you and your business. This means they will let you know when certain deals are available, or even structure deals that suit your specific fleet. You are a valuable client to them and they will want to work with you to ensure your continued business.
Most OEMs treasure their fleet customers and they will approach you with upcoming vehicle/system developments that will help you plan ahead. Additional benefits can include anything from package deals on extended warranties to reduced servicing costs. There are many cost-saving opportunities.
Trust with suppliers
A good supplier relationship goes both ways: you want to know you’re getting the best possible service, and your suppliers want to know they’re keeping your business and never have to worry about late payments.
In the fleet industry, your supplier list can be very long, depending on the type of fleet you run. Your suppliers include everyone from tyre suppliers to storage facilities and even fuel suppliers. Building strong relationships can lead to many benefits. In addition to discounts, you could get value-adds such as a certain amount of after-hours service at no additional cost, or some flexibility in storage arrangements, to name a few.
The point is that once you have a good working relationship you are able to approach suppliers with unique requests. They will be much more eager to assist if there is a good history of respect between both parties.
Ready-made industry relationships and connections!
Relationships take time and effort, especially when it comes to business. For this reason, many companies choose to partner with a trusted fleet supplier that already has existing relationships with OEMs and suppliers.
It’s an all-in-one package: you get the experts to manage your fleet and you benefit from their long-standing relationships and reputation in the industry. A good fleet partner will be able to negotiate better deals on your behalf. This means you don’t have to put in all the time, effort, vetting of suppliers, and negotiating deals. All of this is already done and you get all the benefits of years of experience and building of trusted relationships across the entire fleet management value chain.
However you choose to manage your fleet, the working relationships you build along the way will make the difference between running a smooth operation or facing constant hurdles.
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