With the fleet management solution market valued at $28.66 billion, it won’t be wrong to say that these tools and software have become a necessity for modern fleet operations. However, it can be tricky to select the right fleet management solutions and determine how to integrate it for your company.
Whether you select a single-feature solution like bookkeeping software or a comprehensive fix like Trackunit, which offers connectivity, telematics, asset tracking, and theft protection all in one platform, it’s imperative to take a strategic implementation approach. The Trackunit Manager at – https://trackunit.com/trackunit-manager/ – has it all.
How will you use these solutions? How to select the best ones for your needs? Let’s discuss these topics in detail.
Table of Contents
What is a fleet management solution?
A fleet management solution or software is a suite of features that lets fleet managers oversee fleet operations and manage tasks relevant to a fleet and appropriate personnel. Here are some fleet functions managers can track and monitor using fleet management solutions:
- Maintenance scheduling
- Vehicle servicing
- Insurance
- Route optimization
- Personnel training
- Engine diagnostics
Benefits of fleet management solutions
While having a fleet management solution is essential, choosing a relevant one will depend on your specific needs. Looking at the benefits of different fleet management solutions can help you make the best decision for your company.
- Vehicle and asset management: Construction and off-road fleets need to be tracked at all times to ensure proper asset utilization and prevent theft. Fleet management solutions provide real-time tracking to facilitate this.
- Driver safety: Many fleet management solutions come with telematics features that monitor driver behavior. The information helps fleet managers see if driver training is required.
- Legal and regulatory compliance: Fleet managers can use fleet management solutions to ensure regulatory compliance with state and national guidelines. They can also automate compliance checks and data reporting.
- Budgeting and forecasting: Fleets, especially on construction sites, make up a big part of the budget. Fleet and construction managers use historical data and equipment utilization reports to determine the fleet size and versatility for subsequent projects. A fleet management solution allows managers to budget according to past data and vehicle performance.
Types of fleet management solutions
Before you start looking for a fleet management solution, it helps to familiarize yourself with the different types of tools available. Knowing the types will help you narrow your search. Here are some common fleet management solution types.
GPS-powered fleet tracking
The GPS you have in your car is similar but a more simplified version of what a fleet management solution can provide. A fleet management solution providing GPS tracking services will help you:
- Manage fleet vehicles in real-time
- See interactive maps for faster response to incidents and risks
- Dispatch equipment handlers and drivers immediately
- Review equipment usage history
- Set notifications for geofences
Video-based fleet management
Video solutions let you keep an eye (quite literally) on everything happening on your construction site. Many fleet management solutions have cloud-connection video features to give you a complete view of your fleet’s operations.
While some video solutions record continuously, others record specific incidents based on the triggers you’ve set, such as collisions or equipment malfunctions. Video fleet management solutions can improve fleet management by:
- Allowing you to determine the truth about false incident claims
- Getting video evidence for legal compliance
- Identifying risky behaviors
- Locating vehicles on a job site
Telematics-based fleet management
A fleet management solution with integrated telematics may offer the following features:
- Alerting functionality
- Asset management
- Real-time communication
- Driver data reports
- Cloud-based data repository
It’s not uncommon to find telematics fleet management solutions that also provide visibility into fleet operations through GPS. Usually, you can find hybrids of these three fleet management solution types with varying functionalities.
How to choose a fleet management solution
Selecting the right fleet management solution is a bit tricky. But starting with the following features can help.
Accessibility and ease of use
A fleet management system may be fancy and feature-rich, but if it’s not easy to use, there’s not much you can do with it. When going through options, ask for live demos of each fleet management solution and ask yourself the following:
- Is it easy to navigate the tool?
- Are all the features easy to access?
- Will it be easy to train your drivers and other stakeholders on using this tool?
- Are there sufficient automation options?
- Is the interface clean and intuitive?
The more you can answer “yes”, the better a tool will be for your company.
Management features
Once you’re happy with the layout and interface, look at the management features. Some standard ones include:
- Route optimization
- Mileage
- Preventive maintenance
- Predictive maintenance
- Asset management
- Real-time communication
- Diagnostics
- Fleet safety and risk management
Pricing
How much can you spend on a fleet management solution? Keep this in mind when looking for software. The key is to find the perfect balance between your requirements and expenditure.
Keep in mind that a fleet management solution will help you offset several other costs, such as regulatory fines and costly vehicle repairs. So, if you have to go a little above your budget, take the leap. Don’t go overboard, though.
Taking the right approach to fleet management solution implementation
As your project size and number increase, so will the fleet size. So, you need a fleet management solution that scales with you. It should also incorporate any new technology that surfaces in the coming years.
After choosing a fleet management solution, the first step is to onboard your employees, drivers, and other stakeholders. Everyone should know how to use the software so that they can make the most of it.
Implementation requires teamwork, feedback, and continuous supervision. Moreover, measure your fleet’s performance based on selected KPIs to determine the efficiency of the fleet management solution.
Final words
Taking a comprehensive approach to fleet management solutions involves understanding their use cases, selecting the right options, and ensuring seamless implementation.
Considering the impact a fleet management solution will have on your everyday operations, it’s crucial to do thorough research and choose a tool you can envision your growth with.
