Get The Inside Track On Current Fleet Data Challenges

Managing a commercial vehicle fleet is growing ever more challenging. Fleet managers must grapple with costs, maintenance cycles, and the balance between driver performance and driver safety, all while being bombarded with more data.

According to our recent Customer Insight Survey the big four data challenges are:

• Avoiding information overload
• Integrating fleet data into existing software systems
• Finding specific fleet information quickly
• Software systems that are scalable and able to handle rapid growth

We asked Scott Hutchins, VP sales UK & Ireland, Navman Wireless, for the inside track on how customers are tackling these challenges.

Avoiding Information Overload

A fleet generates a huge amount of data for fleet managers to review - the larger the fleet, the more information that's generated, plus advances in technology such as telematics and smartphone apps have seen more??information on drivers and vehicles created than ever before. Can GPS Software realistically reduce this burden?

"The development of fleet management software is certainly being driven by a desire to avoid information overload and cut costs," Scott said. "And any developments which make this data easily digestible for a fleet operator is invaluable a need picked up by vehicle tracking companies. The way information is presented, in terms of graphics, must be flexible and accessible.

"The challenge for fleet software providers is to be able to provide this kind of flexibility and access on a variety of devices, with different screen sizes and operating systems, while maintaining a simple-to-use product for the customer.

"In addition, the ability to access and enter information while away from the workplace is key, reducing the cost of administration. In the case of the mobile workforce, it also allows more efficient planning of schedules, saving time and money, and facilitates better and quicker decision-making on the ground."

Integrating Fleet Data Into Existing Software Systems

For many businesses, IT structures tend to grow over the years and often develop into complex and assorted software systems from various providers.

This might cause you sleepless nights when introducing another new system, particularly, software systems that don't integrate, which can result in reduced productivity as data has to be entered multiple times or manually transferred between applications.

"Every growing fleet business grapples with decisions around the best business system to manage its expanding operations," Scott said. " A software system is unlikely to be used in isolation from other systems ??? you might want to feed in fuel card data, for instance, or the company's HR system. So, compatibility with existing systems within the fleet department is important.

"Working with businesses to make sure their fleet management solution is the perfect fit is a high priority.?? Integration with other software systems is handled through API's, which allows a business to quickly and easily let existing systems communicate with fleet management software."

Finding Specific Fleet Information Quickly

Since fleet managers are typically responsible for a large number of assets, being able to locate a specific vehicle in so much data can be a challenge, often resulting in wasted time.?? Some intelligence tools struggle to acquire the right information for companies with fleets to manage and this can be particularly frustrating for fleet manager who need to quickly identify issues and make sure they're staying on track.

"It is becoming clearer and clearer that to stay competitive, companies have to infuse data in just about every corner of a company and the ability to find information quickly, particularly when you are managing a large fleet, can be a huge competitive advantage as companies compete for business," Scott said. "It may enable them to offer lower prices, faster turns, or more transparency, which can enable customers to do a better job planning their own operations."

Software Systems That Are Scalable

When you're just starting out, or your business is relatively small, it can be tempting to choose a non-scalable system because (1) it could be cheaper or (2) you might think that you'll never grow your business to the point of needing a scalable application.

"Choosing a non-scalable system can certainly come back to haunt a business owner when their needs change," Scott said. "GPS Software needs to be scalable for it to cope with the changing demands of the modern fleet. Particularly in a fluid business environment where fleets are joining forces and companies are merging, any fleet with a non-scalable system will struggle to maintain its competitive edge."