Fleet management is a notoriously complex industry. You entrust your drivers with costly vehicles that undergo heavy wear and tear and payment cards that often are self-monitored and reported. If technical issues occur, a single vehicle out for maintenance can throw a wrench in the whole operation (pun intended).
That’s why it’s of the utmost importance that, as a fleet owner, you use every tool available to ensure that your fleet is running as smoothly and with complete energy efficiently. In today’s day and age, there’s no better way to manage your fleet –and ensure it remains environmentally friendly– than through the latest fleet management technology!
If you’re looking to bring your fleet management into the 21st century, read on for our top 3 technologies for streamlining fleet management.
1. Incentivized GPS Tracking
These days, GPS technology is all around us. Through smartphone applications like Google Maps, we’re able to utilize GPS technology to simplify our everyday lives: finding the quickest route home, getting directions without having to ask a stranger, and exploring the world around us without having to leave the couch. Why not utilize the same technology to track your most valuable business assets?
By installing a GPS system to provide some fleet tracking solutions for your vehicles, you’ll be able to do more than just monitor where your fleet are. You’ll have access to tons of data that can lead to fuel savings, routing with accurate ETAs, behind-the-wheel behavior monitoring, unauthorized use alerts, loss prevention, and more.
GPS technology is fairly ubiquitous in fleet management these days—but there’s one company taking it a step further. Azuga Fleet Tracking uses GPS tracking to incentivize safe driving among employees with its one-of-a-kind Driver Rewards program. Vehicle data is captured (10x as frequently as other companies) and then processed using a safety intelligence platform. Safe drivers are rewarded for their performance, turning “gotcha” culture into “great job” culture.
2. Technology-Enabled Corporate Fleet Cards
It’s hard to track fuel management as a fleet owner. It’s typically a self-reported system, entrusting a range of drivers with business fuel cards and expecting them to report on mileage themselves, leaving much room for human error and even corporate theft.
Mastercard is out to change that system with their new Corporate Fleet Card. This advanced technology enables each payment card to sync with vehicle data. That means that the vehicle self-reports location, odometer, and fuel levels, eliminating mistakes or unlawful use. The vehicle-reported data is then instantly verified with the payment data. In the event that the two don’t match, both the driver and management are notified.
Not only will this give you an added layer of security, but it will also allow you substantially more visibility into your fleet’s fuel and spend data. You can utilize this data to monitor fuel costs and consumption, and minimize expense.
3. Sensor-Monitored Maintenance Alert Systems
One of the most disruptive issues a fleet owner can run into is unexpected vehicle maintenance. Not only does it leave a driver down a car, but it can lead to appointment cancellations and unhappy customers. While regular preventative maintenance is a must, it doesn’t prevent unexpected issues—or notify you of them when they arise.
Enter: sensor-monitored maintenance alert systems. With a system like this, sensors constantly monitor things like tire pressure, brakes, electrical systems, lights, engine performance, and more. This technology provides insight into valuable mechanical data, once only available to garages and other vehicle repair ships. The data is transmitted in real-time, whether your fleet is 10 miles away or 10,000.
Final Thoughts
Managing a fleet of cars requires a lot of time, oversight, and trust. Even the most scrupulous fleet owners can fall victim to errant use, careless drivers, or unidentified maintenance issues. Even a single incident may leave you short a driver, a vehicle, or a significant amount of money. By employing these three fleet management technologies, you can limit your risk and keep your costs, time, and sanity under control.
Salman is a prolific environmental writer, and has authored more than 500 articles in reputed journals, magazines and websites. He is proactively engaged in creating mass awareness on renewable energy, waste management, sustainability and conservation all over the world.
Salman can be reached on salman@cleantechloops.com
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