Fleet management software is a sizeable investment for small businesses. When costs are tight, it’s hard to know what business expenses are worthwhile, and which are better left alone. Is fleet management software worth the expense? Here are some reasons why this technology makes sense for the entrepreneur with fleet vehicles:
Lower Fuel Usage
For the entrepreneur, finding ways to lower costs is always a priority. Fleet management software often reduces costs significantly, especially by lowering fuel usage.
Fleet management software allows the fleet’s manager to gain insight into driver behavior. Problem behaviors, like excessive idling, unauthorized use of company vehicles, or driving over the speed limit, which lead to wasted fuel can be stopped. If your business covers a wide geographic area, you can use fleet tracking to send vehicles to designated geographic areas, eliminating excessive cross-town trips and lower your fuel cost. Over the life of a vehicle, these changes add up to substantial savings.
Lower Environmental Impact
“Going green” is something responsible companies are passionate about, and fleet management software makes it easier for you to “go green.” Improved fuel efficiency means fewer greenhouse emissions for your fleet. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, each gallon of gas burned by your fleet creates 20 pounds of greenhouse gases. Lowering fuel usage will improve your carbon footprint significantly.
Extend the Life of Mobile Assets
Another way fleet management software benefits entrepreneurs is by allowing them to get the most use out of their fleet vehicles. Many systems feature maintenance alerts that remind the fleet management team that it’s time for regular maintenance. Keeping up with routine maintenance will help the vehicle to run as long as possible. Car Care Aware indicates that the cars that run the longest are the ones who have regular maintenance. Fleet management software can help ensure you keep track of maintenance.
Not only that, but fleet management helps reduce driver behavior problems, such as excessive idling time or poor braking habits that decrease the life of the vehicle. This, in turn, can extend the life of your vehicles by reducing excess wear and tear on the engine and other moving components.
Reduce Travel Delays
Drivers who are late to service appointments or deliveries hurt your company tremendously. You can reduce the impact of late appointments with fleet management software. Drivers can be held accountable for their whereabouts using the software, and this reduces unwanted side trips or personal use of company vehicles, which can make drivers late.
Not only that, but fleet management software equipped with GPS will give you the ability to route drivers around travel delays, like construction or accidents. You can choose the quickest routes to a customer’s location, ensuring that you have the fastest possible delivery time.
Improve Customer Service
Fleet management allows you to predict arrival times more accurately, improving customer service by avoiding long waits for service appointments and deliveries. Using your fleet management system to limit travel delays and late arrivals will make your customers happier with the service they receive from you. When delays do occur, your fleet management software will give you enough time to alert the customer to the problem or route another driver to the location to avoid a late arrival. All of this equates to improved customer service, and happy customers will lead to more business for your company.
Choose Scalable Solutions
One of the reasons small businesses have shied away from fleet management is the extreme cost of large systems. Fleet management software has evolved in recent years, and today, companies have a number of affordable options that effectively meet the needs of small businesses, without all of the extra options/costs that large corporations may want or need.
As you can see, fleet management software will help you manage your fleet more efficiently, leading to cost savings and improved customer service. If your company manages a fleet of vehicles, fleet management software simply makes sense. Make the most out of your vehicle with the right system.
Robert J. Hall is president of Track Your Truck, a leader in GPS vehicle tracking software and systems for midsized and small companies.
