As Thanksgiving nears, people across the U.S. are reflecting on what they are thankful for this year. This is also true for fleet managers.
Managers appreciate tools and technology that help make their day-to-day jobs easier and help their fleet operations run better. Take a look at five fleet tools fleet managers might be thankful for this year.
GPS and Telematics
Advancements in GPS tools and telematics have increased efficiencies in how operations can track vehicles, monitor driver behaviors and diagnose vehicle issues.
GPS tools allow fleet managers to track the location of their vehicles and reroute as needed to avoid congestion. This allows fleets to avoid wasting fuel.
These tools also allow fleet managers to monitor driver behaviors. GPS technology can detect if drivers are driving aggressively, including speeding and suddenly stopping or accelerating. Tools can also determine if a person is driving distractedly.
Telematics tools can help fleets detect if there is an issue with a vehicle. Vendors like Zonar Systems provide sensors that are placed on various parts of a vehicle. If the vehicle is malfunctioning, the sensor alerts the technicians to the issue. Then the shop and driver can determine if the issue needs to be addressed immediately, or when to schedule the vehicle for repairs.
Barcoding Tools
Barcoding tools help save fleet operations crucial time when it comes to taking inventory. Instead of taking manual counts of parts, operations can use barcoding tools and fleet management software to increase speed and accuracy.
Barcoding tools allow operations to quickly add parts into their fleet management software. This allows staff members to then take inventory of items by scanning each part with the barcode scanner. Any errors in the inventory can be quickly identified and corrected, ensuring the inventory is accurate.
Data and Reporting Tools
Having real-time data and reports to refer to allows fleet managers to monitor the current status of their operation. Being able to set key performance indicators and pull specific data to track how the operation is performing against those allows the manager to know where the operation needs to improve.
Creating dashboards and custom reports allows fleet managers to have instant access to important information regarding their operation.
Paperless Shop Modules
Using paperless shop tools allows fleet managers to reduce costs and improve efficiencies in their operation. Paperless shop modules let operations use less paper, resulting in less money spent on supplies. This also reduces the paper trail left around the shop, which lessens the risk of important forms being overlooked or lost. Instead, operations can keep all important information in the fleet management software system. This lets all staff members with access to the system pull up work orders, purchases orders, vehicle history, warranty information and more as needed. This improves workflows around the shop and can help increase productivity.
Warranty Tracking
Warranty claims generally yield $300-$420 per vehicle during the first 7-8 years of life. However, some operations are not taking full advantage of warranty claims. One of the top issues is time. Fleet managers don’t have time to file the paperwork and track warranties. However, it can be worth it. It’s estimated that 5 minutes of paperwork generally yields $110 of warranty. To make filing warranty claims even easier, fleet management software helps fleet managers keep track of warranty information for each vehicle and part.
To find out how these tools can help improve the efficiency of your fleet, contact RTA Fleet Management Software today to request a free demo.