Fleet software in the news

Technology Software

Multi-user access is next step for fleet software

Complete integration is 'holy grail' to delivering real-time fleet software control- and savings

By Daniel Attwood

Duty-of-care compliance, accident management, ordering new vehicles and de-fleeting end-of-life ones, reducing C02 emissions, juggling the demands of the HR director with those of the finance director, cutting costs, managing mileages and vehicle service schedules `the work of the fleet manager is unrelenting, but can fleet management software take more of the strain?

'Too many companies try to run sizeable fleets with an unholy mix of paper and spreadsheet software," says Neville Briggs, managing director; CFC Solutions. "They could make massive gains in a short time for a small investment if they switched to a proper fleet software product."

The right software will deliver significant cost savings, as well as helping to ensure legal compliance, deliver on HR objectives and minimise environmental impact.

"A good modern system should enable fleet managers to make strategic decisions without the need for a huge data entry team," says Jason Francis, managing director of Jaama, which is enhancing its electronic driver service module to allow drivers to complete on line accident reporting.

Over the past year, fleet managers have increasingly turned to software providers to help cut fleet costs.

"In the past year, the majority of fleet software buying decisions have been driven by the desire to minimise costs:' says Briggs.

"The main issues are saving money, gaining meaningful reports and transparency of data," agrees Stuart Jardine sales manager, Chevin Fleet Solutions, which offers a modular approach allowing bespoke modules to be created on request.

Ken Trinder; head of business development at Epyx, says: 'We have seen a very rapid increase in use of our e-commerce platforms as fleets search for new ways to control expenditure. For example, our 1link Service Network, which is used by fleets to buy service and maintenance, has seen a 20% increase in transactions year-on-year."

A new service from Epyx - Price Check - is designed to help cut costs through the real-time management of garage labour rates, parts discounts and lubrication costs, as well as through parts pricing control, overlap time reduction and warranty claim referrals.

"This is designed to analyse the complex data within the platform and automatically 'learns' where key cost savings are available," says Trinder.

"These opportunities are flagged up, allowing users to choose whether to take the lower cost option identified:'

Development is rapid, with software-as-a-service (SaaS) where fleet software is hosted online with support provided for a monthly fee per use, already offered by many providers.

With SaaS the upfront cost of adopting a system is minimised, the cost of buying and using the system is easy to understand, users always have access to the latest version of the software because it is hosted by the provider and systems can be easily scaled up or down as the fleet grows or shrinks.

Software developments are racing ahead, with several areas likely to come on stream soon.

"One of the most exciting new developments to hit the market within the next 12 months will be the ability to measure and record the environmental impact of any journey anywhere in the world, be it by car; train or plane," explains Andrew Leech, business manager at Mycompanyfleet.

"This new system will provide the ability to accurately assess and record the true carbon footprint of their business on a national or global basis. And it's very near to being realised:'

Systems that have multiple access for various departments are also being developed. 'We are seeing fleet management requirements wanting the HR department to manage duty of care issues, the fleet manager to manage vehicles, fuel and repairs and the finance department wants hands on access to all areas," says Francis.

"Fleet managers are also asking us to deliver portal access so that drivers will update their data, mileage, fuel, accidents, etc, so that leaves the fleet manager to mange exceptions, not the daily running:'

Fleet managers are also driving development, with the ultimate goal of achieving full integration of every aspect of fleet management.

"The holy grail would be the complete integration of all that fleet software can offer with all of the potential of telematics, bringing an otherwise unachievable degree of real-time control over the fleet, knowing how your vehicles are performing out on the road at that exact moment:' says Briggs.

The technology to do this is available but the cost is prohibitive, he adds.

A standard telematics interface would be a big step in the right direction as would a standard vehicle interface on the part of manufacturers to draw data from.

"The real improvements for the fleet industry as a whole will come from wider adoption of existing technology:' said Trinder.

"The use of software and e-commerce in fleet is extremely patchy:'

About Jaama

Jaama is a fleet software and occupational road safety specialist. As a certified Microsoft® development partner, Jaama uses the latest technology to provide customers with greater integration, control and automation. It brings innovative vehicle management software to fleet operators, contract hire and leasing companies. And Jaama is the first to combine fleet management software and risk management services to help customers meet their driver health and safety responsibilities under occupational road safety regulations.

http://www.jaama.co.uk


Back to fleet software press cuttings