Fleet managers are constantly facing pressures to cut costs and improve efficiency, and it’s no different with a green fleet. While having an electric fleet is a new thing to many businesses, and many are having to operate a mixed fleet for now, advances in technology and fleet management solutions are helping to simplify complex tasks to aid with both the transition and management of a fleet. From knowing when to switch to electric vehicles, through to managing the everyday, connected fleet management platforms are essential for an efficient, sustainable and safe fleet operation.
Let’s start with switching vehicles to EVs; there are now AI powered platforms that give fleet managers all the information they need to be able to look at the full picture and make an informed choice – to begin transitioning now in a sustainable way, or to plan for it in the future.
By integrating with fleet management software, these platforms use smart algorithms to assess trip data and provide fleet managers with insight into the feasibility of switching to EV, including suitable vehicles in-market, total cost of ownership, fuel savings, environmental impact and required charging infrastructure. They can examine whether a fleet is viable for switching and rather than providing a blanket yes or no, these customisable platforms can offer a forensic analysis of vehicle use-data to provide a phased approach to transitioning to an EV fleet.
Then with technological advances in AI, businesses can also gain a competitive advantage by integrating fleet management software with the likes of enterprise resource planning systems to mobilise fleets and resources in a way that completely transforms the way they work – which drivers and vehicles are available to ensure operations are maintained. AI’s ability to see and analyse real-time data and present anomalies or inefficiencies, enable fleets to make changes at speed to business operations. AI can turn weeks, into minutes – and what’s not to embrace about that.
And while costs and maximising efficiency are top of fleet managers’ agendas, driver wellbeing is just as important if not more, as the industry is still short on drivers. What some may not realise is that a comprehensive driver training programme combined with a good benefits package can firstly really improve driver performance and retention, but secondly have a major bearing on wider business costs and efficiencies as seen in recent research. A top performing driver uses the vehicle correctly, causes less maintenance, use less fuel, avoids costly collisions, and delivers on time.
Author: Barney Goffer, UK Product Manager at Teletrac Navman UK
