The vehicle fleet resembles a solar system that is difficult to use. Every machine, like planets, stars and even the smallest comets, has its own pace, direction and purpose. For some reason, it seems that everything works in perfect harmony, as if it were controlled by a programmed system. Imagine you have a fleet management solution that can provide a specific set of features. How to choose the right fleet management software for a leasing company vehicle fleet, vehicle fleet or car rental? What should an ideal software guarantee for transportation software development company?
Fleet management challenges
A fleet manager without proper management software is almost inevitably doomed to failure. There is monitoring expenses and fuel consumption. Also there is tracking routes and driving behavior. It’s managing lease contracts and invoices, managing emergency situations. All these activities require not only an experienced manager. But also a system that will collect all the data and ensure their faster processing.
Another problem with fleet management is the need to monitor and control both the location of the vehicle and the driver’s behavior. Without GPS, it is impossible to calculate the best routes to reduce fuel and engine costs. It is no secret that driving behavior greatly affects a car’s fuel consumption. As shown by the IEEE Access study, there is a strong correlation between fuel consumption and vehicle speed (correlation coefficient 0.77). As well as a negative relationship, which means a change in speed (correlation coefficient 0.75). When we add to this excessive idling or improper gear shifting, there is a big chance of speeding up the use of the vehicle. Monitoring these aspects can help eliminate harmful behaviors and find their sources more quickly.
What features should a fleet management software include?
Modern digital fleet management systems provide fleet managers and their teams with solutions to automate and simplify day-to-day tasks. However, for a system to be effective, it must contain at least a couple of required functions.
The fleet management system cannot predict road accidents, but it works great as a vehicle health monitor. While it offers an app for drivers and fleet managers, it should provide:
- automation,
- monitoring of various elements of the vehicle: fuel consumption, technical condition, engine damage,
- preparation of proposals and schedules,
- multichannel communication,
- binding the car to a specific driver,
- reports on fuel consumption and charges,
- geolocation of service points, etc.
GPS tracking
As mentioned earlier, no GPS tracking fleet management software is just flawed. Fleet vehicle tracking allows you to check if drivers are staying on the route. And the use of telematics devices allows you to collect data from all vehicles. As a result, the manager receives a detailed report on fuel consumption and its relationship to driver behavior. As a manager, you can quickly find any of your vehicles and determine which one is closest to the given job. As well as help drivers avoid traffic or accidents with Diceus.
The use of GPS tracking in cars is beneficial not only for managers, but also for drivers. By using an application integrated with the fleet management system. The drivers can receive notifications and information that speed up the search for data and simply make their work easier. An application such as Mobile Car Management is very helpful in solving the current tasks of drivers. GPS allows you to determine the location of service points (in accordance with the car brand). There is gas stations (corresponding to the driver’s fuel card) and the bus services closest to the driver.
GPS tracking is also useful when it comes to route optimization. When vehicles in a corporate fleet use inefficient routes, the fleet management system easily detects this. And it guides the manager to plan the most efficient routes in terms of cost and time.
Automation of administrative tasks
One of the main responsibilities of a fleet manager is to take care of all administrative levels of the fleet system. In addition to overseeing vehicle service inspections, they need to keep their finger on the pulse. When it comes to deadlines such as insurance payout dates or contractual terms. Fleet management software can handle these tasks with ease. Its modules should include billing and contract preparation. And it’s reporting, where task automation maximizes efficiency.
