Fleet management systems provide fleet managers with increased visibility to all their fleet activities, allowing them to easily monitor, manage, and optimise their fleet operations. The data gathered by the fleet management system can be accessed through a central dashboard, where a fleet manager can track fleet costs, monitor fuel usage, manage fleet vehicles on or off the road, view driver behaviour reports, and so much more.
A fleet management system can also provide fleet managers with:
- Vehicle maintenance schedules and usage reports
- Fuel transactions per vehicle and usage per trip
- Vehicle and overall operating expenses, etc.
Having access to these in-depth reports can help fleet managers transform their fleet operations in ways we’ve never thought possible. Unfortunately, not all fleet management systems offer these types of reporting solutions, and these systems are typically referred to as legacy fleet management systems.
What are Legacy fleet management systems?
A legacy fleet management system is considered the original fleet management system. These systems lack the necessary technological features that modern systems have and generally provide a limited view of your fleet operations. Although these systems were revolutionary in their day, their limitations can create various challenges for fleet managers and can affect the efficiency of your fleet.
What are the limitations of a legacy fleet management system?
- Scalability limitations: Legacy fleet management systems lack the necessary flexibility required to scale with a growing fleet. This means limited insights and reporting, and an inability to integrate with newer applications.
- Security concerns: Legacy fleet management systems are susceptible to cyberattacks, hacks, or data breaches, as its technology is not equipped to handle modern security protocols or threats.
- No real-time data capabilities: Legacy fleet management systems are incapable of analysing data at the speed modern systems can. Therefore, any data received could be considered outdated, which may impact any business decisions made.
5 Features you need in your fleet management system
Fleet management systems should be multidimensional, easy-to-use, all-encompassing, and scalable, all the while staying within your budget. Here are 5 important features you need to transform how you manage your fleet:
Reporting and data analysis made easy
Fleet management systems provide fleet managers with the ability to monitor their fleets, access real-time data, and analyse driver and vehicle performance. These detailed reports provide valuable insights into how your fleet is performing and identifies actionable ways for you to improve that performance.
Poor route management, speeding, hard braking, and tailgating are just some of the bad driving habits that can be tracked and prevented using a fleet management system to help improve fleet safety and performance.
Fleet management systems are a cornerstone for most modern fleet companies, but owners and managers need to ensure that all of their business operations are not just cost-effective and consistent, but safe. However, a fortunate side effect of improving fleet monitoring, management and safety is that you improve business processes, reduce operating costs and better overall fleet performance.
Optimise fuel management
With the rise in fuel theft cases and fluctuating fuel prices putting fleet managers on edge, having adequate fuel management in place is vital. Fleet management systems can be integrated with fuel monitoring solutions that enable real-time fuel tracking and analysis tools that help fleet managers to easily monitor fuel consumption, identify potential theft, amend inefficiencies, and implement strategies to tackle fuel costs.
Better driver safety and behaviour
Fleet management systems also provide fleet managers with the ability to monitor driver behaviour by analysing performance indicators such as speeding, hard braking, tailgating, prolonged idle time, fuel usage per trip, and general wear and tear of the vehicle. Fleet managers can utilise this data to better manage vehicle performance, optimise delivery routes, increase driver productivity, and improve road safety through data-driven training and education sessions.
Optimising vehicle maintenance
Using modern fleet management systems, fleet managers are able to monitor the performance of every vehicle and the on-road practises of your drivers. You are also able to better monitor the maintenance needs of your vehicles and avoid unnecessary breakdowns. A vehicle’s longevity is dependent on a variety of important data points, such as tyre wear and tear, brake usage and dependability, mileage, oil changes and many other road worthiness measures.
Improved vehicle tracking
Fleet managers can utilise fleet management systems to gather real-time vehicle location data, allowing them increased visibility regarding the whereabouts of their vehicles and the productivity of their fleet. They can utilise this data to optimise their business operations by:
- Optimise delivery routes: Fleet managers can pre-plan optimal travel routes for each driver, ensuring faster delivery times, reduced traffic and therefore idle times, and improve fuel usage per trip.
- Setup security alerts and geo-fences: Fleet managers can set up no-go zones that could be hazardous for the driver or vehicle through geo-fences and set alerts to be notified whenever a vehicle enters any of these zones.
- Enhanced driver safety: Fleet managers can keep in constant contact with a driver via the fleet management system and be alerted to potential break-downs or hijack attempts, ensuring driver safety at all times.
- Improved client feedback: Fleet managers can provide more in-depth feedback regarding delivery times and delivery routes to clients, and provide updates should there be any delays. Thus ensuring transparent communication with clients at all times.
How can Landmark Tracking help you?
Transform the way your business managers your fleet and reap the rewards by opting for a modern fleet management system. With Landmark Tracking, we can help guide you in selecting the right fleet management system that meets your fleets’ current and future requirements and budget. Take the next steps towards fleet management excellence by contacting our experts today!
