Get the best out of January – whatever it may bring

Just like that, another year rolls around, and we find ourselves in January once more. This month, perhaps more than many others, can bring different tidings for different businesses.

For some, it’s all hands to the pump – the Christmas lull is over and the fleet is busier than ever. Others may find that their new year has not quite started yet and keeping drivers busy is a struggle.

Whatever the first month of the new year brings, Verizon Connect can help – whether that means fitting in more jobs into a busy spell or using quiet times to prepare your fleet for the year ahead.

So, whether you’re in the heart of the storm or the preceding calm, here’s how our fleet management solutions can help keep you safe, efficient and on the move.

Master fleet maintenance

Losing a vehicle during a busy spell can significantly impact your revenues. So, if business is usually slow in the new year, use this time to run routine servicing and repairs on your underutilised vehicles.

Start with a complete health check. Check fluid levels, tyre tread and pressure, and replace hoses, wiper blades, belts and pads where necessary. If there are any major part replacements on the horizon, now could be a good time to get those out of the way too. This way, you don’t need to remove vehicles from service once work picks up again.

And don’t forget to use your fleet management system to set maintenance alerts based on time, mileage or engine hours – so you can stay one step ahead of your servicing and repair schedule throughout the year.

Improve speed of communication

Whether you are overstretched or looking to streamline operations during a slowdown, quick and clear communication is always an advantage. The faster your staff can access the information they need, the more efficiently they can do their jobs.

A comprehensive fleet management solution can put critical information at your fingertips in seconds. Live map data, near real-time alerts and a central portal for key company and customer information can help every member of your team make faster and better-informed decisions.

Fast and timely communication with customers is vital during these times, too. Use vehicle location and traffic information to provide accurate ETAs and improve service levels.

Reduce waste

It doesn’t matter whether you are economising or covering plenty of ground, every drop of fuel counts. Inefficiencies caused by wasteful behaviour can quickly add up across your fleet, and before you know it, they’re taking their toll on your bottom line.

With a fleet management solution gathering data on your fleet, you can monitor instances of idling, speeding, personal use, and many other factors that unnecessarily increase fuel consumption. So, you can address repeat offenders and coach more fuel-efficient driving styles.  

Fleet management technology can help you to reduce wasteful paperwork, too. By digitising routine instructions, customer notes, timesheets, invoices and more, you can improve both efficiency and accuracy.

Make safety a priority

Fleet safety is a top priority all year round, of course. But it can take on more significance during particularly busy or slow periods.

Busy drivers can be prone to distraction, so it’s always a good idea to remind them of their responsibilities when out on the road. At the other end of the scale, a quiet period can be a great time for safety training, so drivers can refresh their knowledge before they get too busy.

With a fleet management solution, you can monitor unsafe behaviour such as speeding, rapid acceleration, harsh cornering and heavy braking. With this information, you can score and rank drivers to encourage friendly competition. These rankings can also be used to reward top performers and incentivise or retrain others to improve.

Stay busy in 2023 with Verizon Connect

Verizon Connect can help you keep moving whatever fortunes the new year brings. Our fleet technology is designed to help you stay efficient during the slowest of slowdowns and the busiest of busy spells.

Once in place, our GPS solution can help you spot waste, improve your key processes and keep your people safe and productive.

Start your new year with a free demo to see the Verizon Connect solution in action for yourself.