How fleet management systems can help businesses in the UK

Fleet management systems have become one of the best allies for businesses to build resilience and its implementation is booming. In fact, the latest Fleet Technology Trends Report 2023 revealed that the use of this technology stood at 71% in Europe, up 3% from last year.

One of the reasons why this technology has become a tool in day-to-day business is its ability to help companies analyse their fleet’s performance and to deliver near real-time visibility of their fleet operations, which can help improve their activity and results. 

Imagine being able to accompany your team remotely and act quickly in any eventuality by sending help. Or knowing where the nearest team member is for the next job  and the customer having an ETA of when the technician will arrive. 

You can also get a detailed report of the fuel used by each of your vehicles and identify practices that may be increasing fuel consumption. It can allow you to work closely with your team to implement an efficient and sustainable driving culture. And this is just the beginning, fleet management is much more than dots on a map, it offers your business smart mobility in action.

Let’s dive into some of the most common challenges fleets face and discover how telematics technology can help:  

Boost these areas of your business with a fleet management system

Safety: promoting a safe place to work is a prerequisite for a healthy and productive workforce. (1) According to the UK Government UK,  it is also an important aspect of both the sustainability and competitiveness of the economy. (2) Businesses and fleet management technology can assist you by monitoring your teams’ daily operations. This not only helps you to react quickly to changing circumstances, such as delays or rerouting but also ensure that customers are seen on time. 

It can identify dangerous driver behaviour and promote a safe driving culture which makes all the difference to the safety of your team, vehicles, and business. A fleet management system can also help with a preventive maintenance programme to keep the fleet’s vehicles in optimal condition so they can be used by your team.

Fuel consumption: fuel management can help to make effective use of every litre of fuel purchased, thereby contributing not only to the company's finances, but also to energy savings and safeguarding of the environment.  

The right fuel management is also linked to the right route, vehicle planning and the use of efficient driving techniques. Smart route planning can help you choose safer and faster routes, promote safety in your team and avoid extra miles that can increase fuel consumption.  

Also, efficient driving is a new way of driving that aims to lower fuel consumption while reducing environmental pollution. At the same time, it results in greater driving comfort and reduced risks on the road. (3) A  recent study reveals that efficient driving ‘can help us to save 10 to 25% of fuel’, a positive impact for any company. (4)

Increased costs: poor route management can increase fuel consumption and the risk of having an accident by spending more time on the road. It can also increase the premature wear and tear of your vehicles as a result of engine usage as well as other vehicle components, such as tyres, brakes and so on. 

CO2 emissions: monitor your fleet’s emissions and get  a detailed overview of your vehicle’s carbon footprint. Now more than ever customers value the sustainability of the business and their commitment to reducing emissions. A fleet management system can help lower the fleet’s emissions and align your business to adopt a climate neutral business (5).

Labour costs: having an overview of your team members' work completed including overtime, etc. helps you to have an accurate picture of your team’s payroll. This data is also useful for internal administrative purposes.  

Discover the top 10 challenges identified by fleet managers in the UK and how telematics can help. Download your Fleet Technology Trends Report for the UK.

Why does implementing a fleet management system pay off? 

According to the Fleet Technology Trends Report UK 2023, 4% of businesses in the UK achieved a return on investment (ROI) on their GPS fleet tracking solution in less than 3 months. 36% between 3 to 6 months and 43% between 7 to 12 months. 

And the results achieved by these businesses since the implementation of a fleet management system speak for  themselves. The survey respondents stated that there is:  

• 77% improvement in routing 
• 70% improvement in customer service 
• 64% improvement in tachograph/regulatory compliance 
• 63% decrease in fuel consumption 
• 61% reduction in CO2: 

Discover the rest of the goals achieved by businesses like yours. Download your free Fleet Technology Trends Report for the UK.  

Sources:  

• (1) (2):  https://www.cbi.org.uk/media-centre/articles/boosting-workforce-health-can-help-the-uk-achieve-economic-growth-ambitions-says-cbi/

• (3, 4): IDAE 

• (5) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/net-zero-strategy