For companies with fleets operating worldwide, using data is indispensable for optimizing fleet performance. The importance of making the right operational and strategic decisions regarding fleet management issues such as environmental care, driver wellbeing, and economic growth is increasing. Having relevant data is invaluable in this respect. We asked international fleet managers how telematics helps link data to the most important fleet management issues.
Using data to care for the environment
Sustainability legislation has forced companies to implement an increasing number of measures in order to comply with those regulations now and in the future. In addition, with the right focus on sustainability, you can make a positive impact on your environment, which will also boost your image. The electrification of vehicle fleets is a top priority for many companies that would like to become more sustainable. Optimizing drivers’ driving behaviour also has a major impact on reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. The application of telematics is becoming increasingly important to shaping a successful sustainability strategy.
For HelloFresh, a large meal kit delivery service in Europe, implementing telematics was crucial in successfully transitioning to an electric fleet. ‘Over the past five years, we have extensively tested built-in telematics solutions to select the best electric vehicles for our services,’ Arnold Massop, Senior Fleet & Facility Manager Benelux at HelloFresh explains. ‘A sufficient vehicle range was essential to our logistics process and therefore one of the most important criteria during the pilot period.’
Increasing your drivers’ social wellbeing
Improving your drivers’ driving behaviour has a direct impact on their safety. In addition, the environment in which they drive also becomes safer and, because your drivers are setting a good example, that helps to create and support a positive brand experience. Within fleet management, drivers’ mental health is also receiving increasing attention. Working long hours, driving the same route over and over, and meeting tight delivery deadlines can have a major impact on a driver’s mental state. Telematics is the best way to improve drivers’ driving behaviour and at the same time monitor alertness with efficient route planning.
Safety is also a top priority at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), which operates a global fleet of approximately 17,000 vehicles. ‘Safety is an absolute top priority,’ says Alexander Merkel, Area Fleet and Travel Manager at LSD. ‘On average, our telematics solutions save the lives of 2 or 3 of our drivers in the United States and Canada every year. As an organisation, you cannot afford to not invest in technology that saves lives. An important indicator of increased safety is that, with telematics alone, we have had 30% fewer speeding violations.’
“It is our responsibility to invest in technology that has been proven to save lives.”
Alexander Merkel, Area Fleet and Travel Manager LDS
Focus on economic growth
Integrated telematics solutions can optimize the often-high operational costs of your fleet in various ways. Fuel consumption, preventive maintenance, and constant monitoring of the performance of individual vehicle parts are essential to controlling costs. Linking telematics to third-party information, such as traffic information and the weather, can also contribute to a more efficient logistics process and thus significant cost savings.
Klaus Böckers, Vice President Nordics, Central & Eastern Europe at Geotab, Moove’s partner in telematics solutions and global market leader in connected transportation solutions, provides us with a prime example. ‘One of our customers discovered that their vehicle batteries would occasionally break down, so they decided to replace the battery every 12 months on every one of their 50,000 fleet vehicles. That’s an incredibly costly operation. With Geotab solutions, the driver receives an alert showing how much energy the battery has left and the chances of a breakdown. Instead of replacing all the batteries, they can schedule a replacement as soon as they receive an alert. Through data monitoring, preventive maintenance has become a mainstay of their fleet management operations, and they were able to realise a drastic reduction in costs.’
Would you like to learn more about how you can successfully link telematics to your most important fleet management issues in order to further optimize your global fleet performance? Download our e-book and read more real-life examples and gain insight into the data that support the successful applications of telematics.
