Let’s Explore is just around the corner! This year, we’ll be focusing on the role of ‘Data Performance’ in fleet management, and beyond, at Mercedes-Benz World on September 12.
Be sure to book your place to hear insights from our key speakers and industry experts (apply for your place at Let’s Explore now).
And, on the subject of fleet data, here’s the second installment of our two part blog looking at the far-reaching role telematics data can play.
Cutting vehicle downtime with pre-emptive maintenance
Telematics systems can delve deep, reading engine diagnostics codes to warn fleet managers when a problem may be developing, enabling them to take a proactive approach to maintenance by calling vehicles in before major issues develop.
Where systems are integrated with leasing providers’ fleet management platforms, this process can even happen automatically, taking the burden off the fleet manager and driver. Moreover, vehicle data can be harmonised across multiple manufacturers.
Notifications can be automatically sent to leased fleet customers, telling them when routine maintenance tasks, such as an oil change, are required. These notifications can be based on either vehicle mileage or time intervals.
An 18-month study carried out by Bridgestone and Highways England found that almost three quarters of tyre failings could be potentially avoided with improved inspection and maintenance.
By digitising the tyre and wheel monitoring process, the risks of human error are significantly reduced, allowing issues to be more easily identified before they compromise driver safety or result in costly vehicle downtime.
Tyre pressure and temperature data, wheel nut torque and predictive tyre maintenance information from monitoring system TyreWatch, for example, has been integrated with WEBFLEET.
The system provides a continuous, real-time report on every tyre in a company’s fleet and alerts managers when a tyre is under-performing. In addition, using smart algorithms and Artificial Intelligence, it calculates a predicted time to tyre failure. Wheel sensors can also warn fleet managers when wheel nuts are starting to work loose.
Where utilised effectively, these tools can help to significantly reduce maintenance spend and vehicle-off-road (VOR) time.
Insights to boost sales performance
An underperforming sales force can prove extremely costly to businesses – but identifying where improvements should be made can be a time-consuming task.
Telematics data can be particularly helpful in monitoring the effectiveness of a sales team. In many cases it can act as an early warning system, enabling problem areas to be addressed before they become entrenched.
Insights, accessible to sales managers in straightforward dashboards or reports, can range from levels of appointments with customers and prospects to average appointment times.
Fleet management data can also be integrated with CRM systems. This allows trip data to be compared with opportunities, leads and closed deals, meaning the effectiveness of every individual sales rep to be analysed.
Making tax less taxing
Managing employees’ business mileage, expense claims and associated tax liabilities can be a laborious undertaking. Robust processes are essential, however, if businesses are to avoid falling foul of HMRC.
By detailing and providing evidence of exactly how many miles are travelled, by whom and when, telematics systems can help automate the administrative burden, improving accuracy and freeing up time for both drivers and back office HR and finance teams. In doing so, drivers’ mileage claims can also be validated.
Via their in-car driver terminals, or smartphones, drivers can clarify whether a journey is for private or business purposes.
Using an app such as Webfleet Logbook, drivers can also be given direct access to their individual journey logs to add further relevant details, either using a computer or mobile device, ensuring records are comprehensive. Detailed mileage expense reports can then be generated and exported directly into company accounts.
WANT SOME DEEPER DATA INSIGHTS? BE SURE TO BOOK YOUR PLACE FOR LET’S EXPLORE.