They are the lifeblood of customer service and job management. Trucks for a courier company to transport packages, plumbers with a fleet of vans servicing work orders or an agriculture company with multiple tractors already own every single kilometre they travel from start to finish.
As customers seek to add more efficiencies, they’re looking for interconnected service providers like Radius, which can service all fuel cards, telematics, vehicle leasing, EV charging solutions, and telecommunications within a single solution. Rather than using multiple different suppliers for different areas of functionality and communications, customers can instead unify disparate systems into a centralised solution for streamlined resource management.
Small inefficiencies add up
The time theft and consequent productivity loss that exacts the heaviest toll on whole fleets can also often be the most difficult to detect. A single vehicle parked for an extra few minutes when it could have been performing other revenue-generating work, a fractional deviation in mandated routing, a missed appointment for a repair. If many vehicles are performing work at a given time, then tiny etches on the balance sheet can swiftly add up, needlessly shaving off multiple thousands of dollars per year. Thousands that were generated, but that are no longer available to flow as revenue to profit and loss.
Then there’s the matter of downtime. A single breakdown and the entire day’s delivery or service appointments can come crashing to a halt. And amidst the noise, so too can the company’s previously solid reputation. But it’s the wise reaches of any enterprise’s team that know it’s hard to put out all these fires when they just keep on igniting. The best course is to prevent the fires from igniting in the first place.
With real-time data about the status of each vehicle, when it was last serviced, how it has been used, and how the driver has operated it, modern fleet managers can streamline their operations, minimize expense, and make informed, proactive decisions.
Data that supports better decisions
Good decisions need good data. With fleet technology, today’s businesses get a much better view of how their vehicles are being used to provide good scheduling, cut fuel wastage, and use resources efficiently.
And it also helps them keep the office and drivers in sync. When everyone is working from the same data, drivers are more likely to stay on task, and fewer tasks fall through the cracks. And when an idea turns into expansion, the foundation is on solid ground, because decisions are made from a broad awareness of what’s already happening.
Why telematics matters
Telematics has emerged as one of the most impactful solutions available to fleet managers. Vehicle tracking, combined with operational data, allows companies to map out routes more accurately, incentivise safer driver behaviour, and schedule maintenance before repairs result in expensive downtime.
It’s a win-win for everyone. Commercial truck drivers can expect optimised routes, reduced wait time and a better maintenance schedule, which makes it less likely that they’ll be stranded roadside midway through an extended trip. The benefits for employers also trickle down to their customers, as companies take more defined steps to improve the predictability of delivery windows and increase their customer service levels
Looking ahead
Technology alone won’t create a successful business, but it will help people work more effectively. Businesses that have a greater insight into how their fleets operate can manage costs, control risk, and respond to the changing environment to support the efficient running of their business.
In an ever-changing Australian transport and logistics industry, connected supply chain operations have become a natural measure of running a successful business. The introduction of modern, effective digital tools today will mean your company is better prepared to face the challenges of the future, while ensuring your business is built on the foundations of efficiency and resilience.
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