The recession has hit the United Kingdom economy. It has affected a number of businesses and personal lives. Right now you might not want to think about spending more money, but you may actually find by spending a little money you can survive where the competition is failing. In times of trouble a business’s first answer is to cut back on operational and employment costs. They sacrifice great customer service in order to save money.
While for some businesses this might work, it usually does not work for fleet companies. You have to have enough trucks on the road to make the deliveries or service calls. You have to have the right amount of employees to handle the workload as many deliveries are based on specific time requirements. Instead of cutting back you have to find ways that you can save.
Vehicle tracking is one way to save money in your business. While it is true there are costs for vehicle tracking, you are also getting at least one benefit from installing the system. We’ll look at a couple of benefits that could have you saving on operational costs, which means you do not have to cut back on customer service.
Fuel to run your vehicles can cost you thousands of pounds a year. Did you know that there is a high percentage of fuel waste in fleet businesses? Most companies who have installed vehicle tracking devices have found that they can save ten percent or more on fuel. The main reason is that excessive idling will waste fuel, so when you find the drivers who are idling too much you can stop them. Speeding is another fuel waster, which can be addressed once you know which driver is responsible. Lastly, drivers who get lost or intentionally take the longer route can be stopped. Vehicle tracking equals lower fuel costs.
Mileage claims and time sheets are another area you can address to save on operational costs. A vehicle tracking system will provide you with accurate mileage and time sheet reports. You do not have to wait for the worker to fill things out. Many companies still allow for their workers to turn in paperwork, just in case of glitches, which do not happen often. It also gives you proof against the suspected issues. Most businesses have also saved about 10 percent of their revenue by comparing the mileage claims and time reports.
Communication is imperative in any situation. With fleets you want to know where the trucks are at all times. By knowing the answer you can tell the client a more accurate time frame for when the driver will arrive. You can also call the client if traffic or an accident slows the vehicle. Basically, you are able to track your fleet better offering intelligent responses to the client. Your drivers will also be in touch with you. If the driver is in an emergency, or if they are suspected of causing an accident, etc. the tracking system will help in those situations.