April 2023

April 12, 2023April 12, 2023

IPWEA Fleet Conference 2023: Industry Education and Networking in a Post-COVID World

It’s the most exciting time to be involved in fleet. So many things are changing, and you
can only know some things. You need to learn from your peers. You need to learn from
the people who have gone first, whether it’s electric vehicles, the chain of responsibility,
or telematics.”
Marc Sibbald, Director IPWEA Fleet

The Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia (IPWEA) Fleet Conference 2023,
led by Director Marc Sibbald for the first time, achieved tremendous success, breaking
records for the number of exhibitors and participants. The conference, held without
COVID-related travel restrictions or concerns, aimed to reestablish IPWEA’s
significance as a significant educator and resource provider in the fleet industry.

Sibbald emphasised that the conference’s primary goal was to remind attendees of the
resources and networking opportunities available through IPWEA membership. He
explained that the organisation’s primary purpose is education, providing fleet managers
with resources such as the plant and vehicle management manual, a whole-of-life cost
calculator and a range of face-to-face workshops.

The conference’s program was praised for its strong and diverse lineup of speakers and
sessions, covering more than just electric vehicles. With a focus on chain of
responsibility, people management, technical workshop management, and the use of
technology to improve efficiency, Sibbald believes the key takeaway from the event was
that there is much more to fleet management than just electric vehicles.

The conference introduced the concept of the “Four Dimensions of Fleet Management,”
which resonated with attendees. These dimensions include technical, people,
technology, and strategy – all crucial components of successful fleet management.
Sibbald also acknowledged the need for more diversity and gender equality in the
industry, noting the increasing number of women entering the field. The audience
reflected this shift, and he hopes to encourage even greater diversity at future events.

The conference adopted a unique approach to facilitate networking, splitting attendees
into different sessions and forcing them to interact with new people, sparking thought-

provoking conversations. This strategy proved successful in connecting participants with
industry decision-makers.

As for future trends in fleet management, Sibbald predicts that technology will play an
increasingly important role in fleet optimisation and cost reduction. Particularly in fleet
optimisation:

 Utilising technology to understand fleet utilisation.
 Rethinking the number of vehicles needed in a fleet.
 Reducing running costs.

He anticipates that next year’s conference will feature more case studies on electric
vehicles, charging infrastructure, and GPS technology, as more organisations embrace
these innovations.

Joining IPWEA is essential for industry professionals who wish to stay current on the
latest trends and learn from their peers. With the rapidly changing landscape of fleet
management, staying connected and informed through IPWEA membership is more
important than ever.

The IPWEA Fleet Management Training Days are designed explicitly for fleet
practitioners, coordinators, and managers like you.

Discover the Power of Collaboration at IPWEA Fleet Management Training Days

Fleet Management Training Days
The IPWEA Fleet Management Training Day is an opportunity for fleet practitioners,
coordinators and managers to get together and learn from each other to solve common
issues or share tips on managing challenging projects.

See Dates & Venues

Find out more about Formbird FLEET

April 5, 2023April 6, 2023

Top 10 Formbird FLEET Features to Revolutionise Your Fleet Management

“Fleet information management systems have become an essential tool for modern fleet managers. They help to reduce costs, improve operational efficiency, and enhance driver safety. By centralizing critical information, these systems enable companies to make data-driven decisions and streamline their operations.”
Jack Bergquist, Vice President at Gartner Research

Managing a fleet effectively can be challenging, but with the right tools, you can optimise your operations, improve driver safety, and streamline processes. Formbird FLEET is a comprehensive fleet management software (FMIS) with features to make your life easier. In this blog, we’ll explore the top 10 features of Formbird FLEET and how they can help you revolutionise your fleet management.

“Formbird FLEET is purpose-built to revolutionise fleet management, offering a comprehensive, user-friendly solution that streamlines processes and prioritises driver and asset safety.”
Mark Hosking, CEO and Founder of Formbird

Telematics and GPS

Formbird FLEET leverages cutting-edge telematics and GPS technology for accurate vehicle location tracking and utilization monitoring. This feature allows you to keep tabs on your fleet, ensure optimal usage of assets, and enhance overall efficiency.

Multi-device Compatibility

With full-function applications available on phones, tablets, and desktops, Formbird FLEET makes it easy to stay connected to your fleet from any device. Its mobile-first design ensures a seamless user experience, even on the go.

Driver Safety

Formbird FLEET prioritises driver safety with features such as speeding alerts, harsh braking and acceleration detection, reversing safety measures, and seat belt monitoring. By keeping track of driver behaviour, you can promote safer driving habits and reduce the risk of accidents.

Reporting and Dashboards

Extensive reporting capabilities and role-specific dashboards for asset managers, workshop supervisors, and mechanics provide a clear overview of your fleet’s performance. Customisable exports to Excel and user-defined formats make it easy to analyse and share data with your team.

Work Orders

Customisable work orders for various processes (service, repair, safety, etc.) allow you to manage staff activities, timesheets, and costings efficiently. This feature streamlines your operations and helps you maintain a well-organised workflow.

Accident Management

Formbird FLEET makes it easy to handle documentation and insurance claims in the unfortunate event of an accident. You can record details such as location, injuries, and police reports, ensuring a thorough and efficient accident management process.

Fuel Management

Formbird FLEET simplifies fuel management with features for managing fuel trucks and trailers for remote refuelling. This streamlines your organisational processes for fuel management and helps reduce fuel-related costs.

Risk Assessments

Creating unique risk assessment checklists and managing identified risks and resolutions at different stages (purchase, modification, etc.) ensures that your fleet operates safely and efficiently. This feature also helps you mitigate potential issues before they escalate.

External Hire Management

Keep track of hired equipment and usage with Formbird FLEET’s external hire management feature. This enables you to make cost-effective decisions on hiring vs. purchasing equipment and ensures your fleet is well-maintained and properly utilised.

Offline Capability

Formbird FLEET offers key offline functions, such as daily driver check sheets, perfect for remote locations without internet access. The software automatically syncs data when back online, ensuring seamless updates and accurate information.

Formbird FLEET’s top 10 features showcase the depth of functionality available for complex fleet management needs. With features prioritising driver safety, streamlining processes, and improving overall efficiency, Formbird FLEET is the ultimate solution for small and large organisations looking to revolutionise their fleet management. Experience the Formbird FLEET advantage and take your fleet to new heights of success.

April 3, 2023April 3, 2023

Unlocking the Future of Fleet Management: Embracing Fleet Information as the Key to Predictive Fleet Management

The fleet management industry is evolving rapidly, with new technology and electrification enabling a continuous stream of fleet vehicle data and communication. Fleet managers must adapt to this changing landscape and make data-driven decisions to improve efficiency, safety, and fleet performance. In this blog, we will discuss the journey from reactive to proactive fleet management and how understanding fleet information is the key to predicting the future of your fleet.

The Four States of Fleet Management Understanding: As a fleet business transitions from legacy technology and outdated methodologies, it typically moves through four discrete states that define how it understands its fleet:

Past State: Organisations start by understanding their vehicles from a historical perspective, relying on reports from multiple ad hoc systems.
Present State: As organisations digitise and capture more data in real-time, they move to an active state, but the overwhelming data can cause decision-making to become reactive. This state often results in too much information and communication noise, making it difficult for continuous improvement and questioning the way things are done. Automating mundane tasks is crucial to giving the team time to reflect on important issues.
Proactive State: As systems become data-rich, integrated, and automated, managers can predict what is likely to happen, allowing organisations to improve and anticipate future problems continuously. However, it is essential only to digitise past processes that benefit procedures and outcomes.
Future State: The fully operationalised fleet focuses on achieving specific outcomes, using data-driven workflows to drive results without being burdened by legacy practices. With automation handling mundane tasks, managers can focus on making informed decisions, and the team can fully understand the road ahead.

Moving from Reactive to Proactive Fleet Management: Transitioning from a reactive to a proactive fleet management approach requires automating mundane tasks and effectively utilising fleet information. By integrating data into an organisation’s business processes and leveraging predictive analytics, fleet managers can anticipate issues before they manifest and make informed decisions.

Transforming Information into Communication: An effective fleet management solution transforms information into communication. Modern fleet management software enables the analysis of vast amounts of data to uncover insights on improving fuel efficiency, productivity, safety, cost per kilometre, engine hour, and overall operational efficiency. This helps fleet managers identify behaviour patterns, prioritise critical faults, and predict potential issues before they materialise.

Predictive Fleet Management in Action: Predictive fleet management processes can prevent life-threatening situations and costly unscheduled repairs. For instance, one council we worked with had a paper-based system for end-of-day safety checks prone to human error. The council improved accountability and safety awareness by implementing Formbird FLEET, saving time and improving accuracy with GPS and real-time data entry.

The Importance of Great Fleet Information Management Solutions: Fleet information management solutions should be invisible and seamlessly integrated into an organisation’s everyday operations. Such software automates mundane back-office processes, allowing managers to focus on data-supported decision-making and communication. Additionally, excellent fleet software becomes a team’s single source of truth, informing everyone about what has happened, what is happening, and what might happen.

Embracing fleet information as the key to predicting the future of your fleet is essential for proactive fleet management. By integrating data-driven processes, leveraging predictive analytics, and implementing an excellent fleet information management solution, organisations can