A blog by Mark Hosking, CEO, Formbird
Fleet management solutions come in all shapes and sizes. In my opinion, most of them have a single failing; they force your organisation to operate the way their application needs you to.
We take a different approach; we start by listening to what our customers want. The less we disrupt their existing processes, the more value we can deliver to the business. Once we know what the customer wants, we add flexibility because we know things will change.
From my experience, every organisation is distinct and has a different approach to getting things done. And every fleet has different needs and priorities. Some organisations fleet management processes have reached a level of “maturity” and size that they see the need to adopt an end-to-end management solution. Others have tried to implement a system that didn’t work out mainly because it didn’t cover our list’s features.
Eight Fleet Management App must-haves
1. End to end solution
Manage all components of a fleet asset’s lifecycle maintenance in one system bringing every element of fleet management under one “umbrella”—transition from a paper-based system to a fleet management app that everyone uses. Keeping everyone on the same page Managers / Mechanics / Admin / Operational staff / External Suppliers.
Fleet managers want one system to deal with.
2. Optimised Maintenance
Maintain the value of fleet and plant assets through timely preventative and corrective maintenance, management of warranty claims and maintenance history reports to support asset value at disposal.
Fleet managers want to save money with better care of their fleet.
3. Industry Standard Reporting
A suite of reporting tools and dashboards for management, administration, workshop and operations that manage workflow and provide analysis of fault identification for technicians and management. Notifications of overdue work orders, downtime and variance analysis.
Fleet managers want to know what’s happening on the ground and communicate within the team.
4. Parts and Consumable
Actively manage workshop stock items as well as ad-hoc purchases. Minimises mechanics administration time by connecting stores and workshops to facilitate the timely ordering of parts and consumables.
Fleet managers want people to do the job they do best.
5. Fuel Management
Fuel usage monitoring across the fleet to benchmark fuel consumption, assist with planning and detect anomalies.
Fleet managers can control expenses if they can monitor fuel use.
6. 10-year Replacement Progam and Risk-Based Approach
Adopt replacement planning using the proven risk-based replacement methodology and the conventional “10-year”. Fleet managers want to take fleet replacement policy beyond the simple metrics of consumption and financials.
Fleet managers need to know when to replace their fleet assets conscious of the risk to the business if that asset is not available.
7. Whole of life (WOL)Costing
Establish the use case for “whole of life” (WOL) costing to calculate plant hire rates and total cost of ownership accurately.
Fleet managers need to know the value of their assets and the total cost of ownership.
8. Safety, Time and location logging
Accurately record, daily driver check sheets, timesheets, location and plant utilisation. Make it easier for staff to record their activity and equipment use.
Fleet managers need to keep accurate records for work health and safety, particularly in light of changes to chain of responsibility legislation.
I know that loads more features could have made mention. Sometimes it’s better to keep things compact and always better to keep things simple. Maybe you have a suggestion, let me know, send me an email. mark.hosking@formbird.com
About Mark Hosking, Formbird’s CEO, has been building business applications since computers had floppy disks. Formbird makes modern, scalable business apps for Water utilities and Local Government, using rapid development methodology on their low-code platform – Formbird.
