To be able to get a better perspective on what factors you should keep in mind before selecting a fleet management software, let us first understand what a fleet management software entails and how it can be used.
What Is Fleet Management Software?
Fleet management software is a central information system that is used by companies to monitor, manage, and coordinate an organization’s fleet. As a software, it helps the company become more efficient, operation, and cost-wise.
Fleet management software usually allows you to know things such as exactly where your vehicles are by updating you on the position of your vehicles by monitoring the GPS tracking device in each vehicle.
This software is a great tool to have in your belt if you are a fleet manager. Whether you are a part of a small business or something significantly larger, making the switch from manual managing of your fleet to software is highly advisable.
What To Consider When Choosing Fleet Management Software?
Fleet management software is a technology that is constantly evolving over time. In the last few years, more fleet managers have begun to realize the advantages of using fleet management software.
Before you choose your software, it is necessary for you to understand the current operations, what you think you are lacking, and which parts of these processes you want to improve.
You have to choose software that allows you as a fleet manager, to adjust the features and functions of it to suit you specifically. You should be able to take full advantage of the tools and make it work for you, and the software should be more helpful than hindering your process.
Listed below are a few things you should keep in mind while selecting the best fleet management software:
1. User-friendly Interface
When you make the shift to a fleet management software from a manual method or when you shift to better management software, one of the first things you should look at is the ease with which you can navigate the new software.
Most fleet management software that you find in the market is fairly easy to navigate. However, in the case that you have doubts, you should be able to reach out to a support system that can help you figure out your concerns.
2. Mobility
In the digital age that pervades today, it is important for your fleet management software to be as mobile as your processes are. Since your fleet will always be on the go, you should be able to navigate and coordinate it on the go as well.
One of the things you should see if your fleet management software accommodates is an application for your mobile phone. This way, you will be able to keep track of your fleet at all times, irrespective of whether you are at your desk or away.
An app-based software will also allow your fleet members to update their details instantly, ensuring that everyone is on the same page at the same time. This also reduces the risk of miscommunication or missing out of details that could come with paper trails.
3. Scalability
Depending on the size of your company and your main tasks, the number of vehicles that form your fleet could vary. Whether you have to manage ten vehicles or a hundred, the software you use should allow you to scale your operations.
This is especially in the case that you later decide to widen your operations and increase your range of functioning. If this happens, you do not want to have to switch to entirely new software.
Choosing a software that leaves room for scalability, in the beginning, is a good way to prepare yourself for the future as well.
4. Ease of Integration
In order to keep a check on all of your operations, you probably use some software to track things such as fuel cards, repairs of the vehicles, and so on. It would, however, be easier if you could just have all of this integrated into your fleet management software.
You can find fleet management software that allows you to integrate things such as IFTA along with details of your repairs, vehicle services, and so on.
5. Report Construction
One of the main things you have to do as a fleet manager is to compile reports both for your company as well as the stakeholders. If you are doing it manually, you will have a tedious task ahead of you.
The ideal fleet management software will not only give you access to your data instantly but also allow you to get your reports made with ease. Some softwares allow you to ask for specific reports that you can subscribe to.
With this as an option, you can get tailor-made reports for your stakeholders that you can easily export into a PDF format. Reports that are so simply constructed will also enable you to analyze your data and streamline your processes more efficiently.
6. Performance Analysis
In order for your fleet to work at its optimum level, you should be able to continuously monitor and evaluate the performance of it on different parameters.
Some performance metrics you should consider when making your evaluation are asset utilization, service history, and fuel trends. Fleet management software allows you to view these metrics in real-time and make adjustments accordingly.
The points mentioned above are a few key criteria that you should keep in mind when you are in the process of choosing a fleet management software. This will help you choose the best fit for yourself and your company.
At a time when almost all the information we look for is at our fingertips, a simple search on the internet will give you a list of the fleet management software that is available near you.
To Conclude,
One of the best fleet management software out there is Samsara. There are several tools and functions that you can use to your advantage. This company allows you to leverage AI technology and dash cams to manage your fleet.
With over ten thousand customers all over the world, and two hundred thousand devices released every year, this company is one of the top fleet management software companies you can find.