We urgently need a software system to manage our fleet more effectively. How can I justify this expenditure to our directors?
The company fleet is usually the second largest cost a company faces after salaries and while nobody suggests that payroll systems should be run manually, we often see companies without any automated ways of managing their fleet.
Modern fleet management systems provide the end user with greater control over all aspects of fleet operation. For example, they can provide quotations and locate vehicles online through supplying dealerships or leasing companies, thus helping control the acquisition process. They also provide the means to thoroughly monitor all running costs including fuel, which represents a substantial proportion of total costs.
They can also manage duty of care responsibilities and provide a driver management system to identify those drivers most at risk. A typical system allows complete driver records to be kept and readily identifies those drivers requiring some form of intervention.
The best systems provide management by exception reporting, flagging up those exceptions that require management action, thus helping avoid information overload. To help smooth out corporate cash flows, they typically require no initial up-front payment, just regular monthly payments which clearly help the budgeting process. Given the complexity of modern fleet management, the question isn’t ‘how can we afford to have a fleet management system’, but ‘how can we afford not to?’
