If you are still trying to manage your fleet the old-school way, with most things being done with pen and paper, you are living in the past. By switching over to fleet management software, you can exponentially increase the efficiency of your business. However, you might be leery to switch because you don’t know what to look for. Here is what you will want to consider when looking for fleet management software.
Easy to Use
No matter how powerful the fleet management software that you are considering claims to be if it is not easy to use you will simply drift away from using it. The platform should allow you to focus on growing your business instead of constantly trying to figure out how to use it. One way to really ensure that ease of use is in your future is to bulk upload your VIN numbers to the system. From there, you will have access to a ton of specifications related to those numbers.
Web-Based
Instead of installing the software on computers at your location, it is much easier to go with a cloud-based system. You can simply create and register your account and then proceed with using the software. Live customer support is usually included with such software platforms as well. The best management software will also have on-demand educational and training videos to help get you started.
Sleek and Mobile
Since your fleet is mobile, it only makes sense that your fleet software should be mobile as well. Manual tracking on paper simply cannot give real-time updates as a digital platform can. By using software, you can collaborate with many members of your company, including your drivers, to make critical and time-sensitive decisions. Being proactive means that you can add to your bottom line while avoiding unnecessary losses caused by ill-timed decisions.
Easy to Scale
Not every fleet is the same size so there is absolutely no reason that software needs to only work with one size of the fleet. The software platform that you choose should be completely scalable so that it can grow as your company does. Another benefit of scalability is that you can pay for just what you need instead of paying for packages that are either not quite enough or a little too much.
Integration
Even if a fleet is not currently using management software, they are almost certainly using some form of technology to help you streamline, even if that technology is rudimentary at best. When you finally implement management software, you are increasing the integration possibilities by allowing all technology to be monitored in one central location. You can even use it to form external repair tickets and other maintenance-related issues.
Reporting
The ability to analyze virtually any report generated is often cited as one of the most useful benefits of implementing fleet management software. Instead of relying on physical spreadsheets to report to shareholders, everything can be automated via the software and produced on demand for anyone who needs to know the specifics of the business.