It’s a busy Friday morning, and your field service business is already at full speed. Calls are pouring in for urgent repairs, your technicians are trying to figure out hand-written addresses, and one of your vans just broke down—again. You’re not using Where is fleet management software
This magnificent piece of modern technology is just what your repair company, plumbing service, locksmith business, or appliance repair team needs to deliver, quite literally great service.
As a former logistics manager, I understand that managing a vehicle fleet has its challenges. While I was transporting shipping containers, as a field service business you have to get to a customer fast – because an electric fault for example, can get a customer really frustrated.
The logistics operations in your company can be made a lot easier with fleet management software. Let me show you why.
3 Common problems: Work without fleet management software
As a field service business, your team is like a knight in shining armor, saving a customer’s day from pure disaster.
But let’s look closely at some common problems your company may face while trying to be this valiant knight.
Unpredictable vehicle downtime
You may be asking yourself the question of “Why now?” when one of your vehicles breaks down while travelling to a job.
Imagine you had a day all scheduled down to every detail, there are 10 customers who need repairs done.
A vehicle breaks down, sending your whole job list for the day up in smoke, well, maybe not smoke, but the customers may be fuming.
Fleet management software can help reduce maintenance costs by preventing unexpected breakdowns.
Inefficient routes
Imagine a plumber driving across town to fix a leak. The plumber likes taking the I50 route because he passes his favorite coffee shop. This particular route is also known for constant road works.
Your plumber is slowed down by this route and is late for call-outs.
Poor route planning leads to wasted fuel, time, and missed opportunities. Monitoring driver behavior can help optimize routes and improve efficiency.
Limited visibility
Do you find yourself calling a technician to check if they’re stuck in traffic or, worse, at the wrong address?
Without real-time tracking, it’s like flying blind. Improved visibility through fleet management software can help identify cost-saving opportunities by automating tasks and enhancing collaboration.
How can fleet management software help my business?
As an experienced logistics manager, I can tell you that a fleet management solution can improve your service operations.
Here’s how:
Route optimization puts you on the fastest road
In the field service you will know, getting to an emergency repair or installation needs to be done in the quickest time. That’s where the route optimization feature comes into play.
- Fleet management software automatically chooses your best route.
- Schedules trips by distance and job priority.
- Helps you avoid traffic and get to a customer on time.
Key performance indicators (KPIs) can be used to measure the effectiveness of route optimization, including metrics such as budget adherence, fuel expenses, and driver behavior.
Real-time tracking gives your customers control
Picture this: Your electrical service gets a call from a guesthouse customer. The power is out and you have guests arriving later in the day.
You dispatch an electrician. Real-time tracking allows the customer to know exactly where the serviceman is.
So the customer stays informed until the electrician arrives at their door. Real-time tracking also improves fleet operation by providing up-to-date information on vehicle locations and statuses, helping fleet managers optimize their operations.
Fleet maintenance is made easier
You may manage a field service vehicle fleet of five or 50 – fleet management software can help your business stay on top of routine vehicle maintenance.
- Receive alerts when maintenance needs to be done.
- Software tracks vehicle mileage.
About the author
Sharl is a qualified journalist. He has over 10 years’ experience in the media industry, including positions as an editor of a magazine and Business Editor of a daily newspaper. Sharl also has experience in logistics specifically operations, where he worked with global food aid organisations distributing food into Africa. Sharl enjoys writing business stories and human interest pieces.
