Finding the Right Fleet Management Solution for Your Business:
The Questions to Ask
While it’s easy to focus on price as the main reason to select one fleet management solution over another, there’s a lot more to it than that. This is a solution that can help take your business to the next level, so it’s important to find a provider that can trust and work with both now and in the future. Anyone can be a business provider — instead, look for a business partner. By asking the right questions, you can find the right solution to fit not only your budget but also your business. Before you prepare to sign on the dotted line, it’s important that you find out the contract and cost-related questions about your potential new fleet management solution.
Prepare to sign on the Dotted Line: Contract and Cost-Related Questions
What are your contract terms?
Depending on the solution provider you’re looking at, there may be a contract involved should you decide to partner with them for your fleet management solution. While there are many reasons for this, getting your service on a contract basis essentially locks you in for the full term of the contract, typically with hefty fees to get out of it should it not work for you. Find out exactly what the contract terms are before you sign on the dotted line, including get-out clauses and money-back guarantees.
Going with a provider on a no-contract basis is generally a better bet for your business. A great solution provider won’t mind earning your business every month, and should you find yourself in a situation where it’s not working for you, you can easily walk away. No contract service essentially minimizes the financial risk to you and your business.
What is included in my solution?
When you’re ready to select your solution, it’s important to know what’s included in the price. Here’s a quick checklist of some of the things you may want to confirm are included in your solution package:
- Hardware. Your GPS tracking and fleet management solution will require hardware for all of your fleet vehicles.
- Training. In order to get the most out of your new solution, you’ll have to know how to use it. Does the company provide training free of charge? Do they offer free training for new employees or refresher courses?
- Support. Though many don’t, some GPS tracking and fleet management providers may provide you with a support line that charges by the minute. This could really rack up your costs, particularly when you need help the most.
What kind of ROI can I expect?
When you’re investing in a new solution, it’s important to see a return on that investment. This return can be measured in a variety of ways, from financial savings to increased productivity and efficiency. Look for examples of how other companies like yours are seeing ROI with particular systems — the provider should be able to give you specific examples, or improvements that their customers typically see. Additionally, try using an online ROI calculator to get a feel for how a GPS tracking and fleet management solution could help you.
Will this solution eventually pay for itself?
Once you’ve run the numbers, it’s easy to see how implementing a fleet management solution can help you save money, time and effort. These savings add up to increasing your accounting’s profit column. After using GPS Trackit’s ROI Calculator, take a look at your estimated total annual savings. More often than not, you’ll see that the low monthly cost of a fleet management solution is far outweighed by the average savings you can expect to see.
One of the best ways to get started is to take GPS Trackit’s Fleet Assessment — a hassle-free, online assessment tool that will help you get an understanding of what your business needs and where to start.
Are you ready to get started exploring a new GPS tracking and fleet management solution? Get started today by taking our free, online fleet assessment or speak to one of our friendly Fleet Advisors who will be happy to walk you through a demo or answer your questions.
