Technology—and your competitors’ use of it—doesn’t stand still.
To offer your customers top service, improve efficiency, and keep costs under control, you need to be able to deploy the fleet management system that offers the solutions you need. That could mean it’s time to find a new provider. The switch to a new fleet management system doesn’t have to be daunting, and it doesn’t have to mean weeks or months of disruption as you onboard new hardware and train drivers. By following this step-by-step guide, you’ll be better equipped to choose the right system for your business and migrate quickly and painlessly.
Assess Your Needs
What do you need your fleet management system to do? From tackling the basics like tracking vehicle location to using sophisticated AI-based cameras to provide real-time warnings for potentially distracted driving, fleet management systems come in many different shapes and sizes. To start, make a list of your current pain points and what you need from a new system to fix them. It’s important to involve all the stakeholders in your organization to get a comprehensive understanding of your needs. This way, you can choose a system that covers as many bases as possible.
Do Your Research
What kind of products and services do various fleet management providers offer? Are you most interested in the lowest price? Do you want a company that will work with you to troubleshoot any installation issues? Do you know what KPIs you want to track? Do you need a technology partner that will help you benchmark against other similar companies so you can expand your capabilities? Look for online reviews, request demos, or talk to other companies in your industry to get an idea of what system they use. Consider the system’s scalability and ease of use, as well as factors such as cost and training requirements. The goal is to find a system that will streamline your operations and improve your team’s efficiency—not just add a stack of new devices to install.
Build a Plan with a Timeline
For any migration, make sure you have a complete (and accurate) map of the steps necessary to switch to a new fleet management solution and share it widely inside your organization. You want to make sure any data migration and vehicle or crew downtime is built into the plan so you have plenty of time to account for any disruptions. Systems like GPS Trackit make migration easy because the vast majority of devices are plug-and-play, and the simple-to-configure dashboard gets your data collection and analysis up and running almost instantly. Most clients say they’re not only fully operational within a few days, but also seeing positive ROI by the end of the first month.
Train Your Drivers
Your drivers are the front line for your fleet management migration. Open communication about how and what you’re measuring and setting clear procedures and goals make it easier for everyone’s goals to be aligned. For example, some GPS Trackit clients use driver performance data as a scorecard for rewards. Drivers who improve their safety and efficiency earn financial bonuses. The system can also identify which drivers would benefit most from training to reduce risk and potential wear-and-tear on fleet vehicles.
One other thing to remember? You’re not in this alone. Use GPS Trackit’s online fleet assessment tool to learn more about ways you can improve your efficiency and cut costs, or schedule a free, personalized demo with one of our experienced Fleet Advisors today. Already a GPS Trackit customer? Use our referral program to share your experience with other fleet managers and earn up to $500 as an expression of our appreciation.
