Key Takeaways
Fleet management is nothing if not versatile - but the company that you choose to partner with on a solution is almost as important to your success as the platform itself. When it comes to choosing a Fleet Management Provider there are a few important requirements you should take into consideration. Included within these key considerations are the experience, customer- centric approach, support, product development, stability, and the standards of a potential Fleet Management provider. After all, you're not just selecting a vendor, you're selecting a partner through your digital transformation.
How to choose a Fleet Management Provider
At its core, fleet management software provides a customisable tool that uses GPS technology and artificial intelligence, among other features, to help businesses track and view real-time insight into the current location, status, performance, and maintenance of fleet assets and their drivers/operators. One of the most important things to understand when researching suppliers is the company behind the software. When comparing solutions it is important to ask questions about the company and ensure that they offer the support needed to make your implementation a success.
Below is what you need to look for when choosing a Fleet Management provider:
Fleet Management Provider Requirements
Experience with Fleet Management
One of the most important qualities to look for in a fleet management partner is the experience the provider brings with it.
- How long has the provider been in existence?
- Does the provider have a proven track record in the industry?
- What about brand recognition?
Not only that, but any provider you explore should be experts in your industry as well. That includes an enthusiastic willingness to provide references of other, similar organisations that you can talk to, for example. They should also provide case studies and other supporting documentation to help prove that they're able to provide the level of service that they claim they can.
A Customer-Centric Approach
Another important quality to look for in a fleet management provider comes by way of a customer-centric approach to their operations. They shouldn't be forcing you to change the way you work to make up for the limitations in their software - they should provide you with a customisable solution that plays to the strengths that make you unique.
This means prioritising a true "listen first" approach – be weary of a one-size-fits-all system. Ensure the GPS provider understands your specific needs and why they matter. This willingness to listen and understand your needs prior to the delivery of the solution is the sign of a true partner, as opposed to a third party who is simply trying to sell you something.
Software Support
Your fleet management partner should offer a support structure that makes sure help is available when you need it the most. This includes but is not limited to 24/7/365 support coverage, customer success teams, training for drivers that may be necessary, professional services and more. All of this should be done to help guarantee that you get the most out of your investment as quickly as possible.
Product Development
Fleet management companies should also focus on the idea of continuous improvement - meaning that they should be working on making their solution better all the time. That means looking for a company with a heavy emphasis on research and development investment. You should fully understand their development cycles ahead of time, including when new features and product improvements will be delivered.
Platform Stability
Of course, none of this will matter if your own company outlasts your fleet management provider - which is why you also need to make platform stability a priority. Pay attention to companies with a focus on longevity in the market, along with the financial stability needed to continue to support you for years to come. This is also true when it comes to updates - ensuring that the provider is able to perform updates to the telematics devices over the air with limited to no down time to your business is important.
Service Standards
Finally, you need to pay close attention to the types of standards that a fleet management company puts on display. Make it a priority to only work with those vendors who can demonstrate a strong commitment to the factors that matter most, like customer service. Sustainable procurement and even cybersecurity should also be top priorities. All of this will help guarantee that you've found more than just another service provider - you've found a true partner in every sense of the term
Value Added Solutions
Fleet management starts with monitoring and management of assets, but that may not be all you require. A robust provider is able to provide a list of available integrations that can meet your needs in other areas of your business together into the one platform.
Learn More
To learn more about what qualities you should be looking for when choosing a fleet management company partner, or to speak to a team of professionals about your own needs in a bit more detail, please don't hesitate to contact Teletrac Navman today.