Careful monitoring and management of their fleets is an important routine for a business. Fleet management includes a variety of tasks and responsibilities such as leasing and financing of vehicles, vehicle maintenance, monitoring and diagnosis, licenses and compliance, supply chain management, speed management, accident management, fuel management, driver management, vehicle health management, and safety management.
There are various advantages of hiring a fleet management service provider. Efficient fleet management allows companies to reduce costs, eliminate or minimize the risks associated, reduce the overall transportation and personnel costs, and ascertain 100% compliance with government legislation.
Since safety and efficiency of the vehicle is a crucial factor, it is critical to choose the right fleet management company for your business. Hiring an untrustworthy or unreliable service provider can lead to inefficient maintenance of the fleet, resulting in higher losses as well as inefficient functioning of the business as a whole.
Here are some crucial aspects that should be carefully analyzed and considered in the process of selecting the right service provider for your company!
Set a budget
Make sure you set a budget for your fleets to avoid choosing solutions with inflated prices or solutions that will become a liability. Ensure that the cost of fleet management service falls within your budget and your company is ready to pay for it.
It would be a good idea to figure out if the prospective fleet management company offers any payment plans or leasing options for their services. Ask for quotations from several fleet management companies; this will help you choose the right service provider for your budget.
Determine your business requirements
Fleet management concerns and challenges differ from business to business. Some companies may be looking for a solution to manage their fuel expenses, while others might be interested in fleet tracking and management.
For a business with a small fleet, a fleet management service that helps reduce operational costs may be a priority. On the other hand, for a business that operates with a large fleet, the priorities may include detailed vehicle diagnostics, including monitoring the engine temperature, stopover time, on-off time, fuel levels, idling, and a dedicated server for the storage of the data generated from vehicle diagnostics.
Hence, when looking to hire a fleet management service provider, it is vital to analyze the requirements of your business and look for a fleet management service that excels in the same.
Consider long-term goals
If you need a long-term partnership, it is important to have long-term fleet management goals. This will help determine if a particular fleet management company is able to meet your business needs.
Scalability and flexibility
Scalability, flexibility, and reliability are essential components of long-term business relationships and partnerships. The right fleet management service provider for your business should have enough flexibility to grow with your business and scale with shifts in your needs. They should be able to provide your business with the optimum support needed to grow. This will help in improving the productivity and efficiency of your business and result in increased returns.
Match the key features and services
Make a list of services you expect that your fleet will need. Additionally, list the type of vehicles in your existing inventory. Find out if the mechanics and technicians at the end of service provider have experience with similar vehicles. The prospective fleet management service should be able to handle the scope of services required by your company.
Quality User Interface and Cloud-based support
The user interface of a fleet management company’s website/app tells a lot about its efficiency. A high-quality interface will provide the ability to remotely monitor the fleet and help single out issues such as excessive idling. This will help save fuel and costs, and at the same time, stay connected and informed about efficiency of your operations.
Insurance coverage
Another factor to ponder is the fleet management service provider’s insurance. Check what is covered and what’s not before hiring the service provider. Enquire if the company insurance provides cover for vandalized or stolen vehicles and damage to assets from fire hazard or natural disaster.
Parts and labor policy
You should ask for details about the parts and labor policies of the fleet management company. This will tell you if they provide warrantee on their parts and services.
Customer service and responsiveness
The basis of a successful fleet management partnership is the communication between the two parties. A professional fleet management provider should maintain an open line of communication at all times.
When looking to outsource fleet management, you should ensure that the service provider is responsive and that you have multiple ways of contacting them. Ask if they can provide you with an account manager or a main point of contact to handle your communication regarding the fleet.
Additionally, they should guide you on using their platform to track your fleets in real time. They should also be able to provide real-time updates with the software and latest technologies in their operations.
References or testimonials
An efficient and well-performing fleet management company should have a strong reputation. Ask the service provider if they can provide some testimonials, references, or contacts of their previous clients to check on the quality of their service and the experience. Checking third-party reviews will give you an accurate estimation of their work and their level of experience.
Turnaround time for maintenance services
Vehicles down for maintenance can hamper your workflow and productivity, and often result in losses. Ask them to suggest the exact turnaround time for fixing the common fleet management issues.
Automotive parts backup
The fleet management company should also have a decent stick of automotive spare parts in their facility. This is something in favor of your business. With spare parts in their ownership, they would b able to provide repairs in time.
It is vital to remember that the process of finding and selecting the right fleet management company may take some time and effort.
Vehpal Frame is a powerful fleet maintenance platform that works to bring world-class fleet maintenance solutions to its clients at incredibly competitive prices. We integrate the power of Fleet IoT to track, manage, and analyze the fleet maintenance cost and increase the return on investment of your assets. With integrated fleet management solutions carried out by certified experts across a diversity of vehicles and an efficient and communicative user interface, Vehpal Frame aims to become an ally and work together to help you transform your business for a better future.
Book a free consultation at vehpal to explore our range of effective solutions for efficient fleet management.
