Capital Equipment News August 2020

FLEET MANAGEMENT

Ctrack’s supporting software and BI platforms provide insight into fleet operations.

Fleet management post-COVID-19: the role of the solutions provider

In the months following the COVID-19 pandemic, fleet management can provide a way for fleet owners to get their vehicles back on track while growing the bottom line. Capital Equipment News approached a few players in this field for their take on the matter. By Mark Botha

N etstar CTO Francois Stols says his company’s statistics prior to and during the initial lock- down show that long haul and logistics carriers saw 70% or more of their fleets parked. By contrast, he says, essential service carriers such as food delivery companies saw an increase in mileage travelled. “Given this increased demand,” he says, “the route planning and delivery optimisation provided by fleet telematics services can assist essential services in meeting the demand.” He says, with the national lockdown being lifted gradually (at the time of writing), the more traditional carriers are again becoming active, but are still not operating at full strength.

“Optimum fleet operation is vital to ensure profitability under these conditions and the ability to use fleet telematics to save operating costs has become a driver of these systems.” MiX Telematics Africa’s fleet sales director Henry Smith agrees that fleet management solutions can provide improved efficiencies, better asset security and lowered risk. He says telematics data is used to implement changes that make fleets more productive, so saving time and money. “Fleet management solutions,” he says, “should address different business needs with regards to fleet and vehicle size, as well as specific industry requirements.” He says telematics solutions offer real- time visibility, showing fleet managers how their assets are being utilised.

“Premium solutions can be tailored to suit the operations’ efficiency, safety, security and compliance needs. Businesses using telematics data experience tangible results, such as considerable improvements in utilisation, efficiency and driver behaviour, resulting in lower costs and higher profit.” “To compound the issue,” says WesBank’s head, Fleet Maintenance & Leasing John Loxton, “we were already facing substantial headwinds in terms of the macro-economic climate in South Africa prior to the lockdown. So, if anything, fleet owners should now be exploring ways to reduce costs and preserve cash flow. “We apply our skills, knowledge and resources to reduce the costs associated with running a fleet.” He says the company’s balance sheet also enables fleet owners to sell

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