Fleet Management Software: The Gripes of Fleet Managers

The Gripes of Fleet Managers

Fleet managers work tirelessly to help their businesses grow and make sure their drivers are performing at their best and safest--and since the fleet industry has been growing at a rapid rate since 2010, it appears their hard work is paying off.

However, fleet managers still have quite a bit to gripe about. In this blog, the fleet management software professionals at Skypatrol will discuss some of the problems fleet managers face when it comes to their fleet management software systems. Fleet managers drive the industry forward--with their insights, fleet management software companies can work to better assist their customers and make better products in the future.

Data isn’t easily manipulated or organized.

Data can tell stories of the past and determine actions in the future--it’s an excellent asset that can help fleet managers improve their businesses. However, data without context or organization is just a bunch of numbers. Fleet managers must be able to make sense of data by sorting it, organizing it, manipulating it, and turning it into visuals in order to recognize patterns and make data-driven decisions. Organization of data leads to action--and that’s what makes businesses of any kind better.

Unfortunately, many fleet management systems are behind the curve compared to other business data collection systems--they lack simple organizational tools as well as ways to present data in a visually appealing and understandable manner. Charts, graphs, and other visuals can make otherwise disparate data come to life, and help visual learners identify patterns that might not be identified in a spreadsheet-style table of numbers. But if fleet management systems can’t deliver this type of visual data organization, they won’t be doing their part in helping fleet businesses reach their full potential.

Fleet management systems aren’t mobile friendly.

Fleet managers lead busy and active lives. They’re constantly making spur-of-the-moment decisions, delegating tasks, and evaluating the efficiency and profitability of their businesses. This isn’t a job where you can be glued to your desk for long periods of time--you’re constantly moving from the office to the garage to the mechanic and back again.

This is where fleet software and GPS tracking solutions often fail fleet managers: these platforms just aren’t mobile-friendly or accessible on the go.

The best fleet management systems allow managers to make data-driven decisions that improve the efficiency and profitability of their businesses--no matter where they’re located. This hasn’t been a huge priority of fleet management system companies in the past--but it’s becoming the primary way that fleet managers access fleet data, traffic updates, and finances in a mobile-centric world.

Safety isn’t always the highest priority.

The safety of fleet drivers is the highest priority of fleet managers. But is it the highest priority of fleet management software systems? Many fleet management programs are hyperfocused on business efficiency and vehicle maintenance tools specifically, but they rarely offer tools that can record, analyze, and most importantly, incentivize safe driving habits.

By taking advantage of GPS tracking solutions, the best fleet management software can provide contextual data about driver habits--how fast they drive and how safely they maneuver on their routes, for example--and with an accessible, easy-to-use interface, fleet managers can use that data to coach their drivers on how to stay safe (and keep others safe) on the road.

The rest is up to the fleet manager--they can offer bonuses or paid time off for the safest drivers, or even set disciplinary guidelines for the drivers that need to be a bit more careful on the job. Whatever the case, it’s accessible data that makes it possible for fleet managers to evaluate the driving habits of their drivers--even when the manager is sitting in the comfort of the office.

Try Skypatrol’s Fleet Command Today

Fleet managers are only as effective as their fleet management systems. WIth the right tools, managers can increase business efficiency and profitability, and make sure their drivers are safe and reliable on the road.

That’s where Skypatrol’s Fleet Command can help. With advanced fleet management tools built into an easy-to-use interface powered by Verizon, fleet managers can spend less time griping and more time improving and growing their businesses. Schedule a demo of Fleet Command today.