The future of fleet management

The automotive industry is racing towards revolution at great speed, as technology and fleet management models have evolved, promising driving changes for fleet managers.

The automotive industry is going through continuous changes, brought on by external factors that change the way businesses approach fleet management and their drivers. With advancement in technology and human mobility pushing the advancement, enterprises will see a massive amount of adoption of new tools and fresh ideas in the coming years.

ABI Research indicates that AR technology will redefine the experience of driving through deeper situational awareness around a vehicle by providing relevant information to drivers, like signalling when there are obstacles in the roadway and creating safer roads.

New features like using the windshield as a screen to display obstacles or show traffic alerts may also be released. A speedometer could be shown on the windshield to stop the driver from having to look down to check speed and engine data. An on-screen heads-up display with colour coded indicators could be integrated, to let a driver know about entry into a red, yellow or green zone, making it easier for a driver to respond quickly and regulate speed.

Let’s take a deeper look at how autonomy, connectivity, electrification and sharing will bring about a revolution to fleet management and the role of fleet managers.

1. Autonomy

Self-driving cars are yet to be released but they are surely coming. In fact, they are already out but only in the form of autopilot settings. Many cars are straddled with the latest technology which is designed to scan the road ahead and alert the driver to avoid collisions. This is not limited to only the big or high spec brands but has also penetrated deeper into the mass market.

The indication of this technology for fleets is clear. The more advanced the driving technology becomes, the lesser the chances are of human error. Getting autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicles should improve enterprise fleet safety and reduce the costs of any claims. Collisions may even become a thing of the past.

As technology advances ever more rapidly, there are a lot of questions that are yet to be answered. Will driverless vehicles be really expensive? Will the reduced risk reduce the cost of insurance as well? Will national regulations accommodate such technologies?

Whatever the answers might be to these questions, one thing is clear that corporate fleets will be found at the forefront of adaptation and adoption.

2. Connectivity

Telematics is steadily progressing the automobile industry towards entirely connected vehicles. Aspects like tracking speeds, locations and risky behaviour such as harsh braking or sudden acceleration, can be communicated to a management suite. Such datasets can feed analytics that are predictive and can provide driver feedback. The outcome will be increased safety, capability and compliance.

Additionally, corporate fleet managers can begin safety training programs with data that is uniquely moulded for individual drivers. Telematics can also help track the working hours and miles driven by every single employee, thus lessening the burden on individuals, especially field personnel. Productivity can be increased through apps that can be deployed through mobile phones.

3. Electrification

Electric vehicles are already in the market and have been used by people for decades but never in the past have they been available so widely, in so many markets. Worldwide, the increase of electric cars has been noted by announcements from governments and manufacturers, all specifying a shift away from diesel-powered and gasoline vehicles.

Manufacturers have committed to placing electric motors in a variety of cars across brands. At the government level, Norway announced fossil fuelled vehicles to be banned from its roads by 2025. With the intense focus on climate change, it is likely that a majority of countries may regulate in a similar manner.

4. Sharing

The model of car sharing has evolved to highly efficient, paperless and automated systems. Due to the growing popularity of the shared fleets, companies which provide such service are now offering systems that access cars through smartphones for pickup and return of vehicles. These emerging solutions are appreciated by large companies looking at maximizing their fleet utilization.

Ride sharing reduces the need for companies to assign a vehicle to individual employees. They can now save money by leasing fewer vehicles which can be shared among a number of employees, whenever needed. All an employee has to do is to make sure a checked-out vehicle is returned to a facility, to get them cleaned and serviced. If managed properly, shared lease cars can comprise a large portion of an organization’s fleet management plan.

The fleet industry is growing at a rapid pace and fleet managers might be at risk of being left behind if they don’t closely monitor and adapt to the swift changes.