Overcoming Fleet Challenges in a Post-Pandemic World with IoT
As the global COVID-19 pandemic took hold, hardly any aspect of life was spared from its effects. For businesses, many of them were forced to change up their processes so that they can survive in a world where many countries are under lockdown and international travel has been severely restricted. This is no different for the fleet management industry whereby companies have to strike a balance between keeping their employees safe and meet customer demands to remain profitable.
With the first wave winding down and the economy slowly reopening, the post-pandemic world – the ‘new normal’, has brought new challenges for fleet-based businesses to overcome. Fortunately, with a fleet management system that runs on the Internet of Things (IoT), fleet managers can navigate these obstacles successfully.
4 Fleet Challenges and How IoT Can Help in Overcoming Them
1. Changing customer demands
E-commerce and online shopping were already fast-growing industries before the pandemic and they have hit an all-time high this year. Service-based businesses such as food and grocery delivery and ride-hailing services have seen a spike in demand as well. As such, customers now expect timely deliveries as well as vehicle tracking so that they can monitor where their goods are. With telematics, real-time location data can be easily transmitted to consumers and ensure transparency.
2. Ensuring road safety
With more deliveries to be made, the number of vehicles on the road has increased and so has the risks of getting into accidents. Subsequently, a fleet management system allows businesses to engage in intelligent route planning by providing them with data on road conditions. That way, vehicles can travel less crowded routes and reach their destinations safely. As driver fatigue is one of the most common causes of road accidents, live tracking features will allow fleet managers to monitor driver behaviours so that they easily ensure safe road safety.
A vehicle tracking system is especially important for businesses that are transporting essential goods such as groceries and healthcare equipment. With car tracking devices attached to their fleet, businesses can receive real-time information about their goods to ensure that they reach their destinations in a timely manner and in good condition.
3. Setting new benchmarks
While it may seem like the pandemic is slowing down, the reality is that it is far from over and its end is uncertain. As such, the best way to prepare for an uncertain future is to have as much information as possible. That’s why telematics has been such a game-changer in fleet management. Not only does it provide live data on a wide variety of factors (fuel consumption, driver habits, distance travelled, vehicle conditions, etc.) in a readable format, but it also provides trend analysis and reports. This way, businesses receive comprehensive insights into their fleet performance, identify areas of improvement, and set new benchmarks.
4. Ensure safe environments
For goods that are environment-sensitive and need to be transported – e.g. meat, vegetables, and some types of healthcare equipment, businesses will have to ensure that their vehicles provide the right conditions throughout the entire journey. In this aspect, smart temperature monitoring offers a solution for such businesses. By providing live temperature updates, managers can make sure that the cargo is kept in ideal conditions and reach the destination intact.
Navigating The ‘New Normal’ with IoT
As these challenges have been present in the fleet management industry even before this year, the pandemic has provided a bigger impetus to resolve them. With the Internet of Things slowly becoming an integral feature of the future, businesses that fail to adapt may risk losing out to their competitors. The economy being in recovery right now is the best time for fleet-based businesses to revisit their existing processes, reduce inefficiencies, and develop new guidelines so that they can thrive in the post-pandemic world. IoT solutions can help businesses do all of that and enable them to move away from reactive measures to proactive ones.
Contact us today to find out how Overdrive’s fleet management system can help your business!
