A Q&A with Santa, and Fleet Manager Mrs Claus, of North Pole Inc
Selecting the right fleet management software is a decision that will not only positively impact your daily operations, but it can also have a significant effect on the experience and service you provide to your customers. The right fleet management software should empower your organization with accurate data, robust messaging and communication features and functionalities that can help to improve your relationship with your customers by providing them with more transparency and the information they care about to meet their own business goals. The product portfolio from one provider to another can be different so it is imperative you determine which metrics matter most to you and your customers - using that analysis to make an informed decision about which fleet management software to move forward with.
On-time Delivery
Real-time tracking and messaging functionalities are pivotal in ensuring effective communication and the on-time delivery of your customers’ goods in order for them to meet their business objectives across a variety of sectors. Whether it is the delivery of perishable goods or the materials needed for a timely project, your customers rely on tracking and delivery information to fulfill forecasts, complete orders or projects and service their own customers efficiently and effectively.
If your fleet tracking software is providing inaccurate information, it can impact customer satisfaction levels and potentially lead to the loss of consistent business. Conversely, accurate data will go a long way to enhance the relationship with your customers and validate your position as a value adding partner.
Accurate location data and robust messaging features give you the ability to proactively provide real-time updates in the events that issues arise that may cause a delay in delivery. Additionally, with detailed mapping and routing features, you can communicate alternative direction to your driver to lessen delivery delays.
Connectivity and software performance are integral parts of the fleet management software selection process. Excessive downtime and inconsistency can have a large impact on the service you are trying to provide so it is important to inquire about such things like software connection continuity when evaluating your options.
Billing
Another key reason for accurate data is to enable you to appropriately bill your customers and provide them transparency while doing so. Correct billing is a pressing customer concern, so it is critical your fleet management software allows you to synthesize the information you need to produce precise and informative billing statements for your customers.
Fleet management software allows you to gain insights into distance traveled, fuel consumption, cargo capacity, man-hours and so much more. The greater visibility you provide the better the chances of your customer realizing a positive experience. Digital tools that enable document and report sharing are important considerations because of the positive influence they can exert on the relationship with your customers. Whether backing up documents to the cloud or facilitating collaboration around vital reports the right fleet management software can serve as the bedrock for the digital experience you provide your customers. Increased transparency and digital documentation can do a lot to mitigate disgruntled customers from flooding your support resources with inquiries about your organization’s billing practices or misplaced documents such as bill of ladings.
Digital transformation emphasizes the use of technology to solve problems and is a hot topic among fleet businesses today. Fleet management software – an integral component of digital transformation – is key as your business moves to an increasingly online world where more and more of your customers operate.
Increased visibility into important data points, accurate billing and tools that help you and your customers operate in an increasingly digital world are just a few of the ways the right fleet management software can benefit the operations of your customers. The wealth of information that is now accessible can ultimately lead to an enhanced customer experience that will transition your customer’s perception of you as a vendor to a value adding partner. Consequently, it is necessary you not only remain cognizant of your own business requirements and priorities but those of your customers as well.