Nigel Trotman, Alphabet, looks at the role of a modern fleet manager.

The role of the modern fleet manager can vary greatly from business-to-business and day-to-day. Demand is growing for efficient and flexible fleets, with the term ‘business mobility’ increasingly coming to the forefront. It’s clear that company cars are no longer the only consideration.

Today, fleet managers must provide a range of options for getting from A to B, optimising costs where possible through flexible schemes such as corporate car sharing,  or even identifying where a journey doesn’t need to be  made at all.

In order to stay relevant in this changing landscape, fleet managers must adopt more of the characteristics of a mobility manager. They must be responsible for connecting all the dots of employee travel to create a more economical, efficient, streamlined and cost-efficient service – typical attributes of the mobility manager.

Every fleet manager I have ever met is capable of making this switch. In fact, many are already managing multiple supply arrangements, so it shouldn’t be too difficult to finish what they’ve already started.

To make this transformation happen, fleet managers need to create a sound business case, outlining the benefits that a more joined-up approach could bring to  their employers.

With a more efficient team, running with lower CO­2 output and drivers increasingly satisfied with the journey options laid out in front of them, this shouldn’t be too tricky.

Traditional leasing has shifted and this trend is only going to accelerate over the next 15 years.

To provide answers to future challenges, it’s important that fleet managers look ahead and reaffirm the  importance of business mobility within their organisation.

Rather than viewing this shift in focus as a threat, all fleet managers should view it as an opportunity to start afresh, casting aside industry myths and misconceptions.

It’s a perfect chance for fleet managers to broaden their scope and importance within an organisation: it’s certainly an exciting time.