Networking can facilitate sharing of ideas and solutions
Where do you go for new ideas? Suppliers can offer advice and solutions but they are very often subjective, with one eye on selling their own services. But there are other options.
1. Social media
The rise in popularity of social media websites and online discussion groups offers an alternative by facilitating the cross-fertilisation of solutions across the fleet sector, giving rise to the wider sharing of best practice with fleets prepared to disclose data to help improve efficiency and cut costs. “There are a lot of networking groups that are using the internet to exchange ideas,” says
Jon Gilbert, director of customer service at ING Car Lease.
2. Website information
ACFO’s website provides a Q&A section where members can exchange ideas and obtain advice. Fleet News also facilitates the sharing of ideas via its monthly roundtables, online forum and LinkedIn UK Fleet Managers group.
Gilbert says: “Every business is under pressure to cut costs, become safer in terms of corporate social responsibility and health and safety and fully understand its objectives. Fleet managers are getting proficient at promoting the business case for their decision-making.”
3. Benchmarking
Analysing a wide array of key performance indicators and benchmarking fleet suppliers and fleet performance against other fleets of similar size and operating in similar industry sectors will identify areas for improvement.
However, benchmarking is performed patchily and often in ‘closet groups’.
“Unless there is a critical mass of fleets willing to measure themselves and then contribute the information it is never going to get any better,” says consultant Stewart Whyte. “There is little desire among most fleets to know where they stand in terms of peer group performance, although there are some that do.”
4. Telematics data
ING Car Lease has around 3,000 vehicles equipped with telematics. “The data provided enables the benchmarking of the fleet against the industry and against itself,” Gilbert says. “Data can be used to pinpoint, for example, exactly where fuel consumption can be improved on a per driver, per vehicle basis.”Telematics reports enable informed operational and driver behaviour decisions to be made around a host of KPIs to reduce operational costs and improve
productivity and customer service.
5. Leasing companies
Ross Jackson, managing director of consultancy Fleet Operations, says premium leasing companies offer a very personal level of service but not everyone is prepared to pay for that experience.
“If leasing, fleet operators should check to see what is included in the service,” he says. “Unless fleet managers are prepared to go into the fine detail of agreements they cannot assess service levels, costs or value and benchmark suppliers against each other. There can be a massive difference between price and service levels and procurement departments will always go for the cheapest but that does not make it the correct decision.”
6. Comparing suppliers
To help fleets benchmark their suppliers against industry standards a new service has been launched by research and benchmarking specialist Experteye, the company behind the established Fleeteye CSI survey.
Having completed the Fleeteye CSI survey, fleet managers can see how their ratings compare to the rest of the market.
For example, if they rank their account management as being six while the rest of
the market is at eight then they know they are getting below-average support from
their supplier.
Fleet manager respondents can also go on to participate in an industry trends
survey where they can benchmark their fleet management choices on a range of issues, including acquisition methods and vehicle policy.
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