South Central Ambulance Service NHS Trust (SCAS) take delivery of a new fleet and workshop management system from fleet software supplier Jaama.

SCAS operates a fleet of almost 1,000 vehicles including lease cars, rapid response cars/motorcycles, ambulances and patient transport vehicles. In addition, SCAS runs a total of five workshops and a vehicle commissioning unit, which is responsible for adding specialist equipment to vehicles.

Rick Stillman, South Central Ambulance Service’s head of fleet, said: “We wanted a standard fleet management software system across the whole of the service so that we could accurately gauge fleet costs and manage workshop parts much more effectively to reduce vehicle downtime. We wanted complete visibility across all parts of the fleet for all vehicle and workshop administrators.”

Apart from giving system users complete fleet and parts visibility, SCAS expects to be able to trim fuel costs as management reports from fuel card provider Arval will be integrated into the system.

Stillman said: “Fuel monitoring will improve because we will be able to drill down into the reports and identify real world pence per mile operating costs. Previously we have only been able to identify costs by department and not by vehicle. But the Jaama system will enable improved fuel use monitoring and that should help us to deliver cost savings across the fleet.”

SCAS operates a points system that sees drivers ‘awarded’ points for blameworthy accidents based on the severity of the incident. When the number of points collected reach a pre-determined level drivers have to complete a re-education programme.

Jaama managing director Jason Francis said: “Providing the South Central Ambulance Service NHS Trust with its new vehicle and workshop management system is a significant contract for the company.

“SCAS has shown huge faith in the functionality of our system to be able to deliver a wide range of operational benefits to a complex fleet that operates around the clock throughout the year.”

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