Fleet is increasingly being identified as a key part of business performance, and rightly so. The cost of running fleet is increasing and organisations are looking for cost effective ways to manage their fleet.

These considerations are also having to be balanced with tough emissions targets and increased focus on ethical corporate behaviour. Combined, this has ensured that fleet is now regularly considered at board level.

Ultimately, the best way to reduce costs is to reduce the number of incidents a business has and this is at the heart of FMG’s approach.

Repair costs are rising, recent research based on British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association figures has shown these increased by 123% in the between February 2010 and June 2012. The cost of vehicle off-road time also has to be taken into account.

We recognise this, and that’s why FMG has focussed so much attention on reducing repair times and keeping fleet vehicles on the road. Accidents cost money, time and often employee welfare: all unacceptable risks to modern business.

By using technology, fleet operators can reduce the impact that incidents have on the bottom line of the business. RoSPA has stated* that installing devices like FMG’s Ingenium Dynamics can reduce collisions by 20% whilst the Energy Saving Trust estimates that by using smarter driving techniques, such as those encouraged by the system can reduce company fuel usage by 15%. Indeed, some of FMG’s customers have seen a 20% reduction in weekly fuel costs since installing the software.

This is against a backdrop of FMG’s fleet clients seeing a 25-80% reduction in insurance claims. Experts such as Dr Lisa Dorn, Director of the Driving Research Unit at Cranfield University, described Ingenium Dynamics as: “The best evidence-based solution I've seen for managing driver risk at work. It identifies the parameters that can lead to both excessive fuel consumption and crashes.”

FMG recognises that one size doesn’t fit all.

It is by tailoring services to business objectives that FMG is able to build an on-going relationship with customers, which lasts well beyond the signing of a contract.

One area where real cost saving can be
made is by increasing the life of your cars, vans and commercial vehicles. By taking a longer-term view and considering the whole
life cost of vehicles, as well as the cost of running a spare capacity, it’s possible to prolong replacement cycles.

FMG can help you achieve this with a proactive fleet maintenance programme, managing repairs effectively, and by identifying incident trends and common vehicle or parts faults. This helps reduce costs by identifying issues before they become expensive repairs or cause significant damage, plus helps lower depreciation of vehicle values.

It comes down to our ethos of prevention being better than cure. By implementing a rolling process of vehicle maintenance, backed up by a smart analysis system, you can minimise downtime and reduce the impact of unplanned repairs to your business.

 

* Vehicle Technology Guide 2010