Fleet Telematics Helps Logistics Operations Meet Their Goals
Based on a recent survey performed by a transportation and logistics software provider, operators are facing challenges on several fronts. The increase in consumer online purchasing is only one of the factors pushing logistics organizations or companies to improve their performance while maintaining profitability. Fleet telematics technology can help.
Fleet Telematics Keep Operations Moving
Moving goods through the supply chain has become a centerpiece of commerce, as manufacturers and retailers maintain low inventories and rely on transportation providers to deliver orders on schedule. At the same time, the costs of maintaining and modernizing truck fleets, drivers, and the technology infrastructure that coordinates the processes puts pressure on profitability to the point that 74 percent of the survey’s respondents identified “reduce overall transportation costs” as their top priority for 2017.
The lack of drivers is also preventing transportation providers from achieving their overall goals. This is partly because as drivers retire, younger drivers are harder to find due to their different expectations of their employers, the job and the equipment they use.
Young drivers are accustomed to using mobile technology in their personal lives and assume the same for their work day, expecting to use modern mobile applications and tools to communicate, navigate, plan, and perform their jobs. They are also comfortable with adoption of enterprise-wide fleet telematics and workforce management systems accessed via wireless tablet computers in place of manual paper-based work orders, logs, record keeping and reporting.
Seemingly, transport companies understand the benefits of moving to advanced mobile enterprise transportation management systems as part of their overall drive to reduce costs and bring new drivers onto the road. More than one-third of the survey respondents pointed to improved route planning accuracy as a goal for 2017 and 22 percent said improved management information and reporting was their next target.
Road-Ready And Tested For The Long Haul
Achieving the priorities identified requires integration with an enterprise, purpose-built mobile computing solution. Trucks and transportation work environments are noted for the rough conditions and the unfavorable cellular connectivity settings they encounter every day. The laptop and tablet computers they rely on need to be able to perform under long haul conditions and deliver the state of the art technology both the applications and new, younger workers require.
Here’s a list of mobile tablet or laptop features recommended for transportation and trucking fleets to help ensure the devices survive the open road test and support their business priorities:
- Bright screens: Daylight viewable screens that can be seen comfortably even in bright sunlight.
- Easy interface: Touchscreen recognition that works smoothly through gloves or in the rain.
- Long battery life: Use your devices for nine to 10 hours or longer, with hot-swappable batteries for zero downtime if needed.
- Runs in any temperature: Ability to hold up and keep operating in extreme hot or cold temperatures.
- Barcode reader: Easily scan inventory, proof of delivery and other applications.
- Vehicle mountable devices: Enjoy quick and secure integration in trucks or forklifts.
- Maximum durability: Fully tested to withstand knocks, vibrations, drops, spills of grease, coffee, soda.
In addition to ensuring new mobile device technology can survive the demands “over the long haul,” organizations should consider taking advantage of services to help ensure a smooth deployment and efficient ramp up to avoid costly delays and maximize fleet performance.
Work With A Fleet Optimization Partner You Trust
Transportation providers are more likely to achieve their priorities by selecting a mobile technology partner that has consulting engineers and offers services to provide pre-planning consulting through training and vehicle mounting installation support. This will speed up deployment, get the technology into workers’ hands sooner, and perhaps most importantly free up internal IT resources to stay focused on even more strategic work such as legacy infrastructure upgrades.