Category: Competitive Edge

Managers shaking hands over business plans

What to Ask Your Fleet Solutions Provider Before Signing a Contract

Posted on | by Alexis | Leave a Comment on What to Ask Your Fleet Solutions Provider Before Signing a Contract

The new year brings with it new business opportunities and, in the case of fleet management, new digital solutions to better automate your workflow.

Your team’s goal should always be ensuring that your enterprise has the best solutions provider for meeting your fleet’s individual needs. That’s why there are some key aspects to bear in mind before renegotiating your business contract.

When assessing your business needs (and how your existing provider has measured up over the past year), you will want to ask yourself several questions, including: How safe were my drivers because of our software? How many of our vehicles remained secure? Were compliance or servicing issues addressed ahead of time? Did route optimization software really work for us? Was delivery route optimization successful?

On a more nuanced scale, the following factors provide a framework for assessing the services and expertise of your fleet solutions provider.

Connected trucks telematics

Technological & Industry Expertise

In the fleet industry, time is money (literally). Whether you operate in construction or the emergency industry, you need a solutions provider that can tailor technology to fit your industry needs.

With the emergence of recent ELD mandates and the constant evolution of digital technology, it’s wise for all fleet-related industries to stay ahead of the curve.

Make sure that you choose your provider wisely, taking into consideration both technological know-how and effective, scalable optimization for your specific industry’s needs.

Scalability

All fleets have had to adapt to major changes over the past few years; the pandemic, a global backlog in supply chain, regulatory compliance changes and the ongoing shortage of trained drivers have all contributed to a seismic shift in how fleets operate.

Across industries, fleets need the flexibility to either scale down or grow their operations on command. Make sure your fleet solutions provider has the bandwidth and digital tools to help your enterprise grow responsibly.

Support Capabilities

The best part of having the right fleet management software is the 24/7 support. With resources available on a continuous basis, your drivers are never alone. No matter how near or far from home, fleet tracking software can help your team stay safe, automatically recording videos of accidents, anywhere on Earth.

Fleet command centre support has never been better, offering a growing toolbox of telematics that include live real-time asset tracking, vehicle temperature tracking, driver safety coaching, and so much more.

Innovative Culture

A good fleet management solutions provider should be both wise and nimble, not only in adapting to emerging software capabilities, but to stay steps ahead of industry needs. In the telematics industry, the motto is ‘measure or perish.’

An innovative telematics provider will be able to fine tune your specific fleet needs and pair them with the best of emerging technology—in tracking devices, software interfaces and command centre platforms. Don’t make the mistake of trusting your fleet’s integrity to a provider that’s unable to out-innovate both the competition and global challenges.

Going Pro: GoFleet Systems Solutions

At GoFleet, our digital designers and telematics experts provide all the above, giving your enterprise a stable framework for optimal command centre control. We’ve established key partnerships with OEM manufacturers such as Ford, GM, Volvo, Mercedes, and John Deere, among others. Our collaborative partnership with data security leader, Geotab, has allowed our GoFleet experts to:

  • Install and operate 2 million+ telematics devices
  • Log in 100 million+ miles driven by fleets, every day
  • Process more than 40 billion data points from fleets to their command centres, daily.

That’s what drives growing industries to us, to handle their digital fleet management needs.

GoFleet’s mission is to offer the best-quality services and products available on the market, matched by the highest industry standards for telematic support.

Whether it’s route optimization software, vehicle safety reports, delivery route optimization, dispatch monitoring and much more, with GoFleet, you have the pros working for you.

Want proof? Read here about the problem areas of daily fleet operation management, or this whitepaper regarding the innovations, enhanced sensors and emerging AI technology now helping industries strive for sustainability. Our subject matter experts research industry-leading subjects to help keep your operations agile and efficient.

Some other key factors that made GoFleet an industry leader in asset management software:

Privacy

No business could survive if their private data was easily accessible. In a digital world where unsavoury characters prey on insecure data transmission lines, one can never be too cautious.

From fleet command centres to the drivers themselves, GoFleet’s industry-leading security measures allow peace of mind and security of data.

Within our Geotab datacenter security system, there’s even a Privacy Mode tool that stops live monitoring of vehicles during defined time periods. With GoFleet’s third-party identification measures, firewalls and data breach security precautions are virtually a non-issue.

Safety

While dash cams can’t necessarily prevent accidents, there is ample evidence to suggest that dash cam technology can help change the behaviours that cause accidents, such as distracted driving, harsh braking or fatigue.

Face-recognition dash cams, improved GPS navigational systems, finely-tuned vehicle sensors and AI have all moved the goalposts of possibility for global asset tracking technology, keeping your drivers and your business safe.

Driver safety and retention should be high on the list of any fleet’s priorities. GoFleet recommends ‘a culture of safety‘ be instituted in all fleet organizations, providing clear guidance and transparency in assuring the safety of their assets, as well as the privacy and well-being of their fleet drivers and operators.

Fleet safety today extends to being able to transmit engine diagnostic data, pain-point measures, remote vehicle management, engine starter inhibit technology and vehicular maintenance servicing alerts, all of which equate to a real safety commitment.

Cloud system with data protection

Data Storage & Bandwidth

Today, Cloud-based technology allows even heavy digital data to be safely transferred and stored, without weighing down any one server.  Our global solutions include 24/7 tracking over cellular networks, GPS coordinates, satellite transmissions and more, for both EV and fuel-based models.

Using our proprietary APIs for easier app-to-app interfacing, GoFleet feeds your fleet operations system with the data you need, when you need it. We even provide an IoT gateway to push your data through, from sensors and into the Cloud, for instant access.

Migration & Ecosystem Needs

Most Canadian and many U.S.-based fleets face considerable snowfall each year. Tractors and heavy farm equipment can likewise face a host of additional weather-related challenges.

One of our white papers addresses the seasonal challenge of facing harsh winters—Smarter, Made Simpler: Using Telematics to Safely Prepare Fleets for Winter.

Our global data tracking solutions offer fleets remote entry, ride-sharing access, OEM management, automated ELD logs, incident alerts, even On/Off tracking for when vehicles are stationary. Our integrated asset management system allows industries to go global, responsibly.

Energy Consumption Monitoring

Fleets that want to stay healthy and wise take full advantage of the route optimization technology available today, for improving both dispatch and delivery decisions. Our route optimization software and APIs allow for better, wiser route calculations, as well as better diagnostics.

Fuel Cards are another wise way to monitor and track consumption. Meanwhile, as more fleets began moving toward EVs, GoFleet’s electric vehicle management support has become increasingly robust. Our fleet command centre technology allows for real-time fuel and EV energy usage across your entire fleet family. We also provide Charge Assurance alerts and routine EV Charging Beta readings for EVs.

All of this translates into lower fuel and energy costs, and far wiser fleet resource management.

Regulations, Compliance & Driver Inspection Reporting

Did you know that it was possible to retain good drivers and improve morale and driver safety through smart digital data engineering? GoFleet’s Mobile Driver solutions integrate your fleet’s operating system to simplify data retrieval, while boosting driver safety and performance.

Current digitized reporting technology includes Driver Video Reviews, Digital Time Cards, Delivery Form Creation, Driver Messaging and Training, Indoor Tracking, OEM & Car Sharing, Fuel & Maintenance Management, ROI Calculators, Asset Monitoring, Cold Chain tracking sensors, E-learning, Team Performance scoring and Rewards Program management.

Our nimble fleet mobile apps—including Mobile Dispatch, ZenScores, ZenduForms and ZenduMessenger, to name a few—have successfully automated data tools for capturing fleet telematics across all industries. What this means for fleets:

  • Streamlining the Work Order Management Process by electronically filling out safety and vehicle inspection reports across fleet operations.
  • Complying with ELD mandates by automatically logging-in work hours directly into electronic logbooks, providing actionable data for fleet reports.
  • Receiving automated diagnostic data and vehicle inspection reports, allowing for improved scheduling of vehicles for routine maintenance needs, as well as alerts to safety concerns.

They say forewarned is fore-armed. With GoFleet’s seamless integration of the best in digital device telematic technology available today, your fleet will always stay ahead of any curve.

GoFleet & Go Home

Make sure your operations team properly assesses both your fleet capacity and constraints, long before you sign on the dotted line. Nothing costs a fleet more than inadequate support, creating efficiency backlogs and security breaches that were easily avoidable.

To find out where future fleet technology is heading, and how to surf ahead, just ask. GoFleet offers free demos and customized efficiency assessments that help teams navigate emerging technologies. This lets fleet operations teams, and their drivers, finish work earlier and wiser.

This year, don’t work harder. Work smarter.

gofleet, customer success, telematics, fleet

GoFleet’s Approach To Customer Success

Posted on | by Victoria Gole | Leave a Comment on GoFleet’s Approach To Customer Success

Over the last 10 years, our three offices in Canada, the United States and the United Arab Emirates have been dedicated to helping hundreds of customers and businesses worldwide to step up their games in the fleet management sector and transform their fleet into a productivity machine. Now it’s time to have you on board with us on this exciting journey and experience the GoFleet difference. 

 

Who Is GoFleet? 

We are in the business of connection and digitalization, offering fleets of any size a tailored solution that helps them grow and succeed, all powered by telematics. At GoFleet, our vision is to bring the most powerful hardware, simple but useful software, and exceptional services together to delight every customer. Collaborating with industry-leading partners and blending in our own unique solutions, advantages and expertise, we believe we can provide you with the right answer for any challenge and pain point you encounter. 

 

What Does GoFleet Do?

GoFleet provides pioneering end-to-end fleet management hardware and software solutions covering every link of fleet operation, from asset tracking, vehicle health monitoring, dispatching, routing to safety management, vehicle maintenance and data storage. Our wide range of products can address customer’s pain points and challenges in every single fleet management aspect, including fuel management, asset tracking, maintenance diagnostics, drivers’ behaviours monitoring and training, routing and dispatching, electronic logging devices and many more. All our products are built and designed upon the foundation of our commitment to improving your fleet management experience in five core objectives: productivity, safety, optimization, compliance and expandability. 

We have previously worked with countless customers from a diverse range of industries to show them how we keep our commitment and transform their workflows from the bottom up. Boston Pizza, one of Canada’s largest and leading casual dining chains, put our telematics tracker into real-world testing and installed it on every delivery vehicle. Since day one, the franchise owner immediately noticed an improvement in delivery efficiency and customer satisfaction across the board. Our tracking solution helps to streamline deliveries and significantly reduce wait times for both delivery drivers and customers. With access to delivery vehicle real-time locations and status, the kitchen chef can now make sure the order is prepared and fresh out of the oven right when the next delivery vehicle is back at the restaurant to pick it up. This ensures that food is not sitting around waiting to be picked up, and customers can receive the freshest and warmest food as fast as possible. 

Our partnership with CR&R Environmental Services further showcases our determination to help businesses in improving fleet safety performance. CR&R Environmental Services is an innovative waste and recycling collection company serving more than 3 million people in numerous countries. Prior to contacting us, CR&R Environmental Services experienced multiple instances where vehicle cameras were not recording or functioning. The camera is an essential piece of equipment used to record video footage of the operations, and an unreliable camera system is simply unacceptable. Loss of footages may put businesses in a disadvantageous position if liability disputes arise when one of the company’s vehicles gets involved in a collision or accident. CR&R Environmental Services reached out to us to see if we can offer an innovative safety solution to replace their current one. Our team worked hard and delivered on promises by leveraging telematics’ power and brought on a highly reliable and capable 360-degree camera system alongside an intuitive software platform. After the implementation, the CR&R Environmental Services noticed an increased level of visibility, reliability and productivity compared to their old system. They feel more confident in their ability to review driving footage in case of an accident and use these videos to train drivers and improve drivers’ skills. 

System integration and optimization are at the core of every product we create. Every piece of equipment, hardware and software we designed works seamlessly together. We deeply understand many customers are frustrated by the incompatibility between different systems and platforms, and it’s our job to bring them all together into one unified fleet management platform that enables you to do everything anywhere. All you have to do is focus on what matters and leave the rest of the hassles to us. 

 

Why Does GoFleet Care?

We take great pride in our products and in building relationships with our customers. We put people, product quality, innovation, environment, the end results, and your feedback at the forefront of everything we do at GoFleet. We deeply care about each of these aspects, and that’s why we adopt cutting-edge technologies to enrich each of them. 

 

People

Everyone’s safety is our top priority. We introduced a range of safety products all aimed at protecting your fleets drivers’ safety. From the driver distraction camera to the collision avoidance system, they are life-saving tools that can make a big difference at the most critical moment. They also give fleet managers and drivers extra peace of mind and an extra layer of protection during everyday operations. 

Our industry-leading customer service team is at your service no matter what problem you encounter in using our products. We provide easy and hassle-free device installation and training guidance so that you can implement our products across the entire fleet in just a matter of time. We offer remote diagnostics support to quickly assess and resolve your issues without the need for you to wait for a technician to come and help. The 24/7 support directly from product manufacturers is included with our ProPlus subscription, and if necessary, we will send in technicians to your sites to help you fix the issues and get your vehicle back on the road as fast as possible. 

 

Quality

We know that you have high expectations for product quality and want a product that works as promised and marketed. That’s why we conduct rigorous testing to ensure each one of the products we ship meets or exceeds our stringent quality standards. Additionally, we know that you want a device that doesn’t compromise and works in any weather conditions and environments. Most of the hardware products we sell are waterproof, shockproof and highly durable, giving you the freedom to use them in any environment. 

 

Innovation

Innovation is in our DNA. We strive to bring you the best and latest technology and incorporate them into our products. We want you to fully experience and utilize our products for a long-lasting period. That’s why we keep adding new features and fix any bugs by frequently pushing new software updates to your device and system. We are committed to bringing in the best available technology such as artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to make your products even smarter throughout time, so when you own our products, you not only gain the right tools to tackle any current challenges but also fully prepare yourselves for the future. 

 

Planet

We care about our environment deeply. The first step we are undertaking is helping businesses and fleets to convert their entire workflow to a paperless model. With all the fleet data stored over the cloud database, we can truly digitalize how information is being used, analyzed and shared within the corporation. We are also incorporating environmental metrics and benchmarks into our vehicle tracking dashboard to allow fleet managers and drivers to access the vehicle emissions and fuel economy information throughout their operation. 

Another initiative that we are taking to safeguard the quality of our living environment is providing the right tool to help businesses’ existing fleet transition into a fully electric vehicle fleet. Working directly with electric vehicle manufacturers, we have developed unique capabilities to access electric vehicles’ data and ensure your electric vehicle has strong data support. We are also working around the clock to expand our support to new models over time. We understand the migration to an electric vehicle fleet is not an easy task; it’s a process, and it takes time. But rest assured, when you are ready to make the move, we have already set the foundation and have the right tools ready for you. 

 

Feedback

The process is important, but for any business, we know that you also value the results. You want to see the improvement in numbers yourself. We have created a comprehensive fleet dashboard showcasing data on fleet performance and efficiency, allowing you to track improvement percentage and return on investment. Based on this data, you could gain a sense of how much improvement our products provide to your fleet operations.   

We are always happy to discuss and hear what you think about our products and services. Our customer support team makes follow-up calls and consultations after your purchase and implementation to ensure the solutions work well for you. And of course, if you encounter any issues with our products, our technical support team is always here to help. 

 

Where Is GoFleet Heading?

We pride ourselves on being an innovation-driven organization, and we will keep innovating to integrate the best and latest technologies to the existing systems and platforms. Utilizing the power of artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data analytics and 5G wireless communication technology, we can truly take the whole fleet management platform to new heights. 

We are also fully prepared for the massive transition from gasoline and diesel fleet models to the electric vehicle fleet model. All of our products have been optimized for either fleet structure, and we are working hard to add support for new electric vehicle models every month. But we want to look even further ahead into the future of commercial fleets. Many of the foundational works have already been undertaken to prepare for the development and transition to autonomous vehicles. We always want to stay ahead of the competition and have the products ready for you, so you can have unlimited choices of how you want to expand your fleet. 

At GoFleet, we keep adapting to constant changes. The pandemic has drastically changed the operational model of many businesses. We are here to make sure our products fit our customers’ changing needs and standards. There is a growing demand for remote fleet management, so we bring the best software to your mobile device, giving you easy access to all the fleet statuses and information on the go. There is a rising trend of high precision and specialized transportation activities, so we offer advanced temperature and humidity monitoring sensors to help your business conquer challenging tasks. As the world is becoming more connected and globalized, we also focus on providing more localized optimization for your fleet. This includes providing convenient software features such as the weigh station bypass service to help your fleet better navigate through your local community. During the current turbulent period, we recognized that we have an even greater responsibility to respond and cope with the unpredicted changes and market trends to create tailored products that meet your businesses’ core needs, but it also gives us valuable opportunities to show you what our products can do for your business.

At GoFleet, our approach of doing everything with passion and professionalism has driven us to success to date, and our commitment to our customers is what motivates us to reach new heights. 

Contact us today to speak with one of our many industry or solutions specialists to assist in nearly anything fleet related! 

Telematics Is The Key To Successfully Set Up For Home Deliveries

Posted on | by Anna | Leave a Comment on Telematics Is The Key To Successfully Set Up For Home Deliveries

Times are changing, and many businesses are learning that they have to adapt in order to stay profitable. With social distancing and business closure regulations relating to the COVID-19 pandemic beginning to lift slightly for some sectors, many business owners are finding that they need to remain creative to begin operations again. With the need to limit physical interaction still required, many businesses are turning to telematics to set up for home deliveries. 

 

Why The Spotlight Is On Home Deliveries 

 

As previously mentioned, many businesses are turning to incorporate home deliveries into their operations. This is largely due to the inability to operate as usual because the coronavirus pandemic has required the public to partake in social distancing to reduce the spread. As a result, businesses were provided two options. Either they could momentarily close their doors until the government feels as though it’s safe for them to operate as usual, or they could implement new home delivery and/or curbside pickup options to remain profitable. With the pandemic continuing, many are finding that keeping their doors shut is not an option so they must adjust their operations – specifically to offer home deliveries.

 

Below we discuss not only the tools that can allow businesses to succeed while implementing home deliveries, but the ways that businesses are getting creative with this. 

 

Home Deliveries – Who Can Do It? 

 

Home delivery services may seem daunting to those who are not used to offering it, but it should not be feared. Currently, there are numerous businesses who are embracing home deliveries and are finding new ways to cater to their customers who are choosing to stay home and keep outings limited.

 

Brick And Mortar Or Specialty Stores

 

Depending on how the business was run previous to COVID-19, many brick and mortar businesses may already offer some form of delivery. However, those who did not have this offering before are quickly learning that incorporating an inventory and e-commerce platform is essential to continuing operations when consumers are choosing to stay home or limit shopping outings. By remotely working with tech-businesses to adjust websites, product images and inventory, brick and mortar as well as specialty store owners are finding that home delivery is possible once they find a reliable way to transport products. 

 

Food And Beverage Businesses

 

As one may assume, the food and beverage industry has been struggling to find their way after restaurants and cafes were ordered to close. However, with applications like UberEats, many restaurant owners are still able to provide food and drinks (even alcoholic beverages) to the public! In fact, this need for delivery has even inspired restaurants that can’t afford the fees of food delivery apps to employ delivery personnel to deliver orders that are taken over the phone or online. 

 

Consignment Stores 

 

Consignment stores are also finding new ways to run their businesses during this time. Specifically, by creating websites and incorporating e-commerce platforms to allow for owners to upload images of consignment clothing to allow customers to not only purchase online, but have it delivered to their home without contact. This idea being similar to many big-name clothing stores who have offered online shopping and home delivery for years. 

 

How To Use Telematics To Set Up For Home Deliveries 

 

There are many good ideas listed above in how unique businesses are finding ways to cope with running a contactless business during the COVID-19 pandemic. But apart from implementing e-commerce platforms, how can delivery services be run and properly managed? The answer is this: telematics solutions. Below we discuss how business owners can successfully use telematics to set up for home deliveries.

 

Completing Deliveries With Dispatching Solutions 

 

When it comes to using telematics to set up for home deliveries, if businesses are unable to use a mailing service, they will need to dispatch drivers to make deliveries. In cases that require an overwhelming number of orders or orders that span across a large geographical area, it’s critical that businesses use a dispatching solution. Using a dispatching solution can help business owners better manage their team in terms of who is completing which deliveries and what their routes will be so operations are optimized. 

 

Dispatching solutions like ZenduWork are great for businesses who are required to have more than one driver delivering orders as it organizes exactly where the driver is going, where they are in real-time, as well as order updates. Meaning, you’ll always know how your deliveries are going so you can even notify your customers about their order. 

 

Mapping Tools And GPS Tracking Solutions For Deliveries 

 

Another solution that is useful when businesses are using telematics to set up for home deliveries, is the use of mapping tools, specifically gps tracking. These types of solutions allow for business owners to stay up to date with what stage a delivery is at, allowing for up to date information about expected arrival times to be relayed to customers – boosting customer satisfaction. For businesses who offer same day delivery or focus on immediate delivery, this is critical as you are able to share this information with customers.

NEW Tracking GIF

 

Live Map Views For Customers 

 

Another solution that is extremely useful, especially for businesses who offer immediate delivery, is the use of mapping solutions like Public Map Share. This solution focuses on providing customers with the option to view in real-time where their order is. This is possible by using GPS tracking assets on vehicles conducting the delivery and relaying that information visually on a map that is updated every few seconds. Showing the delivery moving along its route. In turn, the customer can be provided with their own link for this map so they can view in real-time where their delivery is and whether it’s time to retrieve it from their doorstep. 

 

As business owners can see, implementing delivery offerings into operations may not be as daunting as it once seemed. For many, it just took a little creative thinking in addition to the right telematics solutions to properly and accurately conduct the deliveries. If your business is looking to improve their delivery offerings, or would like to better understand how using telematics to set up for home deliveries can help you begin delivery services, contact GoFleet today. We’re confident that we have a solution that can fit your unique needs during this uncertain time.

Driver Turnover: How Telematics Can Reduce It

Posted on | by Anna | Leave a Comment on Driver Turnover: How Telematics Can Reduce It

Just like in any industry, even some of the largest transportation companies encounter turnover. However, in recent years the discussion of employee turnover and the need to counter it has grown due to increasing rates. In 2019, it was reported that in the third quarter, large U.S. fleets saw driver turnover increase by 9% to reach 96%. With such high rates, it shows that fleets must work even harder to encourage employee growth and encourage drivers to stay. Recently, fleets of various sizes are starting to look at how telematics and new technology can help combat high driver turnover. 

 

Telematics Solutions To Reduce High Driver Turnover  

 

With job expectations changing and technology advancing, many have found that telematics could be a solution to combating high driver turnover. 

 

Focusing On Optimization And Task Streamlining 

 

When looking at the transportation industry and the need to reduce employee turnover, it’s important to use new technology to make work more efficient or enjoyable for drivers. One way this is being approached is by employers who are utilizing technology to their advantage. Specifically by implementing and introducing tools to increase productivity and simplify tasks. 

 

For example, using management and automation solutions to reduce much of the repetitive or administrative tasks that drivers must complete. This can be seen through electronic logging devices (ELDs) like the Geotab Drive ELD that automatically records and produces logs about driving history or even solutions like ZenduWork that quickly optimizes dispatching routes and allows for work orders to be completed electronically. When tasks are simple to complete, many drivers could begin to feel efficient and happy with fewer challenges to overcome. 

 

Focusing On Training And Support 

 

Another approach to combating driver turnover is maintaining a workplace that focuses on boosting employee skills. Specifically by ensuring that drivers will always be provided with new training opportunities and coaching support to ensure they’re driving safely. When this option is available many drivers can feel a sense of connection and positive morale as they see their employer wanting to help them succeed! Thus, prompting a satisfied (and more skilled) workforce! This is seen by implementing software solutions such as ZenScore, an interactive training dashboard that encourages safe and efficient driving habits throughout fleets. The solution allows fleet managers to not only create and set up training modules to boost skill and learning but can act as a tool for measuring KPIs and productivity automatically and electronically. 

 

Focusing On Rewards And Culture 

 

The final approach that many fleets are taking to attempt to reduce driver turnover is offering rewards and maintaining a positive workplace culture. As many drivers can be on the road alone for hours or even days, it’s important to keep their work morale high! Forgoing this may result in drivers feeling disconnected, unmotivated or even unwilling to stay with the company. To help combat each of these issues, some fleet managers are doing the following:

 

  • Measuring KPIs and coordinating friendly competitions that offer rewards to those who meet and excel past set criteria. For example, holding weekly or monthly contests that reward the driver who speeds the least. 
  • Offering additional paid time-off, increased pay wages or gift card bonuses for drivers who are going above and beyond driving expectations. For example, rewarding the safest driver each quarter with some sort of incentive. 
  • Encouraging social connection and positive culture with drivers on the road by organizing company events so they feel part of a team. 

 

For many fleet managers, they could be feeling pressure to change their workplace in order to try to combat any high driver turnover that they may be facing. In times like this, it’s critical to implement the right processes and procedures to keep drivers happy, productive and satisfied with their current position. As you have read, in some circumstances technological solutions can help with this. If you’re interested in learning how certain telematics solutions such as electronic logging devices, ZenScore, or ZenduWork may be able to positively influence your fleet, contact us today! 

Telematics Helping Businesses Go Paperless

Posted on | by Anna | Leave a Comment on Telematics Helping Businesses Go Paperless

There are numerous benefits that businesses notice once they implement tech-focused initiatives that either reduce the use of paper or allow them to go paperless entirely. In addition to being environmentally beneficial, businesses often find that a paperless office can drastically improve their processes. Specifically, businesses have highlighted that paperless telematics solutions have helped to increase data reliability in addition to ensuring efficiency and accurate reporting.

 

Greater Numerical Reliability 

As one can imagine, technology allows for improved documentation and record-keeping since there is a reduced chance of human error. This is true with telematics solutions once they are adopted. As telematics solutions are typically designed to automate data gathering, precise specifications can be predetermined and replicated on an ongoing basis. Meaning, the same information will always be accurately gathered without the use of physical paper. When a business is able to go paperless by using a telematics solution, they no longer have to worry about human error that could affect the accuracy of data.

One example of this is within the trucking and logistics sector which used to require drivers to manually fill out paper logbooks of their driving activity. Doing so wouldn’t only leave their records open to human error as previously discussed, but some drivers have in the past been known to falsify records to allow them to complete more deliveries. As a result, telematics solutions such as electronic logging devices (ELDs) have been introduced in regulations. Ultimately allowing drivers and fleets to go paperless which as a result, combats false records and incorrect data entry. 

 

Limiting Wastefulness

When businesses switch to using an innovative telematics solution, typically, the environmental benefits are not stressed as much. However, since the impact that businesses have upon the environment continues to remain a popular topic, it’s important to highlight that going paperless by using telematics solutions can help reduce wastefulness. Specifically, employees are able to forgo using paper entirely as all of their work and information is recorded electronically.

This benefit is noticed within any office environment as teams no longer have to record data physically on paper documents to then input the information in a database. Telematics solutions are able to pull the information automatically and electronically, to then display it on any computer or smartphone device. Allowing employees to no longer have to use wasteful amounts of paper to be able to share or show information.

 

Praising Cloud Storage 

Telematics solutions are also praised for the technology’s cloud connectivity. As mentioned previously, telematics solutions automatically pull and organize data that is relevant to a company. However, this goes one step further to reducing the use of paper as this information can be pulled and stored electronically. No longer are businesses required to keep physical paper copies of documents or reports, rather they use devices to view and analyze the information.

An example of this is how a small contracting business must keep tedious records of all of their contracting jobs. Ensuring that any customer or invoice inquiries can be completed or reviewed with accuracy and ease. This can include reassurance of accurate billing or arrival times, documentation of parts used or work completed and even the individual who attended and their notes on-site. Without a telematics solution, all of this information would be hard to review as it would likely be kept physically on paper in offices. Limiting who can have physical access to it.

 

How Your Business Can Go Paperless and Enter The Digital Era 

If your business would like to go paperless by incorporating a tech-focused approach, contact us today! We have a number of resources and solutions available that allow for all of these benefits to be seen and more! Whether you’re looking to incorporate intelligent dispatching through ZenduWork, create digital forms with ZenduForms, or complete web-based maintenance management with ZenduMaintenance, we’re confident that we have a solution as unique as your business!  

Taking Your Fleet Telematics to the Next Level

Posted on | by Anna | Leave a Comment on Taking Your Fleet Telematics to the Next Level

With basic telematics implemented into your fleet, you are now able to track the location, movement and speed of all of your vehicles, which helps your organization increase efficiencies, and effectively, reduce wasted time and improve costs.

So, what comes next?

Advanced Fleet Tracking
Once you have the basics in place, you can start to dive deeper into telematics technology in order to really fine tune and optimize your fleet operation.

Check out these major benefits your company can gain by implementing advanced fleet telematics solutions.

Increased Safety
By monitoring driver behaviour – things such as how fast your driver is driving and how aggressive their driving may be – you can use technology that allows you to talk to the driver and coach them through safer driving practices, thereby increasing safety for them and for your vehicle.

It has been shown that drivers who are aware that their driving habits are being monitored, are more apt to perform safer behaviour which not only increases their safety, but also reduces accidents and damage to vehicles and freight.

Increased Efficiencies
By using real time communication as an add-on to your basic telematics, and adding in some routing apps, you can manage driver routes more efficiently – if there is an accident, you would be able to re-route the driver and eliminate wasted time having them stuck in traffic with high priority loads on the vehicle.

By using some of these type of add-ons to your basic telematics, adding a few minutes more to your driver’s HOS (Hours of Service) can really increase your fleet efficiency and delivery rate.

Reduce Operating Costs
In being able to track even the smallest things, such as idling time and minimizing it, a fleet can increase savings by reducing fuel costs. Other things that can be looked at are tracking at a more granular level, such as live movements on a map, maps routing, stopping vehicles, accidents and who’s responsible, which allows for increased productivity thereby reducing costs.

Optimize Vehicle Performance
With advanced telematics, sensors can send out alerts about engine issues and other diagnostic problems. Further to that, the data can be used in a predictive manner to determine when service should happen on a vehicle and allow for advanced planning in order to ensure as much uptime for the fleet as possible and manage the expenses related to repairs.

Reduce your Carbon Footprint
It’s a hot topic these days more and more companies realize that not only is this good for business, it’s good for the planet as well. By reducing your fleet’s idling time and decreasing speeding (thereby reducing the amount of exhaust and CO2), not only are you increasing the safety of your fleet and drivers, increasing your efficiencies and reducing your costs, you are also helping to do your part in reducing emissions in the air for our future generation.

Streamline Compliance
With the Canadian ELD mandated for June 21st, 2020, it is imperative that fleets ensure they are compliant and implementing advanced telematics not only ensures this but provides many other benefits previously mentioned. In addition to the benefits, the cost of not being compliant is expensive and can be avoided with the correct telematics solutions in place.

Do you need to upgrade your telematics plan for advanced fleet tracking?
Some features are already built into your tracking device that collects the data and some solutions require you to step up to the next level of offered services and products.

In order to get the most out of your fleet telematics so that you can save your company time, money and increase efficiencies and safety, give GoFleet a call. We are here to help create a customized and fully integrated telematics solution that is specific to your needs and lets you get the most value for your money.

Advanced fleet tracking is much more than GPS services and with the telematics of the future, there are and will be so much more you can do in order to continually create the best fleet management company you can envision.

GoFleet – Connected Technology. Smarter Solutions.
Discover more about GoFleet and its Telematics Services

Can Dash Cams Lower Insurance Rates?

Posted on | by Wisam Abou-diab | Leave a Comment on Can Dash Cams Lower Insurance Rates?

Can dash cams lower insurance rates? 100%, yes!

 

Consider the following case. Two fleet owners got together and talked about their insurance. Their fleets used the same insurers and had a similar history, so the business owners expected to pay similar premiums. However, to the surprise of both owners, one of the companies was paying significantly less on their premiums. Why?

The difference was that one fleet used fleet cameras while the other fleet did not. Just like the fleet owner with higher premiums, many people wonder why dash cams lower insurance rates.

Why do dash cams lower insurance rates?

 

Insurers reduce rates whenever a client is considered less risky or whenever a solution reduces business costs. Hence, many insurers categorized fleet cameras a risky reducing and a money saving solution because fleet cameras reduce false claims, reduce client accident rates, and saves admin time.

Dash cams reduce false claims.

 

Dash Cams Reduce False Claims

Firstly, dash cams lower insurance rates by reducing false claims. False claims are extremely relevant for fleet operations because 80% of company drivers are not responsible for an accident involving commercial vehicles.

Hence, dash cams protect drivers by capturing incidents. In turn, insurers are also off the hook from covering the accident when cameras prove their client’s innocence.

Dash cams reduce accident rates.

 

Secondly, dash cams lower insurance rates by reducing accident rates. Drivers are much more likely to drive safer when cameras are monitoring them. Additionally, many fleets use fleet cameras as a training tool by recording and reviewing incidents.

Dash cams reduce insurance admin work.

 

dashcams reduce the fraud tax

Thirdly, dash cams lower insurance rates by reducing an insurer’s admin cost. Dash cams reduce admin cost because getting a video footage significantly shortens the insurance claim cycle.

To illustrate this point, consider filing an insurance claim. What does a claimer need to provide? Traditionally, claimers need to send facts by taking pictures and providing witness statements. In other words, insurers need to constantly ask their client for more information. In contrast, a video footage provides all of that information and eliminates a long claim process.

Insurance & fleet cameras will continue to be closely aligned.

 

In summary, both insurers and their clients see fleet cameras as a useful tool. In fact, many insurers now have fleet cameras as a mandated item for their clients and incentivize their clients for their investment. With the continued growth of dash cameras, we anticipate continued collaboration between the insurance industry and the dash camera industry.

Liked this blog? Please leave a rating or comment below! Check our other blogs on Dash Cams:

 

Benefits of Dash Cams: 5 Reasons to Buy Dash Cams for Your Fleet

Choosing the Best Commercial Vehicle Camera System For Your Fleet

It’s Easy and Effective to Make Digital Forms

Posted on | by Jimmy Song | Leave a Comment on It’s Easy and Effective to Make Digital Forms

What do logging into websites, buying stuff online, and completing surveys have in common? All of these actions involve customers filling in online forms. Nowadays, there are hundreds of online forms and there are tons of free tools to help people make digital forms.

Is it hard to build forms?

make a digital forms

Not at all! One of the great things about digital forms is that it’s easy to learn how to make digital forms. For example, when I was in school, a lot of my classmates learned and used SurveyMonkey.

SurveyMonkey is a free online tool where users make and share surveys. It was a great tool for school (and even work!) because it was easy to build a form and it was valuable for collecting research data.

How do you make a killer form?

Tools like SurveyMonkey are just the beginning. Although it’s not hard to make digital forms, it’s important to learn how to do them properly. After all, great forms lead to great results!

building a killer form

The Best Practices of a Killer Form include Organization, Multimedia, and Mobile-Friendliness.

Organization

Forms must be organized. For example, consider Tax Forms. Taxpayers usually confirm their name, address, and other personal info on the first page of their Tax Form because it makes sense to keep similar data together.

Hence, before people start making forms, they should create a form outline. This involves brainstorming data collection objectives and grouping those objectives in a logical order.

Multimedia

Another best practice is including multimedia. Particularly, people are getting away from text-only forms. Most forms in the 2000s era consist of text boxes and checkboxes. In contrast, modern forms include file uploads.

To illustrate, think about driver maintenance forms. In the 2000s, drivers would need to describe vehicle problems in words. However, in modern forms, drivers can take a video with their phone and upload that video onto the form. After all, pictures are worth 1000 words!

Mobile Friendliness

Lastly, forms must be mobile friendly. Mobile friendliness is much more than downsizing a form to fit a phone screen. Instead, mobile friendliness is about taking advantage of phones. For example, a lot of digital phones use e-signatures. Customers can directly sign on a phone rather than signing on paper.

Case Example: AAA

Many businesses choose to make digital forms because it’s an effective way to improve processes. One of those businesses is AAA, one of the largest emergency road services.

Before starting digital forms, drivers manually completed forms. “Manual forms are a lot of work for drivers and for administrators,” commented a driver. “Sometimes, drivers had to turn in damaged forms because it was raining.”

Then, AAA decided to go digital. Digital forms were much more effective. In fact, on average, drivers got to their next jobs 3 minutes quicker. As a whole, this means AAA saved 750 hours every month!

Click here to learn more about making digital forms with ProntoForms. 

Tech Disruption: Restaurant Delivery Vehicle Tracking

Posted on | by Jimmy Song

How would you order food from a restaurant? For a long time, there was only one way. People needed to call the restaurant and place an order with in-house delivery drivers. Nowadays, people use food order apps and watch restaurant delivery vehicle tracking to monitor their food!

Transformation of Food Delivery

Traditional Boring Food Delivery

Traditionally, food delivery is boring and simple. When people want food, they would simply call a restaurant and place an order. If the restaurant offers delivery, they would send an employee to deliver food to the customer’s home. While this process worked for a long time, it wasn’t perfect. Why?

Typically, if people are ordering food, they are hungry! People want to get food right away. However, between preparing the food and sending a delivery driver, customers might wait upwards of 30 to 60 minutes. That’s not good for those as hungry as a lion!

A New Idea

How can people get faster food deliveries? A new idea came with the rise of phone apps and online orders. Similar to ordering something online, what if people can order food and schedule deliveries online?

That idea took off. Several companies including UberEats, SkiptheDishes, and Just Eat are offering food couriers. These courier services work with a restaurant to process online orders and send local drivers to deliver food to a customer. The business model got so lucrative that some of these companies are worth $50-billion.

How Does Online Food Ordering & Delivery Work?

There are usually several steps. Here is a rough process:

1. Restaurant & Courier Partnership

Firstly, couriers would partner with restaurants. The partnership helps both the courier and restaurant. For restaurants, couriers handle the entire delivery process. This includes setting up an online order menu, processing payment, delivering food, and providing restaurant delivery vehicle tracking. In exchange, couriers receive a cut out of the food order.

2. Customers Order Online.

Secondly, customers can order food online. After setting up an online menu, customers can use an app to browse an online menu, order their food, and pay.

3. Restaurants and Couriers Prepare Food & Delivery.

Thirdly, restaurants and couriers prepare the order. At the restaurants, staff receive and prepare the online order. Meanwhile, the courier receives the order, finds the closest driver, and sends them to pick up the food.

4. Delivery

Finally, when the food is finished, a driver takes the food and delivers it to its destination. Throughout the process, customers can check restaurant delivery vehicle tracking on their app to monitor their food. From placing an order to receiving food, the process can be as quick as 15 minutes.

What if I want to start my own online food delivery service?

This is not a rare thought. There are many online food delivery services. However, potential business owners face two big challenges.

Saturated Industry

The biggest challenge is the food delivery space is dominated by major players. In recent years, several businesses opened and closed because of stiff competition.

In order to compete against big names, new services have to offer something different. For instance, a common complaint against big-name food deliverers is the quality of service. Some restaurants report that drivers sometimes fail to take care of the order and deliver unfresh food. As a result, the restaurant ends up looking like the bad guys. Consequently, some new services are taking advantage by controlling their delivery quality and outcompeting the big names.

Finding Restaurant Delivery Vehicle Tracking Technology

Another barrier is finding the correct restaurant delivery vehicle tracking technology. Online delivery services rely on steady technology to quickly process orders.

As a result, new businesses need to build a system that can: 1) process online orders, 2) track the closest driver, 3) assign them to their job, and finally 4) monitor the delivery process. Thus, new services need to either hire strong programmers or buy specialized software.

Review a case study in the food industry here.

Links
The Globe & Mail: The rise of the instant-delivery lunch
BlogTO: Toronto is getting fed up with food delivery apps

CONNECTing with Innovative Fleet Management Technology

Posted on | by Jimmy Song

I had the chance to attend GEOTAB CONNECT 2018. GEOTAB CONNECT gathers some of the biggest leaders in fleet management, including many Geotab Partners. I had a great time learning about innovative fleet management technology. (And the food was also great – thanks Geotab!)

In this post, I want to share some emerging fleet management technology.

Electric Vehicle Tracking & Some Big News!

At the show, Geotab announced that it is acquiring FleetCarma. FleetCarma is one of the BIGGEST names in electric vehicle fleet management. Their dedicated team is a great addition to the Geotab Network, which is now positioned as an electric vehicle fleet management leader.

Electric Vehicle Wave

The timing of the news made sense. After all, electric vehicles are one of the biggest fleet management trends. Not only do EVs help the environment, they also provide savings. In fact, according to a ROI study, fleets get a payback on their investment because electricity is cheaper than fuel.

A lot of commercial and public fleets are testing EVs. The next question, of course, becomes how to manage EVs and their battery. This is where FleetCarma comes in.

FleetCarma

FleetCarma’s fleet management technology focuses on electric vehicle management. For example, FleetCarma aids with two unique EV challenges.

Picture from FleetCarma

Adding batteries to the fleet management equation. How and when should fleets charge their vehicles? FleetCarma’s tools locate EV chargers and analyze EV usage. It then combines the two data sets and recommends an optimal EV charging strategy.

EV Diagnostics. EVs have their own diagnostic data. For instance, FleetCarma collects and builds battery health reports that optimize EV asset life.

Driver Engagement

Another big fleet management technology is driver engagement apps. Why? Fleets might have access to a lot of data but that data is useless without further action. Driver engagement apps take fleet data and uses it to guide drivers.

Driver Feedback and Training

An example of a driver engagement app is Mentor by eDriving. Mentor uses Geotab data to provide feedback and training.

Feedback

One of the best practices in driver engagement is gamifiying their experience. For instance, drivers can view their Driver Score on Mentor. This Driver Score is compared against a fleet average and against weekly & monthly trends.

Training

Picture from: eDriving

Another best practice is providing live training. Mentor uses Geotab data to auto-create training courses. For instance, let’s say a driver has a low score for Harsh Driving rules. Mentor then sends targeted training videos to coach the driver. As a result, drivers can correct their performance before they get into trouble!

Continuing to Fight Against Distracted Driving

Finally, let’s discuss distracted driving. Distracted driving was a big topic at CONNECT. It makes sense because many fleets are joining the battle against distracted driving.

For instance, a lot of enterprise fleets started using distracted driving sensors or driver cameras. However, what if a fleet has a smaller budget?

Driver Distraction App

Picture from: SafeRide Mobile

Driver distraction apps are a good option for those fleets. SafeRide is a new app in the Geotab Marketplace that targets distracted drivers. Here’s how it works.

1. First, SafeRide identifies a driver through Geotab.

2. Then, when the driver starts going on the road, SafeRide locks the phone. The driver can no longer use the phone except for emergency calls or for allowed apps such as Geotab Drive.

3. Finally, 30 seconds after the car is parked, SafeRide unlocks the phone

Visit the Geotab Marketplace to discover more fleet management technology!

Links
FleetCarma: Electric Vehicle Fleet Management
eDriving: Mentor App
SafeRide