march2023 - 24

» Zonar utilizes a patented Electronic Verified Inspection Reporting system that places tags at strategic points around a vehicle, ensuring thorough inspections.
Zonar
were three-ring binders that were bigger than
the accounting department... We have all of that
baked into our software. "
Meanwhile, larger fleets need streamlined
communication more than ever.
" For fleets with 500 to 600 trucks and multiple
depots in multiple locations, that digitized
communication makes life a lot easier given the
volume of repair that's taking place in a big fleet, "
said Mark Wasilko, Decisiv VP of marketing. " It
certainly improves that fleet manager's ability
to oversee and better control the process. "
Sometimes this digital communication translates
directly into time savings, as it did for a
large linen service delivery operation using Shell
Fleet Solutions' Fleet Maintenance Hub.
" Their pain point was the amount of time one
of their divisions was spending on consolidating
invoices when it came to maintenance, " said Jim
Perkins, director of fleet solutions, Shell. " So, we
introduced the product to them, [and] they wanted
to trial it at this one particular distribution center.
If they could just save 10% of the time they were
spending on maintenance administration, they
were sold. "
According to Perkins, the company signed up for
the solutions platform within two weeks thanks
to their administrative efficiency.
When a fleet maintenance
system is right for you
Having considered the various benefits of maintenance
management systems for various sizes of
fleets, then comes decision time. Ultimately, fleet
management must calculate the cost/benefit analysis
and whether the price of a platform outweighs
the savings they gain from it or not.
24 Fleet Maintenance | March 2023
" When you put it on the
other side when you have
1,000 vehicles, now you're
talking huge scale. And
small changes can make
huge improvements to
your bottom line and to
your time-saving. "
Jim Perkins, director of
fleet solutions, Shell
" If you think about the small fleet, somebody
that only has a handful of vehicles, costs and
savings are almost critical to their survival at
the time, " Perkins reasoned. " When you put it on
the other side when you have 1,000 vehicles, now
you're talking huge scale. And small changes can
make huge improvements to your bottom line and
to your time-saving. "
Additionally, there is the argument to be made
that beyond cost savings, the maintenance visibility
offered by various platforms is more critical
than ever, especially as fleets need to stretch
the viability of their vehicles due to the delay in
getting new parts and components.
" [For] a fleet that doesn't even have its own shop
to do PM work or is relying on local ISPs to do
the PM work, that portal access to the network, so
they can track the work being done, is every bit
as important to a small fleet as it is to a midsize
fleet or a large fleet, " Wasilko agreed.
O'Brien distilled down fleet considerations for
a management platform even further.
" Should I have a fleet management platform? "
O'Brien asked. " I go back to some questions to ask
[fleets], starting with 'Do you repair your own
equipment?' And that would be the first indication
of should you have management: Absolutely. "
O'Brien argued that when a fleet provides its own
repairs, it takes on a measure of legal responsibility
for any accidents or repairs due to accidents for the
vehicle, making maintenance management not just
a question of convenience, but one of public safety.
In the end, whether or not a fleet procures a
fleet maintenance management platform and
which one they select is entirely driven by the
fleet manager and the KPIs they want to achieve
for their business. The decision will be different
for each fleet, with the common goal of greater
ease for managers, technicians, and drivers alike.
" [A maintenance management system] simplifies
the day-to-day responsibilities for fleet owners
by automating maintenance workflows, " Simpson
said. " It allows them to reduce fleet costs and focus
on running their primary business. "
And ultimately, being able to focus on what
they do best-getting necessary goods, parts, and
supplies from one end of the country to the other-
without worrying about downtime for maintenance
is all that any fleet needs for smooth operation.
" On the maintenance side, it's a no-brainer
when they put the whole package together, " Hagen
concluded.
The only question that then remains is what
fleet managers and owners will do with their
newfound time and peace of mind.
" Before, things would slip through the cracks, "
Hagen explained. " SNow, it's freed me up to add
more equipment. "
For related content go to
FleetMaintenance.com/shop-operations

http://www.FleetMaintenance.com/shop-operations

march2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of march2023