Currys has slashed more than £400,000 from its annual fuel bill with the help of Lightfoot’s in-cab driver coaching technology and rewards platform.
Rolled out across the tech giant’s fleet of 262 Ford Transits and 410 Iveco Dailys, the platform has delivered a 10.8% improvement in MPG, a near 11% fall in CO2 emissions and a 5% drop in vehicle idling.
As a result, in the last year alone Currys saw its annual fuel bill drop by £416,000 – equivalent to nearly £620 for every vehicle on the fleet.
The savings were revealed in telematics data captured by Lightfoot and compared during its blind to live trials.
First adopted by the retailer in 2016, the Lightfoot system has evolved with the business, providing real-time driver feedback that has reduced instances of harsh acceleration, cornering and braking. This has contributed to a 98% reduction in incidents of riskier styles of driving.
As a result, the technology has lowered the likelihood of accidents on the road, resulting in a 15.8% reduction of total annual blameworthy accidents between FY 2016/17 and FY 2022/23; a fact which the company actively shares with insurers and brokers.
Additionally, Lightfoot’s tech provides telematics and tracking data via its portal, which Currys uses to accurately identify where and when vehicle incidents occur, alongside speed data. Currys also uses Lightfoot’s MPG data to contribute to annual reporting relating to fleet greenhouse gas emissions, and to its annual Environmental and Social Governance (ESG) reports.
Lightfoot is able to slash both fuel use and emissions thanks to its live in-cab audible and visual alerts, delivering advanced learning which keeps drivers in ‘the sweet spot’ of the engine.
Due to the real-time coaching, audible end-of-journey scores, competitive driver leagues and reward and recognition, drivers are encouraged to be safer and more efficient on each journey.
Lightfoot’s fully integrated technology and fleet manager portal allows Currys to analyse telematics data in detail, focusing on those areas of greatest gain for the business, enhancing efficiency and saving time.
The business also motivates its drivers through engagement communications that encourage entry into Lightfoot’s range of weekly prize draws for Elite Drivers.
Chris Georgiou, head of compliance for supply chain and service operations at Currys, said: “From the early days of working with Lightfoot, we recognised the huge benefit that real-time driver feedback has to play in changing driving styles for the better. It’s a world apart from using telematics retrospectively and has helped our drivers improve their driving standards, enabling them to become smoother, and safer at pace.
“For us, the key is driver engagement. From consumer tech rewards to cash prizes in the Drivers’ Lottery, our drivers see the direct benefit of becoming Elite Drivers; all without the headache of Benefits-in-Kind. We also use data from Lightfoot to feed into our Delivery Crew of the Year competition.
“Add to that the fact that a good Lightfoot driving record can help reduce private vehicle insurance premiums, and it’s easy to see why so many of our team are using the app, helping them to become better, more mindful drivers on the road.”
Lightfoot said Currys showed the game-changing impact of its driver-focused solution, benefiting from business savings and reduced driver risks as well as contributing to its decarbonisation strategy.
Paul Hollick, managing director of Lightfoot, added: “As Currys moves to a low carbon fleet – which includes a commitment to transitioning 100% of its small van fleet and 50% of its medium to heavy fleet to electric or alternative fuel by 2030 – we look forward to playing a continued part in motivating its drivers to be smoother and safer, enhancing vehicle range and delivering a greener, cleaner fleet that’s fit for the future.”
