Ford’s recently launched FORDLiive connected uptime system has significantly cut vehicle downtime for fleets just months after going live.
Launched in March 2021, the new service is available free of charge to all Ford connected commercial vehicle operators and connects them with the Transit Centre network and Ford itself, using connected vehicle data and proactive interventions to provide smart maintenance.
The company believes that downtime could be reduced by as much as 60% for vehicles maintained in the Ford Transit Centre network – and Ford’s new data shows its ‘FORDLiive agents’ have already delivered over 15,000 additional days of vehicle availability in the UK, using new UptimePro software to proactively manage repair and maintenance cases on behalf of customers.
The launch of the new solution – available on connected Ford vehicles within the Ranger or Transit ranges – has been backed by the opening of Europe’s first FORDLiive Centre at Ford’s European commercial vehicle research and development HQ in Dunton, Essex, which supports the Transit Centre dealer network, helping to minimise the time spent off road for customer vehicles.
FORDLiive’s ambition is to deliver 100% operating uptime for customers – but for issues such as accidents or intermittent faults, FORDLiive Centres are designed to help keep the resultant downtime to a minimum.
It’s staffed by FORDLiive uptime specialists who use a constant feed of live data from Ford’s dealer and roadside assistance network to track each vehicle’s repair progress and respond to emerging issues – advising on the best solutions for optimum uptime.
Another centre is due to open shortly in Spain and the two facilities between them will be linked to 80% of Ford connected commercial vehicle customers in Europe by the end of 2021.
Data from the first five full months of FORDLiive operation in the UK shows that where vehicles were off the road for repair, proactive management by FORDLiive agents using UptimePro helped return vehicles to service sooner.
In total, there are now more than 100 FORDLiive agents in Europe working with dealers and customers, with further team members being added as the FORDLiive system is expanded across all European markets.
“Our FORDLiive Centres are already demonstrating their value and proving that using data to unlock productivity delivers tangible benefits for customers – and this is just the start,” said Nathan Sanders, manager, customer relations, Ford of Europe. “We will keep enhancing our FORDLiive services in pursuit of delivering 100% operating uptime so customers can focus on looking after their business rather than their vehicles.”
