Businesses investing in technology to help run vehicles more efficiently could actually cut downtime and management costs this year amid the cost-of-living crisis.
That’s according to Trakm8, which is urging fleets not to cut corners when it comes to vehicle maintenance this winter.
While businesses are being forced cut their cloth even more severely at the moment, poorly maintained vehicles are one of the leading causes of road traffic accidents in the UK. A recent report from the AA found that up to 1,700 deaths or serious injuries on British roads last year were directly attributable to subpar vehicle maintenance. And the problem is expected to worsen as drivers and businesses come under increased economic pressure.
But while reducing or even scrapping the ongoing maintenance of fleet vehicles might seem like an easy way to save money, doing so could have serious safety implications for drivers and other road users.
And Trakm8, a leading vehicle technology solutions provider, says that although investing in new technology during a cost-of-living crisis might seem like a false economy, purchasing the right sort of software and solutions can help businesses make significant savings later down the line.
Among the many benefits that telematics can bring to a business is the ability to glean a holistic overview of a vehicle’s health. Trakm8’s ConnectedCare solution, for example, delivers an all-in-one monitoring solution with remote access to vehicle health insights, such as live dashboard warnings, battery health overviews and fuel use updates. This system provides fleet managers with the tools needed to optimise their fleet according to vehicle health, reducing downtime and management costs.
Route optimisation and planning can also make a big difference to operations and fuel costs, increasing efficiency while also supporting customer service. Trakm8’s Route Optimisation software enables fleet managers to utilise their vehicles as smartly as possible – a particular boon during some of the busiest months of the year for delivery fleets.
Nick Guise, group marketing manager at Trakm8, said: “The cost-of-living crisis is obviously having a severe impact across the sector. Our hope though is that managers take proactive steps to optimise rather than delaying action.
“Trakm8 has a range of optimisation tools and telematics solutions that provide insight and feedback for users. This includes ways to reduce fuel costs through driver feedback and reducing idling as well as bigger picture savings like route optimisation and planning software.”
