Kevin Bull, commercial director for ABAX UK, looks at how innovative telematics solutions can pay dividends for fleets.

Remote fleet management can be made easier with innovative telematics solutions

There’s no doubt that the past couple of years have had an impact on fleet management – with challenges brought about by pandemic and the national lockdown.

Vehicles, trailers, lorries and machinery were either sat idle at closed plants, depots, sites and yards or parked up on employees’ driveways.

Fast forward to summer 2022 and while it has been a case of ‘back to business as usual’ for many, some companies have continued with the viable option of home, flexible or hybrid working.

So, with many companies deciding not to return to the ‘old’ way of working, is it time to introduce new measures and solutions to adequately manage a vehicle fleet remotely?

With staff, vehicles and assets spread over a wider area, innovative telematics solutions provider ABAX is fully aware of the challenges and headaches of managing a mixed fleet of vehicles, plants and tools.

Experts in the field, ABAX not only offers solutions through its multiple products, but delivers added value to its customers alongside 24/7 support in areas to help with time-management, driving performance and behaviour, business efficiency and security.

Through a range of tracking devices, ABAX is able to offer a one-stop-shop to fleet owners and managers regarding efficiency and productivity, as well as security and vehicle asset management.

The data and technology are tried and tested to overcome issues like vehicle tracking, minimising vehicle downtime, improving driving behaviour, cutting down on wasted administration time, curbing any vehicle misuse as well as increase security and monitoring.

We recognise the challenges and pain points that fleet owners and managers face – which in many cases have been heightened during and since the pandemic.

As well as our multiple products, we ensure that our customers receive value from using them, and we have a great team to help get them set up with any of our tracking devices.

Our innovative tracking solutions give customers more control over their assets, vehicles and machines. This in turn allows them to reduce the risk of theft, driver speeding, loss of tools, driving performance and make sure that the fleet is driving efficiently. Our solutions are also greener and more sustainable for the environment.

Theft continues to create issues for fleet managers, with a 2021 CensusWide study revealing that stolen vehicles or equipment costs fleet-based businesses an average of £12,250 each year. That figure is even higher for businesses with more than 100 vehicles, with the data showing that larger fleets lose on average £21,000 each year. The findings suggest that one of the potential contributors to the problem is a lack of tracking or inability to immobilise vehicles.

The report found that GPS asset tracking devices, which can play a significant role in helping to recover stolen assets, are used in only half (52%) of fleet vehicles. Even fewer vehicles were shown to use GPS tracking on portable assets such as IT equipment and tools (32%), construction equipment (24%) and on cargo pallets (21%).

However, this is something that ABAX has first-hand experience and success of helping customers with, including Redcliffe Tree Surgery – which used its ABAX installed trackers to recover a van that was stolen overnight from the owner Richard Boettcher’s driveway.

Having reported the vehicle missing to police, Richard was able to use the ABAX app to accurately track the whereabouts of the van and alert officers to its location. From reporting the vehicle missing to its recovery it took just 40 minutes!