More than 4,500 fleet decision makers across 15 countries were interviewed for this year’s research, with a total of 44% of UK-based respondents at companies with 100 or more employees saying that they find mobile phone apps a useful fleet management tool as well as 27% in smaller companies (less than 100 employees). 

The picture is a similar one in other European countries as the use of apps by both drivers and fleet managers becomes more common. This is not necessarily a surprise as technology penetrates business practices and is becoming more popular each year. Around a third of businesses surveyed in the UK now allocate smartphones and tablets to their employees providing access to a range of apps, many of which are free to download. 

Robert Pieczka, marketing & insurance director at Arval, commented: “Mobile technology is growing in importance in our everyday lives so it is no surprise that it’s also filtering into our work. Smartphone and tablet technology provide new opportunities and new ways of working which have the potential to provide great benefit to business fleet operations.“ 

Often secure, and generally linked to the users location through the GPS on the phone, apps can give drivers information linked to their vehicle, their company fleet policy, the services that they regularly use and their own behaviour. The major benefit is that at the touch of a button they provide relevant information wherever the user is and whenever they want to access it. 

Convenient and useful additions to the fleet management tool kit, the research showed in which areas fleet managers see the value of mobile apps. Top of the list for larger companies was easy access to the company car policy and the ability to book services. 

Pieczka concluded: “There are a wide range of vehicle and fleet related apps now available but they do not all deliver the same value so just like any product or service the challenge is to identify the most useful. That’s why when developing the Arval Smart Experience we made sure to match the functionality of the tools with the needs of our customers and their drivers.”