Fleet maintenance software may, at first glance, seem like just one more expense to absorb. But if you look a little deeper, you’ll see that the value proposition is real.
Here are five reasons fleet maintenance software is an investment and not an expense.
1. It Adds Years to the Life of Your Vehicles
The most significant costs associated with owning fleet vehicles are the cars, trucks, and other vehicles. Remember that vehicles are not assets. They lose value with each mile your workers put on them, and usage means more and more wear and tear. But the good news is that scheduled maintenance can add years to the life of your fleet.
Fleet maintenance software prevents maintenance and repairs from falling through the cracks.
It tracks miles, hours, or engine utilization and reminds you automatically when service is due based on manufacturer recommendations. Instead of depending on memory or paper records, you’ll have an electronic reminder to keep your fleet running at its best.
By avoiding costly breakdowns and keeping your vehicles properly maintained, you’ll prevent unnecessary and avoidable repairs. In the long run, fleet maintenance software can significantly reduce your expenses. A good ROI will justify buying such software.
2. It Evades Expensive Downtime
Sudden breakdowns can stop your business in its tracks. If your delivery trucks or service vans sit in the repair shop, your entire schedule—and bottom line—can be impacted. Fleet maintenance software helps you stay one step ahead of problems like these. It won’t eliminate the odds of downtime, but it will greatly reduce such risks.
Through the monitoring of early warning signs and vehicle diagnostics, the software will inform you about problems before they can lead to catastrophic failure and downtime. Most systems also integrate with telematics and GPS to track performance in real-time.
One source says downtime can cost up to $9,000 per minute for big companies. Yes, that's "per minute." Software that will help prevent even a few breakdowns a year can pay dividends and warrant investing in a fleet maintenance application.
3. It Increases Fuel Efficiency
Fuel typically is a fleet's second-highest expense. Neglect in maintenance—such as dirty air filters, flat tires, or misaligned wheels—will lower fuel efficiency.
Fleet maintenance platforms guarantee those sorts of problems are resolved on time. By reminding drivers when tires must be rotated, fluids inspected, and tune-ups performed, the software can help your company keep cars in top condition.
The software will also warn of trends, including which cars are consuming more fuel than they should. That information can highlight bad driving habits that should be improved.
4. It Makes Record-Keeping and Compliance Easier
For businesses with fleets, record-keeping is about regulatory compliance. It can be cumbersome if done by hand, however. Fleet maintenance software can simplify things. Every repair, inspection, and part swap can be easily entered and stored using the software.
That way, when the regulators pay a visit seeking maintenance information, it'll be easy for your company to print out accurate, up-to-date records.
Aside from compliance, electronic documentation can help with warranty claims, resale value, and insurance claims.
5. It Provides Data-Driven Insights to Make Smarter Decisions
Fleet maintenance software doesn't just save data—it processes it for you. This data can provide insights into trends that enable more astute decision-making throughout the operation.
Making decisions based on firm facts instead of guesstimates will make the entire operation more strategic, less expensive, and more profitable.
Forward-thinking companies understand that maintenance is not a cost. It’s an investment. When you're investing in software that keeps your trucks on the road, your drivers safe, and your records up to date, you're safeguarding the future of your operations.
In a business where every mile counts, that's an investment that pays for itself.
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