How to Maximize your Technology Investment
The number one reason that CEOs invest in fleet software is for fleet safety*. While this is an excellent start for committing to safety, it’s not the set-it-and-forget-it solution that many hope will cure all their company’s safety issues. The way to improve fleet safety is to leverage Fleet Data by monitoring, identifying, and correcting driver behavior.
So where do you begin in order to maximize your technology investment? Start with a Safety Management Plan. The Safety Management Plan takes into account your company’s goals and lays out what’s needed to get the most of out your technology investment. A solid Safety Management Plan ensures your company has the needed organizational structure, a plan to install and properly implement the software, and identifies the roles and responsibilities for monitoring and analyzing the fleet data. It also establishes protocols and procedures for addressing unsafe driving behavior.
Selecting the Right Software
Investing in the right software for your needs is key. The safety planning process is much like any other budgetary or strategic planning; it requires an understanding of what your current needs are as well as accounting for your future needs. Take the time to review different options with different capabilities so you can align your company’s plan with the right technology. Making hasty decisions means making poor decisions. Plan ahead to make investing smarter which can ultimately save you money in the future.
Create a roadmap for your technology that accounts for your company’s projected growth and what you’ll need from your software to be able to scale with you. Investing in the right technology can help you simplify workflow, increase customer satisfaction, and improve asset management.
Implementing Change
With new software - like any organizational change - comes new processes, policies, and responsibilities. Change management is crucial and drivers should be given a slow implementation with multiple training sessions and constant follow-up. This approach of slowly building and adding is much more likely to be well received by the organization and ensures higher likelihood of thorough understanding and adoption.
The best place to start is by creating the policies and training procedures, then a schedule for training, and finally an implementation schedule. Be sure to kick-off the program with positivity. Be ready to answer the following questions:
What will you tell your drivers?
How do you make sure the program starts out on a positive note?
What type of expectations do you have as an organization?
Who is going to spearhead this mission?
Is there a training schedule planned out yet?
Fleet safety is enhanced when the right technology is involved, but simply having the technology does not improve safety. Maximize your technology investment by doing your research to find the right technology for your needs today and in the future; properly train and implement the new processes; and maintain open communication with your drivers. If you’re not sure where to start, work with a professional help you build your roadmap!
*source: Frost & Sullivan: Global Overview of Truck Video Safety Solutions Market