Understanding which tools you need.
As a fleet man
ager, it’s your job to make sure your fleet stays safe and arrives on time. And in today’s technology-focused world, there are many tools at your disposal to help you make this a reality. It’s important to examine each new trend to determine if it’s one your business or school district should follow. There are many things to consider when evaluating a potential new tool, but the following two considerations are some of the more important ones:
Will this really make my job easier?
New tools often come with lots of bells and whistles. It can be overwhelming. How will you use each feature? And more importantly, do you have the manpower to take advantage of all of them? This can be a big concern for many businesses and school districts.
In order to overcome this, look for tools that do the work for you. One example would be a GPS system that automates the reports and alerts you need. This way you don’t have to be actively working in the software to get the full value of the tool.
Instead, you can have the information delivered via email or text, and then use it to drive your next actions.
What are our top problems and how will these tools solve them?
Different people have different priorities. Maybe your payroll is an issue. Or maybe students are missing the bus for a variety of reasons, and parents are upset. Depending on your specific needs, you will need to weed through the tools to determine which will best solve your problem.
Some questions to ask yourself here include:
- What are my needs vs. my wants? This helps you determine what the “must haves” of the solution are.
- Is it easy to use? No matter how great a tool is, if it’s difficult to understand, no one will use it.
- What kind of training and support are offered? In order to solve your problems effectively, you need to make sure your team is properly prepared.
Ultimately, take the time to understand your needs first. And then evaluate the top trends and tools available to find a solution that works the best for your transportation team.
To learn more about our software and GPS tracking, download your free copy of our magazine, Ridealong with Synovia Solutions. We'll help you stay on top of the latest fleet management trends, and decide what's right for your team.
