The components of a good fleet management system

The components of a good fleet management system

A good fleet management system is important in order to optimize benefits. It relies on both software and hardware components, of which we are going to talk about today.

 

The hardware of a fleet management system

Today's fleet management systems are based on GPS tracking technology. A GPS device is installed in each vehicle. It collects data related to the vehicle and the driver’s behaviour. This data is collected thanks to a series of accessories and sensors installed in the vehicle. The sensors can be related to speed, temperature, engine block, fuel level, door opening, and, of course, geographical location and route direction. The data is then sent by wireless connection, by satellite signal or by phone networks, to the management center or to the fleet management application.

 

Another important part of the fleet management system hardware are the receiving devices. Thanks to these devices, the vehicle not only sends data about its position and status. It can also receive alerts, notifications and other useful information from the fleet management center. Alerts allow the fleet manager to inform the driver in real time of the state of the road,  the weather, or last minute changes on the route. In addition, real-time notifications facilitate communication between the driver and the fleet manager. This can correct negative behaviors, report infringements or reward a job well done.

 

The software of a fleet management system

The software is the heart of the fleet management system. It is what makes possible not only data collection, but also data transmission and subsequent analysis. One of the most common ways in which fleet management system software works is in the form of a map. It is possible to generate maps with the real-time position of all vehicles in the fleet, routes made during a certain period of time, or the planning of future trips. These maps allow us to manage the fleet more efficiently. For example, if we need to send a vehicle to a specific point, we can know at the moment which is the closest vehicle to the destination, thus saving time and fuel.

 

As a complement to the maps, we find the fleet management system reports. These reports contain useful data collected by the sensors of the different vehicles. In many cases they are presented in PDF format for easy reading, or in Excel format for better work, categorization or analysis of the collected data. The data we can find in the reports range from the fuel levels in the tanks of each vehicle to the average speed of a vehicle during a route. Reports are very useful tools to determine driver behavior and to identify infractions or harmful actions. It is also important that a fleet management system has the possibility of integrating with the company's ERP through a 3rd. party software connections API, in this way the two applications are put together in one, thus improving information analysis.

 

There are only a few companies today that do not depend on a fleet of motor vehicles. That is why it is important to know the different components of a fleet management system and the advantages of using each one of them. If you want to know more about fleet management systems or want to incorporate one into your fleet, do not hesitate to visit our Telematic consulting section. Ask for more information and get a personalized plan to take your business to the next level.