These days, we’re hearing more and more about how businesses need to leverage and optimise their data. The world of fleet maintenance is no exception, but what exactly is this data, and how can fleet managers leverage it? Below, we’ll discuss examples of fleet data, the benefits of leveraging it, and how you can incorporate a data-driven strategy in your fleet maintenance system.

Use your fleet service data to avoid costly repairs

Leveraging the data provided by your fleet maintenance software can go a long way towards avoiding failures and reducing downtime. For example, if your fleet management system is telling you that a vehicle is due for service in 2000km, then make it your business to get that service completed. Should you go over the threshold, you run the risk of a major failure and potential voiding of the warranty. Imagine explaining to your director that this expensive gearbox repair could have been avoided had you just paid more attention to the vehicle’s service due dates.

Preventive fleet maintenance means less expenditure on spares

By using vehicle data to predict vehicle issues before a failure occurs, fleet managers can save money on parts too. Under traditional fleet maintenance regimes, operators often end up investing significant money in contingency spares and consumables. And while fleets will need some level of spares, the more issues you prevent before they happen, the less reliant your fleet will become on having a large spares bank.

Predictive fleet maintenance reduces the need for contingency vehicles

Fleet downtime brings with it the requirement for another vehicle to cover the defective one. Whether this means hiring another vehicle or always having extra ones on standby, it’s a cost that fleet managers could do with avoiding, or at least reducing. As discussed above, paying attention to the data your fleet management system provides around servicing can help avoid major failures and the resulting downtime. This means your fleet will also be less reliant on having to draft in standby or hire-in vehicles as cover. ForWare sends fleet managers automated maintenance notifications as and when a service becomes due, while also giving you access to the ForWare Workshop Network. This makes fleet maintenance scheduling slick and easy.

Your fleet data can help you develop a more efficient fleet in the future

We’ve discussed how data provided by fleet maintenance software enables preventive fleet maintenance. It can also make use of data from past maintenance. For instance, studying the data provided from past service may highlight patterns with certain defects. Perhaps one vehicle type is proving to be particularly prone to clutch problems, for example. This could indicate that that type is not suited to some of the routes your fleet covers. This is useful information to have when it comes to replacing your fleet.

Manufacturer service/VHC requirements are built into ForWare

As mentioned, ForWare sends notifications when a vehicle becomes due for servicing. This applies to all makes of vehicles. Manufacturer service/VHC requirements are built into the system. It is also compatible with manufacturer service plans. If your regular workshop partner is too busy to carry out the work in the requisite timeframe, don’t worry, you can use the ForWare Workshop Network to find an alternative authorised repairer.

Interested in seeing how the ForWare fleet maintenance system can help you leverage your fleet data and make your operations more efficient? Contact Alan Maher today for a free demonstration. Call him on 021 484 5550 or email alan@forware.io.