What is fleet management?
On a day-to-day basis, companies need vehicles to facilitate the movement of their employees in the course of their operations. Whether it's to transport goods, equipment or people, every company needs to acquire vehicles that are adapted to its specific needs. Depending on the size of the organisation, it may need to obtain several dozen or even hundreds of electric cars, whether they are commercial vehicles or not. That's where fleet management comes in.
Le fleet managementor management of vehicle fleetencompasses the operational management of electric vehicles within a fleet to improve a company's efficiency and reduce its costs. The implementation of fleet management is part of a specific commercial strategy and requires previously established objectives.
This means :
- monitoring vehicles and drivers,
- cost management,
- diagnostics,
- monitoring consumption,
- compliance with standards,
- ensure employee satisfaction.
Fleet management depends on the number and type of cars in the fleet. Although the challenges remain similar, the approaches have a direct impact on the fleet's profitability. This concept is relatively common in companies using vehicles for their activities (transport companies, delivery companies, service companies, etc.).
What's more, fleet management offers universal adaptabilityregardless of the size of the company. Its financial efficiency grows in proportion to its large-scale deployment.
Finally, depending on the size and needs of your fleet, this can be done in-house or by a specialist company.
What is the role of a fleet manager?
This master of operational efficiency is much more than just a vehicle manager. He is the strategic linchpin ensuring the smooth coordination of a vehicle fleet, navigating between safety imperatives, logistical challenges and budgetary constraints.
In fact, the fleet manager, or fleet managermakes crucial decisions for ensure the smooth running of transport operations, driver safety and overall profitability. Its main objective is to maintain the TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) as low as possible, by optimising the costs associated with managing the fleet.
Read also : TCO (Total cost of ownership), how can it be optimised?
In short, it acts as aintermediary between the company and its automotive suppliersIt's all about optimising vehicle management, so that vehicles are an asset to the company rather than a burden.
The benefits of electric fleet management
Electric fleet management offers a plethora of benefits for both businesses and the environment. Here's how effective organisation can transform your fleet.
Reducing operating costs
Naturally, the first point being that the transition to electric vehicles reduces the costs associated with maintenance and fuel consumption, offering long-term profitability.
The second point is that the data provided by advanced technologies, management applications and IT solutions identifies the levers for optimisation. This analysis of expenditure guides the fleet manager in his or her choices, balancing the reduction of unnecessary coststhe investments conducive to company growth and thus improve your competitiveness.
For example, a precise definition of the contract according to requirements simplifies monitoring and avoids return costs. It is also important to take into account the fluidity grid and mileage surveys to anticipate and adjust contracts.
Improving productivity
Implementing fleet management gives companies all the data they need in real time to optimise their productivity. Every day, managers benefit from a global view of their fleet. Freed from the administrative and operational constraints associated with the vehicle fleet, they can focus their attention on strategic developments in their business.
What's more, electric vehicles require less downtime for maintenance, guaranteeing greater availability of vehicles for operational missions.
Support for electric mobility
Following the government's encouragement to switch to green mobility and develop its fleet, a number of grants are available to companies to help them buy an electric car or opt for a solar-powered one. professional leasing. The electric car is hampered by a significant price tag. To make the car more accessible, various forms of assistance are available to reduce the cost.
That said, you have access to the environmental bonusthe conversion premiumbut also regional aids depending on the location of your company.
Don't forget that if you want to acquire charging stations or hire charging stationsand support for the installation of recharging solutions are also available.
It's the perfect way to set up a no-nonsense fleet management system and optimise your expenditure!
Top 5 efficient software for your electricity fleet
To give you a brief introduction to the concept, fleet management software offers instant visualisation of the position and status of electric carsand the driver behaviour. Obtaining specific data on a vehicle is quick and easy at any time, especially as it provides good performance indicators for the fleet manager to inform his decisions.
As a result, fleet management encompasses various hardware and software elements (via GPS, a server or monitoring devices), enabling :
- the recording,
- measurement,
- treatment,
- and real-time data transmission.
In short, it's quick and easy to collect specific data on a car. Large-scale operations will benefit fully from this solution, but it can also considerably boost the efficiency of small businesses.
Beev's electric fleet management tool
Beev has recently made available a completely free fleet management tool to help you manage your vehicles and recharging points more easily and productively. Whether you're a small business or a major international corporation, Beev has the solution to suit your needs.
What's more, this electric fleet management tool offers continuous monitoring so you can observe the status of your fleet and charging points live.
This software allows you to :
- examine your fleet data on the tab,
- consult a complete list of your vehicles (registration numbers, models, length of contract, mileage, etc.)
- access an exhaustive list of your drivers,
- create and consult your events in the calendar (maintenance, servicing or servicing your fleet),
- centralise your fleet-related documents.
And don't hesitate to take advantage of Beev's support for the purchase of new electric vehicles or the installation of charging stations.
GAC Car Fleet
GAC Car Fleet, a leading fleet management software, currently monitors over 330,000 vehicles for more than 250 customers.
This entirely digital solution also offers the possibility of communicating with drivers by e-mail or SMS (awareness-raising, mileage records, personalised reports, etc.). The configuration of alerts and risk prevention is completely adaptable to the manager's requirements.
This software centralises the essential data for each vehicle, such as :
- its history,
- its consumption,
- its state of maintenance and upkeep,
- follow-up,
- TCO analysis...
For fleets of more than 50 vehicles, using GAC Car Fleet can significantly improve a company's fleet.
FleetWave
FleetWave, a British online software package, is used in 180 countries and monitors nearly one million vehicles. It stands out for its high level of comprehensiveness, advanced customisation and ability to cover the entire lifecycle of fleet vehicles.
This software offers :
- claims management,
- acquisition and resale of vehicles,
- budget monitoring,
- payment of fines,
- vehicle maintenance...
WinFlotte 10
Developed by an experienced team, WinFlotte 10 is a robust, comprehensive cloud-based software package that provides comprehensive online fleet management. With a quarter of a century of accumulated experience, these experts have in-depth knowledge of the field.
It can be adapted to all fleet sizes and aims to apply best practice to reduce TCO and improve its impact. CSR.
It provides a variety of tools for assessing and controlling energy consumption. In detail, this cloud-based solution is divided into several modules, including :
- car sharing,
- fines,
- insurance and claims,
- the comparator (to estimate rental costs and other services offered by rental companies),
- "Exchange Exchange" (to facilitate the transfer of vehicles between sites little used by employees).
- or "Business Intelligence" (for intuitive visualisation of vehicle fleet data),
- and many others.
Phoenix
Phoenix, developed in 2011, is a fleet management software package. Its comprehensive, high-performance features are designed to correct errors caused by inappropriate practices.
As a SaaS tool designed by fleet management specialists, it ranks among the best thanks to the use of a shared language and procedures in its design.
This software offers the traditional functions of this type of software, giving the fleet manager a global view of his fleet:
- catalogue management,
- automated processing of fines,
- RGPD-compliant data storage,
- checking and processing supplier invoices,
- TCO optimisation,
- tools for analysing and monitoring the fleet...
Summary table of the 5 best electric fleet management software packages
| Software | Key features | Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Beev Fleet Manager | - Free tool - Real-time monitoring - Vehicle management and recharging points - Events calendar - Document centralisation | - Suitable for small and large companies - Productivity gains - Support for the purchase of EVs |
| GAC Car Fleet | - Supervision of 330,000+ vehicles - Communication with drivers - Customisable alerts and risk prevention - Centralisation of vehicle data | - Fully digital solution - Ideal for fleets of 50+ vehicles - TCO analysis |
| FleetWave | - Used in 180 countries - Complete vehicle lifecycle management - Claims management, budget, fines | - High degree of customisation - International coverage - Comprehensive range of functions |
| WinFlotte 10 | - Cloud solution - Various modules (car-sharing, insurance, comparator) - Energy consumption assessment tools | - Suitable for all fleet sizes - TCO reduction - Improving CSR impact |
| Phoenix | - Developed by specialists - Catalogue management - Automated processing of fines - RGPD compliance | - Correction of management errors - Global vision of the park - TCO optimisation |
Conclusion
In conclusion, efficient management of an electric fleet is crucial for any company committed to the transition to sustainable mobility. Fleet management software offers innovative solutions for optimising operations, reducing costs and encouraging greener driving.
In our exploration of the 5 best software packages for managing your electric fleet, we discovered powerful tools offering advanced functionality to meet the specific needs of fleet managers. However, choosing the right software depends on the unique needs of each business. It is essential to take into account factors such as fleet size, sustainability objectives, and the functionality required for effective management.
To take your exploration of fleet management and electric mobility solutions a step further, take a look at our other blog posts. You'll find practical advice, in-depth analyses and tips for getting the most out of your electric fleet.
Naturally, with the support of solutions like Beev, we can help you make the transition to cleaner, more efficient mobility.
