There’s no doubt that telematics is the future when it comes to running a business fleet. Using a telematics system can help to streamline your operation as well as saving you money on insurance and fleet maintenance by providing information on fuel use, vehicle performance and driver risk management.  To make telematics work for your business, there are a few things to keep in mind and, in this article, we’ll take you through the five important factors in choosing the right telematics system for your fleet:

Hit the ground running

When introducing a new telematics system, it’s important that this can be done quickly, easily and with minimum disruption to the organisation.  As such, it’s a good idea to make sure that the system you choose is easy to install and - more importantly - is easy to run and to use.  You’ll also need to think about who will be using the system and what, if any, training they will need to use it effectively.  

Telematics offers fleet managers a way to see how the fleet is performing and identify areas where there’s room for improvement.  It does this by collating and delivering data including location tracking, speed analytics, fuel consumption figures, vehicle fault statistics and much more.

Super support

One of the first questions to ask a telematics provider is what kind of support they will offer to your business.  Should a problem occur with your system, you need to know that help and support will be available quickly and comprehensively.  As such, alarm bells should be ringing if a provider only provides support through an online form or is unable to supply evidence of its customer support reactivity.  To this end, it’s also a good idea to ask your provider if a dedicated account manager will be allocated to your business - this is important as should disaster strike, you need to know that you will be able to speak with someone who is familiar with your business and who will be able to get you back on track quickly.

On a scale

As great as your new telematics system might be, it may quickly become redundant if it doesn’t have the ability to grow with your business.  Before committing to a telematics system, you need to know about its scalability, including any delays which are likely to occur in its deployment. It's a good idea to discuss your company’s future plans with the provider so that they can accurately advise you on the right solution for your business needs now and in the future.

Transparency

When opting for a telematics system, you’re not just investing in a piece of tech - you’re investing in the lifeblood of your business; the part which, quite literally, keeps your company moving forward.  Because of this, it’s essential that your provider offers full transparency on pricing - not just for the installation but also for maintenance, upgrades and scaling.  Prices for telematics systems can vary widely and you need to keep in mind the fact that a solution that is initially cost-effective may involve hidden charges further down the line and, so, demanding full transparency will help you to avoid nasty surprises later on.

Reputation

While it may sound obvious, it’s vital that you choose a telematics provider which has an impeccable reputation within your industry.  The sales team of a provider will no doubt talk the talk but, instead of listening to them, listen instead to existing customers. Before even starting your search, it’s well worth asking around within your industry to find out which providers people are using and what they think of them.

Forward-thinking businesses like Rideshur work on a basis of preferred partners which enables them to facilitate introductions to trusted providers for extra peace of mind for fleet managers.

Conclusion

When it comes to running your fleet information is, most definitely, power.  Your telematics system should seamlessly integrate with your existing devices and technology in order to become a reliable and effective asset.

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