Security Dealer & Integrator

FEB 2018

Find news and information for the executive corporate security director, CSO, facility manager and assets protection manager on issues of policy, products, incidents, risk management, threat assessments and preparedness.

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February 2018 www.SecurityInfoWatch.com / Security Dealer & Integrator 49 Six Ways Technology Maximizes a Vehicle Investment 1 Traffic and speed viola- tions go down: Fleet tracking devices can be installed either covertly or overtly. Covert installation is not purely for hiding tracking from your drivers; in fact, I have found that in many scenarios, it is best to build trust with your employees by being open about the use of GPS tracking. Covert installation may be prefer- able because it keeps the device pro- tected from tampering by thieves and also helps to keep the dashboard look- ing clean – although today's devices are much more discrete than the cum- bersome black boxes of days past. On the other hand, simply knowing that they are being tracked is a major incentive for better driver behavior. Simply using fleet tracking may deter drivers from exhibiting the behaviors you want to monitor, and you will see traffic violations go down. ink of it as a gentle reminder to follow the rules of the road. 2 Better routing leads to reduced fuel costs: Inefficient routes waste fuel. Drivers may take indirect routes because they feel comfortable with taking their sweet time, or they simply may not know a better way to get to the destination. Also, traffic incidents can result in unexpected delays that force drivers off the direct path. Fleet management technology routes drivers on the best course and provides turn- by-turn instructions. Another way to reduce fuel costs is through the behav- ior monitoring – both excessive idling and speeding burn up fuel. 3 Better dispatch and response: When customers need emergency service or the assigned technician becomes unavail- able, what is a fleet manager to do? Effective customer service relies on an agile system for dispatching tech- nicians. Service calls can be a major source of frustration for customers, who need to take off time from work and stay home while waiting for instal- lation or repair service. is frustra- tion only grows if the field technician misses the window. Planning for the unexpected is nearly impossible, but fleet manage- ment technology makes it easier by giving a bird's eye view of the location of each technician so you can dispatch the closest employee to customers in need. Customers also appreciate if you have the ability to keep them updated on how far away the technician is and when they are expected to arrive. Transparency goes a long way toward ensuring the confidence customers have in your company. 4 Improved scheduling: Even when there are no emer- gencies, fleet management so- ware can go a long way toward assist- ing with scheduling appointments for your technicians. Making a literal schedule is not the only way. As you collect more data about your fleet via GPS tracking, you get a better sense of how long technicians are spending on jobs, enabling you to schedule more effectively in the future. 5 More accurate invoices: Knowing how long techni- cians spend at jobs is vital when invoicing clients if you charge by the hour. It is never fun to dispute how long an employee was on-site when drawing up a bill. Fleet tracking so- ware can show you how long a driver spent at any given job. anks to this technology, there is no room for debate, because you have the evidence. It is also easier for managers to deter- mine that drivers arrived on time. 6 Keep vehicles in top shape: Staying on top of a maintenance schedule can be onerous, especially when your fleet consists of a mix of different makes and models. A one-size-fits-all solu- tion simply will not do. If you veer from the necessary maintenance schedule for your vehi- cles, you face serious consequences like breakdowns that cost time and money. Fleet management soware that can send reminders tailored to the make and model, will put you in a much better position. On-board diagnostic capabilities that allow the device to communicate trouble codes and daily status reports are key to helping your vehicles stay on the road. Keeping Your Business Competitive When security dealers implement fleet tracking technology, clients can trust that they are working with a company that makes use of modern technology to serve them better. Technology is here to help fleets achieve more efficient routing, bet- ter employee oversight, data-backed invoicing, and much more, so why not take advantage? Fleet management solutions can pay for themselves. For smaller fleets in particular, a subscription model with no up-front costs makes it easier to get on board with high-tech solutions that you may think are only meant for large companies. ere is no need to get wrapped up in the minutiae of day-to-day fleet management – your time can be spent better elsewhere. Technology provides you with a better way of doing things so you can focus on what really mat- ters for your business and propel your business ahead of the competition. ■ » Shawn Welsh is VP of Marketing and Business Development for Telguard, whose sister company, SkyBitz Local Fleets, offers a fleet management solution. To request more information about the company, visit www.securityinfowatch.com/10215328.

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