The past two years have brought a new set of challenges and trends for the fleet industry. As we move into the final chapter of 2021, now is the best time to delve into the anticipated trends for managing fleets in 2022.
Expansion of Electric Vehicles (EVs)
Uptake on EVs is driven mainly by two motives – the push for sustainability and the Australian government’s latest policy on EVs. Whether it is banning single-use products, offsetting carbon emissions or developing recycling programs, more businesses are taking on sustainable practices in the face of a changing climate. For those working in the fleet and transport industry, converting their fleets to EVs is one of the most cost-effective and long-term solutions to get into the sustainability game.
Remote Fleet Management
Remote working is a norm nowadays and the fleet industry is not exempt. As telematics software becomes more advanced, fleet managers can sit back and access real-time communication with drivers and manage fleets from a computer or via an app on their phone. This makes it easier for them to check on vehicle statuses, asset locations and unexpected road events in real time. The accessibility, reliability and convenience of this software will only drive the remote working culture even further in 2022.
Strengthening Safety and Sanitation Measures
During the pandemic, safety compliance and protocols have been top of mind for fleet businesses, pushing them to implement a wide range of initiatives. These run the gamut from fostering safe driving, managing high-risk drivers to using advanced safety technology and inspecting vehicles more strictly. Sanitation measures have also become a core part of the fleet culture, whether it is installing hand sanitisers and QR code check-ins or mandating masks in vehicles. As demands for deliveries, couriers and transportation remain greater than ever, businesses will look to strengthen their safety measures for most of 2022 to provide employees with a safe and secure working environment.
Increased data visibility
We’re living in the age of the Internet of Things, so adopting a data-driven approach is pivotal to having full transparency and control over the business. Fleet managers should be asking themselves – are they storing data in the right way? Is the data sufficient enough to generate historical insights into fleet activity? How can they utilise these data and insights to drive business change?
Big data has become the DNA of all businesses, helping them to see the full breadth of daily activities and make purposeful changes such as reducing fuel consumption, maintaining vehicles and improving driver profiling. As fleet businesses are increasingly focussing on balancing productivity and costs post-pandemic, we will see greater investment in telematics software and data management tools in the year ahead.
5G is the force
When talking about 5G, we often think of smartphone technology. However, businesses and enterprises will in fact be the ones that can benefit the most from this next generation of network.
5G offers incredibly fast network speeds, bolstered capacity and extremely low latency compared to 4G. On a fleet management level, these features can translate into smoother Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communication, improved predictive analytics, smarter vehicle tracking and data collection. 5G also opens the door for greater innovations, such as augmented reality fleet applications and advanced charging technology for vehicles that run on renewable energy.
The demand for transparent data and remote fleet management goes hand in hand with the need for a better network. For businesses who wish to meet growing demands for up-to-the-minute information update and build a more seamless fleet management experience, a 5G-centric strategy would be the place to start.