A common misconception is that smaller businesses with small fleets don’t need a professional fleet management partner or fleet management solutions. In truth, it’s precisely the opposite: Smaller businesses often benefit even more, because they don’t have the internal resources to effectively manage their fleet, which often leads to unnecessary expenses that smaller companies simply aren’t able to absorb.
The fact is, by utilising telematics technology SMEs can gain a competitive advantage.
Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) play an essential role in today’s national and global economies. Their importance with regards to the contribution to the GDP and employment cannot be understated. Many SMEs own and operate vehicle fleets as part of their business – examples include builders, delivery services, landscaping, plumbing and electrical companies. Because transportation for these companies is incidental and not their core competency, business owners don’t often think about optimising their fleets.
Managing a small business fleet is tough; it can also be time consuming and costly. Fleet managers at small to medium-sized enterprises, spend a lot of time implementing fleet administration while juggling multiple roles and tasks including new job estimates, billing, purchasing new equipment, advertising, hiring, payroll, and more. Added to this is the constant struggle to cut costs, make fleets safer, and run more efficiently, all this while on the move or working remotely. With the rising costs of fuel and the current economic climate, it is now more important than ever for SMEs to implement effective fleet management to save on costs. Cost-effective investments in technology, systems and practices will cut out inefficiencies in businesses and provide a better understanding of just how the fleet operates. If an SME relies on fleets to carry out fundamental operations, then it is paramount that cost-saving strategies are the focus of fleet management.
As a leading global SaaS provider of connected fleet management solutions, MiX Telematics has introduced an affordable asset tracking and driver management solution designed specifically for SMEs, MiX Essential Solutions. This intuitive suite of solutions is designed for smaller fleets with varying assets, from cars, bakkies, trailers, motorbikes and even generators. No matter how big or small your fleet is, which vehicles or assets you own or in which industry you operate, we have the expertise to solve your unique problems and upgrade your fleet operations using state-of-the-art data collection methods and intelligent reporting.
The commercial fleet solutions are built around a web-based software platform and mobile applications, supported by in-vehicle hardware and peripheral accessories. On-demand software services enhance vehicle performance and improve driver safety, fleet security, efficiency, sustainability, and compliance. At the core of the suite of solutions is the MiX Fleet Manager Essential online platform, comprising of a sophisticated onboard computer which collects and transmits valuable vehicle and driver data. Driving events such as harsh braking, speeding, excessive idling, over revving, harsh cornering, and impact events are recorded, giving fleet owners insight into data regarding where a vehicle is, how a driver is operating that vehicle and how much it has been utilised.
For businesses that rely on the use of motorbikes for the delivery of their products and services, there is the MiX Essential Motorbike Track solution, a tailored compact and smart tracking solution that provides basic fleet management for individual and fleet motorbikes. Offering dot on the map monitoring as well as real time tracking using the MiX Fleet Manager web portal or mobile app. The future is mobile app-centric – ensuring that fleet managers have all the information they need to run and improve their fleets in the palm of their hands is a major trend. Additional features include location management with live and historical trip replays on a digital map, driver route and behaviour monitoring, ability locations and no-go zones management and real-time event notifications via SMS or push notification.
Knowing where an asset is as well as its availability can help businesses improve their asset planning and utilisation. This can be achieved using the live tracking features of the MiX Essential Asset Tracking solution, an automatic electronic registry to manage, locate and track assets whether they are mobile or fixed, with or without a power source; from trailers, forklifts, portable pumps and generators. It offers all the benefits of a fully integrated fleet management solution to monitor and protect assets as they move between worksites and depots. With increased visibility, the risk of losing an asset or having it stoles in considerably reduced. The solution offers tamper alerts and the option to replay asset movements, distances travelled and events.
If a business needs to visually monitor drivers, the MiX Vision AI Standalone Dashcam solution provides camera footage with basic telematics data accessible via the online platform, without the need to install additional hardware. The AI powered dashcam is enabled with Advanced Driving Assistance (ADAS) giving the driver real-time coaching feedback on the trip, and the ability to review performance after the trip. The in-cab and road-facing cameras help prevent collisions, alert drivers to risky driving behaviour and save on insurance costs from wrongful claims against drivers with the power of video footage available of incidents.
“Fleet management solutions can be a grudge purchase for many small business owners, but in these times, businesses, no matter the size cannot afford to be without solutions that help them focus on the core of their business and its growth. Partnering with a telematics partner like MiX, places the management of your daily fleet operations in the hands of a trusted partner with years of experience in adding simplicity, value and efficiency to our customers, so you can focus on what is important, growing your business”, says MiX Telematics Africa Fleet Sales Director, Henry Smith.
All SMEs that want to improve the productivity of their fleets can’t afford not to invest in a functional and cost-effective fleet management solution, especially one that is compatible with a range of services, add-ons and accessories. Partnering with an experienced telematics partner that offers solutions that can be tailored to your growing business needs, ensures that your fleet is not just busy, but productive, which directly contributes to your bottom-line. MiX Telematics provides customers (globally) with flexible and scalable solutions that are fit-for-purpose in their industry, providing world-class technology that helps them improve key metrics throughout their operations.
“The light fleet solution provides the perfect balance of functionality and usability that is ideal for small businesses who may not have a full-time fleet manager and require multiple employees to utilise the online platform,’’ says Smith. ‘’Users can view live tracking, various dashboards and reports including vehicle utilisation, driver scoring, fuel usage and cost analysis breakdownsvia the web and mobile app. This easy-to-understand telematics data provides actionable intelligence for informed decision making – saving time and money,” Smith concludes.
Contact MiX Telematics today to find out how our always on solutions can help you keep your finger on the pulse of your business.
+27 11 654 8000
fl*****@mi***********.com
