Wates Group has moved away from using spreadsheets and is instead embracing the digital approach to running effective fleets, thanks to a new direction from group fleet manager, Ted Sakyi.
“Technology is key to everything we do,” Sakyi told delegates at the recent Fleet200 Executive Club meeting.
“To run a fleet effectively you have got to get away from spreadsheets.
"Everybody has to embrace big data and the digital world because it is coming.”
Sakyi (pictured) was tasked with streamlining the Wates Group fleet operation in 2016 and began by installing telematics in all vehicles to monitor driver behaviour and technique.
When the scheme was introduced in June 2016, speeding violations reduced by 25%, rear damage reduced by 31% and overall accident numbers were down by 11% .
“I needed that data to give my board of directors the information they required. We need data for research and benchmarking,” Sakyi said.
The data highlighted that vehicles with a three year/18,000 mile leasing contract were only completing 10,000 miles. He was then able to extend the contracts to five years/40,000 mile contracts.
“We were not getting the data before so nobody truly knew what the vehicles were doing. With all the information provided by the data, we have been able to make a lot of changes,” he said.
Wates Group has also used technology to ensure driver walk-around checks are being conducted. Drivers do not receive their jobs list for the day until they have submitted their daily walk-around-checks, which ensures compliance with health and safety.
The fleet has also benefitted from safety features such as rear sensors to reduce damage, speed limiters to reduce speeding violations and include front-facing cameras to provide video evidence in the event of collision.
Sakyi warned that fleets needed to embrace digital technology and use data to their advantage.
“Who knows what the future will bring for fleet, but if I can impart anything onto you, it is to embrace change,” he said.
“Digital is here to stay and technology is here. Accept it or else you’re toast.”
> READ MORE: For Ted Sakyi's presentation email jeremy.bennett@bauermedia.co.uk
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