Genus is reporting double-digit improvements in fuel efficiency following the roll-out of Lightfoot technology and its rewards platform across its fleet of 580 vehicles.

Installed in 380 vans and 200 company cars, Genus says it has seen an MPG uplift of 10.4%. The business also says it has driven down instances of dangerous driving and enhanced driver wellbeing after introducing Lightfoot’s First Notice of Loss alert service.

Genus, a leader in animal genetics, says Lightfoot’s ability to enhance driver safety on the road at the same time as cutting the organisation’s carbon footprint, including the reduction of harmful particulates linked to NOx, was a major factor in its selection.

Adrian Davies, global fleet and cost manager, said: "We’ve seen a positive change in driver performance across the board. The results are excellent, and our Lightfoot driver scores have increased by 68.4% with a 100% reduction in dangerous driving and a fuel-saving of 10.4%.

“We’ve also introduced Lightfoot’s FNOL feature, which has become a great help to the business, enabling us to react instantly, checking driver welfare should there be an accident or incident, and enabling us to arrange the correct level of help.

“This further enhances our duty of care and the wellbeing of our staff who spend a significant amount of their working life travelling to and from customers.”

He added: “Running a fleet of 580-plus vehicles across the UK and Worldwide has its challenges. Keeping track of drivers is the simple element. Understanding and adapting driver behaviour is where the serious management of our fleet takes place.

“With Lightfoot, we’re seeing high levels of driver engagement, and the positive impact of competitions within the regions where our teams compete against colleagues and friends.

“In our view, Lightfoot is the carrot and not the stick. Our drivers have bought into the system wholeheartedly, and all the great features and rewards that Lightfoot has to offer them.”

The pocket-sized dashboard display device uses live engine data and employs ‘nudge psychology’ to provide drivers with real-time visual and audible feedback, helping fleets to improve efficiency and safety one mile at a time.  

It has been developed in partnership with IAM RoadSmart and driver-behaviour experts at Bath University. It uses real-time engine analytics which take account of different factors such as load and road gradient to provide live, in-cab coaching, helping drivers improve both efficiency and safety, and rewarding them for being better.

Lightfoot’s app gives users insight into their performance and score, alongside access to competitions which drivers can opt in to enter as soon as they achieve Lightfoot’s ‘Elite Driver’ standard; the point at which fleets see the best efficiencies and savings across the board.

In addition to the cash-prize Drivers’ Lottery, drivers can enter competitions for a range of other prizes that serve as an incentive to maintain a smoother driving style.

The technology has been adopted Virgin Media, Dixons Carphone, and South West Water.

Mark Roberts, founder and CEO of Lightfoot, said: “Genus’s drivers have clearly embraced a better style. The result is safer drivers, lower levels of accidents, vehicle damage, downtime and wear and tear, and cuts in fuel bills and emissions by more than 10%.”

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