ATE: What should I look for in my first fleet software package?

Question: "At present I run my fleet using a pen and paper. I don’t do anything fancy so what sort of things should my first software package offer?"

The smooth administration of your fleet is essential because if you get it wrong, your business could be at risk. You should analyse what you do now, what you want to improve and what you need to report on. Ask yourself, why do I need software?

How flexible your system is should be one of the first questions you ask a potential provider. You need the software to adapt to your business needs, not change your processes to fit the software.

Our FleetWave® product, for example, was built with this in mind – complete flexibility structured to how people run their businesses. Both of Chevin’s products, FleetWave® and RoadBASE®, allow the user to define the process and give easy access to information at a click of a button and provide you with reports that will allow you to manage your costs.

There are a number of software packages on the market and what works for one may not work for another.

There are computer-based programmes, accessible via an internal network of PCs. More and more solutions are internet-based, meaning that information can be accessed 24/7 from anywhere in the world.

Finally, be mindful that there could be reluctance to change from sections of the workforce. Therefore provide training to explain why changes are being made and the benefits they will deliver.

Ashley Sowerby, Managing Director, Chevin Fleet Solutions