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The start point for the best source of fleet information |
The BVRLA has published an in-depth report on fleet technology to coincide with its congress of the same theme, which takes place today (1 July).
Compiled by the BVRLA and consultants from automotive analysis specialist Redspy, the 'Fleet Technology White Paper' addresses a basket of modern issues including autonomous driving, connectivity and safety, and how fleets, leasing companies and rental firms can adopt and deal with them.
Speaking to BusinessCar, the organisation's chief executive Gerry Keaney said: "This is the first time we've done something quite as focussed as this on the technology arena.
"We believe there's a whole amount of stuff in the technology world that's finding its way into cars and trucks and we wanted to develop a measure to encapsulate this activity, because technological developments have a profound impact on the new car market.
"Our members are in a unique position to adopt these things and advise their customers on what they are and what they mean."
A large feature of the report concerns the issue of big data (digital information about cars and drivers gleaned from technology such as telematics systems and apps), which will "re-shape" the industry.
The report states: "At one level, the huge increase in information that fleet managers will soon have is good news for the profession.
"Instead of finding out what is happening with a car when it is serviced, the fleet manager will be able to see, in real time, mileage, fuel consumption, even tyre pressures. That means fleets can be far more tightly managed."
It continues: "On the other hand, it also means that there will be far more information to process. As one leading fleet manager told us: 'It will be very easy to become a busy fool, looking at reams of data to no particular purpose.'"
The report warns that fleets that fail to act on information supplied from such sources were leaving themselves open to claims of negligence and that clear provision of driver information would be necessary in order for the technology to take hold: "The biggest danger for fleet departments is that they get feedback about poor driving, but do not act upon it.
"Being told a driver is potentially dangerous and doing nothing is far worse than not knowing in the first place."
It continues: "The issue is not with the technology itself, but how it is used. Fleet managers are going to need sophisticated 'push'-based information systems, which clearly show them what they need to know in a common format for all cars on the fleet, not bury them in data, most of which is unimportant."
The full report will be available from the BVRLA's website as a free download after the congress has taken place.
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