Fleet management is a crucial strategy for small business owning vehicles since it enhances on cost control, efficiency and compliance to the law. Fleet management software allows even small businesses to monitor their fleet’s fuel consumption, service intervals in addition to driver conduct and most efficient routes available. Here are the things that any business person should understand about fleet management software selection and implementation.
What is Fleet Management Software for Small Business?
Fleet management software is an application used by small businesses to track and control their vehicles better. This software assists with important duties such as identifying where vehicles are, when maintenance needs to be done and where they should go. This type of software is effective in creating time and cost efficiencies as well as enhancing customer satisfaction where small businesses own vehicles to get their tasks done.
What is the Best Fleet Management Software to Choose?
Selecting the right fleet management software will depend on the needs of your business enterprise. Here are a few factors to consider:
- Features: Some of the most important that should be considered are GPS tracking, fuel consumption, drivers behavior analysis and maintenance alerts.
- Ease of Use: Small collaborative teams require easy and straightforward appearance to operate it.
- Scalability:With the growing of your business, many vehicles should be handled by the software and this should not require extra costs.
- Integration Options: There are software types that interact with other business applications, for example, accounting or inventory management systems to make working more efficient.
Some popular options include Fleet Complete, Samsara, and Verizon Connect. Each offers various features at different price points, making it easier for small businesses to find a fit for their needs.
How Much Does Fleet Management Software Cost?
The cost of fleet management software varies based on features, the number of vehicles managed, and provider pricing models. Here’s a breakdown:
- Subscription Costs: Most software operates on a monthly subscription basis, with fees ranging from $15 to $50 per vehicle.
- Setup Fees: Some providers charge a one-time setup fee that covers installation and initial configuration.
- Customizations: If your business requires specific integrations or custom features, there may be additional costs.
Generally, small businesses can expect to pay between $200 and $1,000 monthly, depending on their fleet size and chosen software features.
What is ERP Fleet Management?
ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) of fleet management refers more to handling the tools required for managing vehicle fleets and tying them in with the other organizational processes. ERP fleet management allows the company to coordinate fleet operations with other core operations such as the financial capacity, human resource, and stocks among others. It is effective for organizations who seek a single and instant perspective of business activities and improved management of resources. A few of the fleet management software can be integrated to ERP systems in order to help small business establish efficient ways of working and also improving the flow of information within the organization. This results in better decisions being made about the fleet and increased understanding of the fleet in the context of the wider business.
Free Fleet Management Software: Open Source Options
If you want to set a limited budget, you can opt for an open-source software to manage your fleets. Thus, even if it free open source software does not possess the additional functions of the improved type, it will suffice for the needs of small businesses to have the necessary primary facilities available.
Some popular open-source fleet management solutions include:
- OpenGTS: Offers GPS tracking and can be integrated with several trackings devices.
- Traccar: Allows real time GPS tracking with a customizable and open source software platform.
- FATmap: A free solution for beginning fleet businesses targeted mainly to mapping and tracking arena.
Just remember, open source might be more complicated to install and update, but it is cheaper than other options in the beginning for a startup.
Conclusion
Fleet management software is a great boon for small businesses that have a fleet to look after. From cutting on operating expense to increasing driver security, there is a right software that can make fleet management easy and efficient. By considering your business requirement, budget and goal, you can identify and implement a fleet management system that will benefit your business operation.
