T.E. Stevens is a construction company based out of Birmingham, Alabama. They run a fleet of more than 100 earth-moving machines to provide pre-development planning, civil site development and smart construction services. Recently, the Fleetio content team got the chance to visit T.E. Stevens to see how technology fits into their daily workflows. These were our takeaways.
1. Easy processes can win over anyone
Alex Borg, Content Specialist
These days, while many drivers and technicians embrace technology, plenty of fleet professionals remain skeptical about digitizing the workflows they’ve grown used to. A significant portion of the personnel at T.E. Steven’s belonged to that “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” camp.
But when the company recently launched digital tool checkouts and checkins through Fleetio, their employees found the process to be simple and convenient. Scanning QR codes with their phone turned out to be far easier than even the non tech-savvy team members imagined, and the time savings enabled by Fleetio were obvious to everyone. Now, managers at T.E. Stevens are able to track their tools with far greater accuracy, which contributes to the company’s aim of cutting unnecessary costs and improving their profit margins.
Pro-tip
One of the biggest benefits of a mobile-first platform is the ability to capture feedback directly from the front lines. Offer comprehensive training for drivers and technicians when onboarding a new technology to ensure they are well-versed in how to use the software's features and functionality.
2. Create accountability through visibility
Clark Maxwell, PR Manager
Fleet management offers its own challenges, especially when you add in large amounts of tools and equipment to the mix. If you don't have an effective way to track all of your assets, it can cause even more confusion. T.E. Stevens created QR codes and attached them to each piece of equipment, creating an easy way for the crew to check their equipment in and out. They can also keep a log of who checked out equipment and when, helping with accountability throughout the organization.
With a system in place to keep track of who has what piece of equipment, T. E. Stevens maintains constant visibility into their operations, from the shop or on a jobsite.
Pro-tip
Your team members are less likely to embrace a new technology if they feel like it's slowing them down. By speeding up even the simple tasks like checking out fleet assets, you enbale your team to stay productive while also keeping you informed of asset usage in real time.
Keep up with driver assignments in a simple app
With Fleetio Go, you can use QR codes or NFC tags for drivers to quickly assign themselves to a vehicle. Keep a log of each asset's assignment history to improve accountability in your fleet.
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3. Set clear goals for your fleet software
Rachael Plant, Senior Content Specialist
A major benefit of fleet software is the ability to increase profit margins by lowering the operating costs of your fleet, which was a core goal for T.E. Stevens when implementing Fleetio. A large part of attaining this benefit is identifying core problems that drive up operational costs, such as asset service. T.E. Stevens has already seen savings by using digital work orders, which have allowed the company to prioritize maintenance and repairs and inform asset retirement needs. Inspections are also a driving force for expedient asset issue resolution and, though the company hasn’t started using digital inspections just yet, they have already identified situations where it would've saved money in unplanned breakdowns.
To make the most of the cost saving benefits of your chosen software, identify the highest cost areas and start working to improve them one at a time. This can include service, fueling, shop productivity or even inventory management.
Pro-tip
Before you select a fleet software, first think about what you want the software to accomplish. By setting clear goals, you know exactly how to measure a successful software implementation.
4. Your support team is your best support
Peyton Panik, Senior Content Specialist
Improving fleet data tracking can be a pretty massive undertaking, and T.E. Stevens is the kind of company that understands the importance of a sustainable, organizationally-guided approach to software implementation. But regardless of how well-intended a rollout plan is, it can be really difficult to self-service a software into submission, no matter how intuitive and user-friendly it may be – yes, even Fleetio.
Having a solid working relationship with your vendor's account executive, customer success team and customer support resources is vital to getting processes off the ground and actualized. They can provide expert feedback, educational resources and tailored services to help you get over the threshold when it comes to implementing new features or setting up a net-new data stream. T.E. Stevens is really proud of its relationship with Brittney, their Fleetio success manager, and they're not afraid to turn to her for guidance when they need it.
Pro-tip
Every software will have a learning curve. To be successful, ask any potential vendors what their ongoing customer support looks like (from support reps to on-demand learning resources) to know whether or not you'll have the tools needed to troubleshoot common problems as they arise.
Your guide to fleet management
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