GreenRoad, a provider of driver performance and safety management systems, announced the results of a Fleet Leaders Survey showing that the ”connected fleet” already has arrived for more than half (57 percent) of fleet leaders who have deployed Web-based fleet-management solutions.
GreenRoad surveyed 178 participants from a broad range of fleets. The results found that 28 percent are using smartphones actively for fleet management today, and 8 percent are using iPads or tablet computers.
Connected fleet technologies, defined as Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions combined with smartphone and mobile technology enabled by high-speed connectivity, are growing at the expense of traditional standalone telematics solutions and PC-based software with no Web access.
Only 41 percent of fleet leaders indicated theystill are using PC-based software with no Web access, and only 12 percent are using proprietary handheld mobile devices. When asked about their future technology deployment plans, 31 percent indicated they will be opting for Web-based services, 25 percent plan to buy and deploy iPads or other table devices, and 22 percent plan to purchase additional smartphones.
“The connected fleet has arrived,” says Jim Heeger, chief executive of GreenRoad. “The data shows that Web-based fleet management services are well on their way to displacing traditional, standalone telematic solutions. We can expect to see these trends accelerate as the technology continues to improve and fleet owners, operators and managers continue to experience the benefits of Web-connected mobile fleet management.”
The survey also shows that nearly 1 out of 5 (19 percent) of fleet managers are using smartphone or mobile apps to help manage fleets, and 37 percent expect to see an increase in the use of mobile apps for fleet management. Fleet drivers also increasingly are using smartphones for fleet-related operations. Twenty-five percent of the fleet leaders surveyed said their drivers are using a job-specific smartphone or mobile app, and 14 percent intend to increase driver smartphone and mobile app deployments.
Overall, 51 percent of fleet leaders see their drivers as “tech savvy” with the latest smartphone and mobile devices.
