Incidents happen and are an unfortunate reality for fleet operators. To support a successful fleet operation, it’s important to deal with incidents swiftly and effectively.
A key part of controlling this process is selecting the right incident management provider with the capability and credentials to support your business.
By partnering with a provider that understands your business needs and responds to incidents in the most effective way, you'll have the peace of mind that repair and off-road times are managed, and your costs are being controlled.
If incidents are impacting your fleet and disrupting your business, then it may be time for your company to consider changing its incident management provider.
In this blog post, we’ll look into some of the signs that show it’s time for change.
1. Support and responsiveness
The time it takes for your provider to respond to incidents can have a huge impact on your fleet and can ultimately affect your bottom line.
Slow response times, poor service levels or a lack of communication from your provider can lead to increased downtime and low customer satisfaction.
A more responsive provider will ensure your fleet has the support it requires in times of need.
2. Lack of customisation and flexibility
Every fleet is different. Each has unique needs and requirements, so flexibility in the support it receives is essential.
If your current provider has a ‘one size fits all’ approach to service being provided, it might be preventing your fleet from operating to its full potential.
A good incident management provider will customise its service offering to suit your company's specific requirements and offer the flexibility and control needed to support your fleet and keep your business fully operational.
3. Technology and innovation
Like many other industries worldwide, technology has had a huge impact in supporting fleet operators in the management of their fleets.
If your current incident management provider isn’t alert to the latest trends and analysis you could find your incident-related fleet costs spiralling out of control.
Partnering with a provider that isn’t innovative when it comes to technology could mean you’re missing out on tools that reduce risk, improve safety and efficiency and also data analysis that allows you to make informed decisions about your fleet.
Look for providers that lean on tools like telematics, artificial intelligence (AI) and real-time reporting to ensure you can offer the best possible service.
4. Limited network and services
The time it takes to get your vehicles back on the road after an incident can depend on your provider’s repair network, rental providers or vehicle recovery services. Poor access to these services can result in unnecessary delays or added costs and inconvenience for your drivers.
Poor access to services like claims handling, driver training programmes or risk assessments can also hinder your fleet’s ability to prevent future incidents.
Switching to a provider with extensive repair network coverage and a wide range of services is a great way to decrease vehicle off-road times and reduce costs.
5. Cost management
Incidents can have a significant financial impact. For this reason, cost management can be a big concern.
If your current provider doesn’t offer transparent matrix pricing, adequate reporting or effective cost-control measures, managing incident-related expenses for your fleet can become challenging.
By switching to a provider that offers clear cost management measures, you’ll have greater control over your expenses and be able to make informed decisions on minimising your fleet costs.
How to choose the right incident management partner
If the signs are apparent that your current provider is not supporting your fleet in the way that you need, then that indicates it's time to switch, and it's time to learn what to look for in a new incident management partner.
Find out more about what to look for in an incident management partner.
