Europe’s largest independent fleet management company, Fleet Logistics, has upgraded its new free driver app with new features, functionality and languages and is migrating it across to both Apple and Android platforms by the end of this month as planned.
The Fleet Logistics’ Mobility Control App, which provides fleet drivers with access to all their vehicle details, mileage data, support services and other key information, was launched earlier this year. Initially it was launched for users of Windows smart phones on Fleet Logistics’ fleet across Europe. The first roll-out has now been completed with two large, international fleet clients with Windows smart phones, and 45% of their drivers have now begun using the new tool on a regular monthly basis.
So far, in the three months since launch, the drivers have entered their mileage readings on more than 500 occasions, they have checked their vehicle details on around 4,000 occasions and they have used the Frequently Asked Questions service on over 6,000 occasions.
The next phase of the launch will see the app rolled out to all users of Apple and Android smart phones, around 300 fleet clients in total, by the end of this month.
In the interim, the company has added new functionality to the app, as well as three new languages: Danish, Turkish and Romanian.
New features allow drivers to log in and save their password details so that they do not have to be repeated each time they log in. The app allows drivers to take photos of, and record details of, any accident damage they might incur. Once they have downloaded these via the app, Fleet Logistics can send all relevant details directly to the driver’s email account, complete with any customized instructions from the supplying leasing company, so that the accident process can be successfully controlled and managed for all parties.
The app also has the ability to support any employee who has a cash allowance or a fuel card managed by Fleet Logistics. The app provides them with details of their allowance, what happens to it if they opt to change their work conditions, and also give access to details of any fuel cards that might be relevant.
The new Mobility Control App provides a platform through which drivers can communicate with Fleet Logistics, keep their mileage records up-to-date, access details about preferred suppliers and find answers to frequently asked questions at any time of the day or night.
One of Fleet Logistics’ objectives with its introduction is to improve the quality of driver data that is entered into the system, as improved data quality leads to a reduction in costs, improvement in productivity and faster and more accurate business decisions. The app also allows Fleet Logistics to communicate directly with drivers via broadcast messaging and to push out important communications on hot topics to drivers, such as the need to switch to winter tyres, for example.
Any relevant documents such as the company’s car policy, request forms and other paperwork, can also be downloaded and amended via the app through a document module which supports most commonly used formats.
The app provides drivers with direct online access to data that is held within the Fleet.Online driver portal, and they can see relevant details about themselves and their vehicles through either the app or the online portal. Drivers are also provided with details of what to do in the event of an emergency such as a breakdown, as well as holding all service provider and insurance company details, and provides clear, concise instructions on how to access these services.
The app is an integral part of the Fleet.Online module and will be made available directly to clients through, and as an extension to, the module.
Barbaros Hooimeijer, International Director of Application Management, who has led the driver app development team, said: “We are now about to migrate the app to the Apple and Android platforms, which are by far the most commonplace amongst our clients. We have also added a number of new features and functionality aimed at making drivers’ lives easier and providing them with additional support. With the app, we wanted to improve the quality of the data that drivers were inputting. With the launch of the app, the driver becomes part of the control process and the driver can easily react with us if something needs to be updated. This helps all parties to keep their data up-to-date.”
“We believe it will bring a major improvement to their business lives as well as helping to simplify the whole operational fleet management service,” he said.
Rainer Laber, CEO of Fleet Logistics, added: “So far we have seen a very positive reaction to the new driver app from our customers as they see that this new tool helps to take our communication with drivers to another level.
“This is most definitely not a gimmick but an important interactive solution which allows us to communicate directly with drivers. We believe that the development of driver services in this way is a major advantage for our clients as it helps improve communication, captures mileage more effectively and accurately, improves the quality of the data and is completely compatible with all the very latest technological advances,” said Laber.
