By Keith Trumbull
For those of us in the fleet industry, it’s important to keep up with the latest trends to ensure we’re making profitable decisions.
For example, in 2014 we saw more fleet managers interested in telematics, as well as an uptick in automated guided vehicles (AGVs) for warehouse and assembly fulfillment. Last year, we worked with many fleet managers focused on understanding the total cost of asset ownership and lifecycle management.
Whether you’ve been working with material handling equipment, you’re getting started as we enter the New Year, or you plan to take on asset management in the future, you may find our short list of 2015 predictions helpful.
• Demand will rise. In 2015, we predict the demand for assets will grow. With this in mind, there is likely to be a longer lead-time for build and delivery. Understanding the potential lead times will help you to obtain the right asset at the right time for your organization.
• Interest in green will grow. We expect to see more green initiatives, such as a movement from propane propulsion to electric propulsion. With battery technology continuing to improve in 2015, advanced electrical systems will be able to hold longer charges, making these assets more appealing. There will be a growing interest in hydrogen fuel cells as well, but we anticipate a relatively slow adoption rate.
• Safety will become higher priority. In 2015 we will see a greater emphasis on safety and productivity of assets and employees throughout organizations. With useful data from telematics and the guidance of training programs, we predict employees will be able to work safely and more efficiently.
As we see these trends develop, organizations will need to focus on four challenge areas: ensuring that they are using the right assets for the job, maintaining the proper fleet size for their operation, utilizing cost-effective assets, and maximizing asset productivity. Throughout 2015, we will share tips to help address these four challenges. We hope our counsel will help you turn these problem areas into opportunities for your organization.
Each month Fleet Management Weekly features material handling equipment guidance from Keith Trumbull, vice president of material handling equipment at Element Fleet Management.
