Today’s problems demand specialist fleet software, reckons CFC Solutions’ Neville Briggs.
THE new challenges facing business car managers in 2008 could spell the end of a “spreadsheet culture”. This often sees many small to medium-sized (SME) fleets managing their vehicles without using dedicated software.
Spreadsheets simply cannot properly manage issues such as corporate manslaughter, environmental impact or rapidly increasing fuel costs.
The biggest barrier in the SME business car market has been to demonstrate to managers running such fleets that using a spreadsheet just won’t get the job done properly.
These people have historically felt that their spreadsheet was doing a good enough job. And that the investment needed for specialist fleet software just couldn’t be justified.
However, SMEs are starting to recognise that spreadsheets, no matter how they are used, will not help them to do everything that is needed to tackle today’s key issues: pressure on costs; corporate manslaughter issues; and environmental concerns.
This growing realisation will lead to a much wider use of fleet software technology. Business car managers are recognising that a whole lot more information is being generated by their fleets. This needs to be processed in such as way that it makes managerial sense. And allows strategic decisions to be taken.
How are they going to achieve this? Even for someone who is highly skilled at using a spreadsheet, it’s next to impossible. They are going to need specialist software and this is a conclusion that more and more managers of SME fleets are coming to without any prompting from us.
Further information
CFC Solutions is the market leader in the supply of fleet, contract hire and workshop management solutions. It has been delivering ground-breaking vehicle management software to UK and European blue chip customers for more than 25 years.