Fleet management technology specialist AssetWorks is supporting Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council in its bid to digitise its operations. The local authority is implementing a cloud-based solution designed to deliver an integrated, flexible and cost effective system for managing its fleet. The new system replaces legacy software which had limited functionality for fleet operators, which meant only some parts of the business used it effectively, and processes and operational workflow were fragmented.
Previously, fleet management software was embedded into the council’s IT servers meaning the technicians, inspectors, and drivers need to go back to the terminals to record and undertake operational tasks. With one workshop, two supervisors, and eleven technicians, operational efficiency is critical to streamlining how the council runs its vehicle fleet.
Gareth Healy, fleet manager at Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, explained: “A cloud-based solution means anyone from the business can access the system from anywhere. App technology enables inspections to be undertaken remotely, technicians to fix vehicles from anywhere and the operational managers can see what is being done and where in real-time. This flexible app solution saves time and money for everyone involved”.
The council identified AssetWorks ecosystem of fleet solutions as providing a number of benefits, with FleetFocus M5 by providing a fully integrated platform to manage the vehicles. As well as regulating the fleet, the software is recognised as supporting the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVLA) earned recognition process, which the council was keen to achieve.
Implementation of FleetFocus M5 also simplified the recording and monitoring vehicles maintenance to ensure the whole fleet is compliant and safe. The management of information and translation of data is made easy to understand via operational dashboards. Healy explained that “a big selling point for us was the inspection checklists, compliance around drivers, data management and that managing workflows could all be managed through one system. These features are all in M5s DNA, it’s like it ‘automatically happens’, it’s such a dynamic data approach that will excel our business. I believe this implementation will further contribute to digital transformation for Redcar and Cleveland Council.”
The software will also help reduce overheads by reducing administration time on the phone and chasing jobs. Before, people would call the operations team to track their vehicle maintenance and see when the vehicles were ready for collection. Going forward everyone will be able to log in and see the process in real-time with full transparency. This kind of transparency is important for councils and supports staff with their tasks and goals via the app.
The council is also using AssetWorks EDGE, a mobile workshop application that its assessments showed was easy to use, and had familiar interfaces. The end-users’ experience had a significant role in the decision-making as the technicians needed to be confident with the new workflows and operational processes, while a significant advantage was the ability to customise the dashboards.
Healy stated: “We are excited to have gone live with FleetFocus M5 and the associated app technology, especially the electronic daily driver first use checks and workshop management applications. This is another step for us as an authority to improve the efficiency of our fleet operation with the use of digital technology at the heart of improvement.”
Laura Bigwood, the implementation lead at AssetWorks commented: “The tenacity of AssetWorks and Redcar managed to achieve a seamless go-live despite delays and uncertainty due to Covid and the demands that placed on project logistics and operational demands on the council themselves to provide additional service to the public. It is an extraordinary team, and I am eager to hear about the added benefits they see for the business as they use the software.”
