Increasing operational visibility is key for companies in the construction sector that want to boost productivity, efficiency and safety, all of which contribute to an improved bottom line. Today’s advanced construction fleet management solutions can deliver an unprecedented level of visibility, giving businesses the actionable insights needed to transform their operations and gain a competitive edge.
The results of one recent survey of 1,200 U.S. fleet managers, executives, and other mobile-business professionals found that:
- 45% of respondents that implemented fleet management solutions achieved positive ROI within 11 months or less.
- Of those, 22% reported positive ROI in fewer than three months.
- Companies using fleet management solutions saw a 54% improvement in customer service.
These results highlight the benefits that the increased visibility provided by fleet management technology can deliver. These benefits increase when fleet management solutions are integrated into a larger technology environment.
Construction and ready-mix businesses that adopt these technologies – such as e-ticketing capabilities, automatic job statusing, and powerful system integrations – are well positioned for operational transformation, leading to increased productivity and profitability.
“Materials producers are demanding software solutions that are designed to connect with others through APIs and other data sharing mechanisms,” says Craig Yeack, president of BCMI, an EROAD integration partner. “They want to work with technical partners who are willing to collaborate on their behalf.”
Streamline Construction Fleet Management with E-Ticketing and Automatic Job Statusing
E-ticketing
Electronic ticketing (e-ticketing) is a huge leap forward for construction fleet management. Much more than just an electronic replica of a paper job ticket, an e-ticket contains all the real-time information that drivers and the back office need to ensure jobs are completed correctly and efficiently.
Paper ticketing systems lack the ability to make dynamic updates. When job circumstances change, drivers must be contacted via phone or radio. It’s an inefficient system that can lead to budget-busting errors and driver frustration (which can end up hurting employee retention). E-ticketing, on the other hand, does away with these issues while boosting operational visibility by providing real-time updates, ensuring that the right people have the most up-to-date information when they need it.
Moreover, per the Federal Highway Administration, e-ticketing also:
- Improves safety by reducing drivers’ exposure to traffic and construction equipment
- Streamlines operations and saves time
- Provides quality, standardized documentation that can be easily retrieved and referenced to make better future decisions
Automatic job statusing
Automatic job statusing provides full visibility to fleet managers, empowering them to better distribute resources and ensure that concrete arrives onsite on time. When they know in real time how many trucks are ticketed, heading to a job site, onsite, pouring and heading back to the plant, stakeholders have the information they need to make sure jobs are completed efficiently and correctly.
Drivers also benefit. Automatic job statusing eliminates the need to update paper tickets or call into dispatch with status updates. Drivers can, instead, focus on their core job of traveling to and from job sites safely and efficiently, which is especially crucial with large, complex jobs that require continues deliveries.
Harness the Power of System Integrations
The power of system integrations for construction fleet management cannot be underestimated. With ready mix, for example, IoT technology paired with sensors lets drivers and the back office easily track drum rotations and moisture levels, increasing productivity, lowering the chance for human error, and reducing administrative burden by providing accurate digital records.
A system that integrates and connects with existing software and hardware is crucial to ensuring that jobs are completed correctly and efficiently. In addition, having a telematics partner that integrates with software and SaaS solution providers results in better visibility, efficiency and safety.
“The real-time information we can deliver producers allows them save time, improve product quality, and proactively respond before a problem occurs,” says Scott Andersen, president of CiDRA Concrete Systems, an EROAD integration partner. “When we combine our materials measurement expertise with the data from fleet and operations systems, the value delivered to our shared customer is greatly amplified.”
IoT solutions with open APIs can both increase efficiencies and improve a company’s bottom line. By providing an accessible, simplified and unified IoT platform and partnering with a provider who offers these capabilities, fleet managers can free up drivers’ time and help them get the job done. With the use of integration-friendly technology, such as EROAD’s Construction Solution, construction fleets can go a long way toward future-proofing their business, allowing them to evolve as the technology does.
