Fleet managers lost four working weeks (20 days) on average because of the coronavirus pandemic, new research from Verizon Connect, has found.
The research revealed 7.5 working days were lost due to staff self-isolating, 6.5 working days lost due to driver sickness or illness and 6 days lost due to temporary travel restrictions.
62 per cent of fleet managers said their supply chains were disrupted due to the pandemic and 51 per cent said they had to make significant cuts to their operational budget.
Almost three in five (58 per cent) said that following health and safety regulations such as social distancing had made the business less efficient, while 52 per cent said that it has been difficult to comply with changing guidance.
The Verizon Connect research found that technology played a key role in helping fleet managers during the pandemic – half of respondents said they adopted new tools to boost efficiency and 49 per cent said that they would not have maintained business continuity or achieved success without a fleet management solution.
One area where fleet management helped was contact tracing, with 52 per cent saying they adopted a fleet management solution to support contact tracing protocols.
“Businesses of all shapes and sizes are under the pump because of the pandemic. SLAs are getting harder to hit, budgets are shrinking, and regulations are constantly changing,” Derek Bryan, vice president EMEA of Verizon Connect, said.
“During these difficult times, fleet managers need the right tools that help make their business better and adapt when a spanner is thrown in the works.”
“The research shows that fleet management tools are the key to unlocking the best of your business. From aiding with new regulations such as contact tracing, to giving total visibility of vehicles and assets, helping to improve safety and driving efficiency – the right fleet management tool is the key to getting an advantage over the competition and ultimately to survival.”
