Fleet software "increasingly used for more than fleet" says Chevin

Fleet software is being increasingly for used non-fleet processes due to its flexibility and high number of interfaces, reports Chevin Fleet Solutions. As a proven and capable enterprise level solution, it is often the best tool available to businesses and other organisations when a new IT-driven process needs to be created.

Managing director Ashley Sowerby said: "Sometimes, the new process required is directly linked to the fleet but is not really pure fleet management. An example of this might be invoice matching workshop jobs with orders in the company's accounts system. However, there are also much more imaginative uses in place, especially when it comes to mobile devices, such as using smartphones or tablets to record proof of delivery on a courier or parcel delivery, or as a means to quote or record sales from the field. Enterprise level fleet solutions such as our FleetWave product are easily used to create and drive processes of this kind, and businesses are increasingly employing them in this way."

Ashley added that, as an example, sales recorded in the field could then be invoiced to customers through the software using invoicing tools that already exist as part of the system, originally designed to manage fleet specific areas such as vehicle parts and suppliers but with small tweaks allow them to function for wider areas of business operations.

"Often when the capabilities of the software are recognised, broader business processes are consolidated into the system. Ultimately, a product such as FleetWave can deliver almost every type of analytics and reports from any areas of a business. It's just a matter of how far an organisation wants to take the system." Ashley said that the trend was also developing because fleet management software often had more interfaces across an organisation than any other enterprise level IT system. "The fleet system usually has links with several other systems – especially accounts and human resources – so it is well-placed when new processes are needed."