The past two years have brought new issues and developments to the fleet business, most driven by the pandemic. As we enter the fourth quarter of 2021, we turn our attention to the coming year and dig into the projected fleet industry trends for 2022.
1. Maintenance Costs Will Rise
Part costs skyrocketed due to supply chain concerns in 2020 and 2021, which aren’t expected to improve anytime soon. This, along with workshops losing employment due to the pandemic, implies that maintenance costs are anticipated to rise in 2022.
Like many other firms in the industry, maintenance providers will be attempting to make up for losses caused by the epidemic. Labour prices will rise as a result of a scarcity of technicians, inflation and higher demand.
In recent years, a rise in vehicle complexity has also played a role since workshops demand more highly qualified technicians to operate on vehicles with better-integrated electronics.
2. Improved Connectivity & Telematics
While telematics is not a new concept, fleet technology is constantly evolving to improve the way managers monitor performance. Fleet managers see the importance of employing technology to monitor driver conduct in real-time, from electronic logging devices (ELD) to in-cab video.
GPS and telematics solutions provide real-time data on vehicle safety, health and performance. Not only can fleet managers use this data to monitor driver conduct, but ELDs and other devices may also give insight into maintenance requirements and assist fleets in reducing downtime.
3. Safety
Along with growing telematics usage, the 2022 fleet trends report will place a greater emphasis on safety. In addition to rigorous cleaning regimes to avoid viral transmission, innovative technologies will be emphasised to ensure driver safety. In-cab gadgets, for example, will allow drivers to receive notifications regarding excessive speed, seatbelt use and irresponsible driving.
Managers can address these issues to ensure the driver’s and others’ safety. Managers can review their performance and set new regulations for drivers after examining the data.
4. The Future of Autonomous and Electric Vehicles
As more corporations roll out electric vehicles, electric vehicle use may increase this year. These cars will ultimately become more communicative thanks to improved data exchange and fleet software. Meanwhile, there has been a substantial advancement in the capabilities of autonomous vehicle (AV) technology. By extending driving hours, AV provides a considerable potential to boost productivity. Finding solutions to control autonomous cars at each level as we advance into the driverless era will be one of the top problems in 2022.
5. Remote Working Will Still Be the Norm
Throughout 2020 and 2021, working from home became the new normal for many people. With offices worldwide having to close due to Covid-19, fleet managers had to reconsider the structure of their employees and how they communicated with them.
It is projected that 25 – 30 per cent of the workforce would work from home by the end of the year, with that figure expected to rise further in 2022. Fleet managers must adapt to this new working style, and smart fleet management software offers an excellent set of capabilities to assist in managing a remote crew.
Conclusion
Overall, technology evolves rapidly, and it is critical to keep abreast of the latest developments. It applies to various industries, including the fleet industry. With deeper digital interfaces and more excellent fleet management software capabilities, the fleet industry will grow in 2022. It is critical to use fleet management software to improve operational efficiency and performance
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