Easy Methods to Make Your Company Thrive With a SaaS Fleet Management Solution

According to Gartner, the SaaS market is worth over $195 billion in 2023. 53% of organisations are implementing it, with the rest soon to hop on the bandwagon.   

It’s no wonder. SaaS products help businesses make their operations extremely efficient and productive. 

If you’re in the fleet game, you can win with a SaaS fleet management solution. It lets you manage your drivers, vehicles, admin, services, maintenance, fuel consumption, and way more. 

It’s a real game-changer once you understand everything it’s capable of. That’s where we come in: 

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In this article, you will:

• Find out what exactly SaaS or Software as a Service is
• Learn how Software as a Service works
• Uncover 6 reasons why SaaS products are smart for business
• Learn how a vehicle tracking and fleet management system works
• Discover 8 reasons why Cartrack’s SaaS fleet management solution is best for you

Software as a Service or SaaS explained

SaaS is a part of almost everyone’s daily life. 

In a nutshell, SaaS is a software distribution model or application that is hosted by a cloud provider and made available to end users over the internet. 

There are two types of hosting models. An independent software vendor (ISV) may contract a third-party cloud provider to host the application. Or, with larger companies, such as Microsoft, the cloud provider might also be the software vendor. 

Additionally, SaaS is in three main categories of cloud computing, alongside infrastructure as a service (IaaS) and platform as a service (PaaS). 

Products range from personal entertainment, such as Netflix, to advanced IT tools, and then of course, fleet management software platforms – all of which can be used by IT professionals, business users or personal users. 

Curious to know how it all works? Let’s dive right in. 

How does Software as a Service work?

As we know SaaS works through the cloud delivery model and many benefits come with this. 

Firstly, you won’t be tasked with the setup and maintenance of the software. Secondly, you just need to pay a subscription fee to access the software, so you get a solution that gives you the flexibility to change your mind. 

And not to forget, you won’t need to install hardware on your computer, where you have to constantly update it, or pay upfront fees. The application is there for you, and easy to access on any device with a network connection. 

As a paying customer, you’ll have network-based access to a single copy of an application that your chosen provider has created specifically for SaaS distribution. 

The application’s source code is the same for all customers, and when new features are released, they are rolled out across the board. 

Just like buying a ready-made loaf of bread. 

Depending on the service-level agreement you have with your provider, the data may be stored locally, in the cloud, or both. 

Furthermore, it can be integrated with other software using application programming interfaces (APIs). For example, use your software tools to integrate with the SaaS provider’s APIs.

SaaS architecture

The application runs on a single version and configuration across different customers, called a multi-tenant approach. There’ll be common infrastructure amongst various customers,  however, the data from each will still be segregated.

This means the cloud service provider can manage maintenance, updates, and bug fixes a lot faster, easily, and efficiently. Any changes needed will be implemented for all customers, in one shared instance. 

All without compromising important cloud functions such as security, speed, and privacy.

According to technology industry analysts, we can expect to see more development in SaaS products, reaching nearly $200 billion in worth by 2024.

The benefits are evidently there, and speak for themselves, so let’s get them talking to you:

6 reasons why SaaS products are smart for business

1. Less chaos and more organised tasks. All parts of your business can be organised in one place, and on one dashboard that gives you actionable data insights. From here, you can organise daily tasks through calendar schedules, task updates, auto-replies, analytic reports, automated workflows, or setting to-do lists for your staff members.
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2. Saved time through automation. There’s no need to go through heaps of paperwork, or endless spreadsheets when you can digitise and streamline your processes. Get automated alerts and reports for tasks, sent to your inbox, at the exact times you want. Reduce repetitive daily activities or tasks, so you can get through other more pressing jobs and not waste time on tasks you’ve already done.
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3. Increased flexibility and freedom. The nature of business is not linear and SaaS products are designed for that because you’ll get the flexibility to adapt to changing events and business requirements. For example, you can upgrade or downgrade your package at any time as you won’t be tied into a fixed contract. As a result, you can change products as your business needs vary.
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4. Reduced business costs. When your tasks are automated and efficient, you and your employees will avoid unnecessary work. This will directly influence your business expenses. This could include reducing the need for hiring additional staff members, saving you money on recruitment costs. Or perhaps, you will eliminate a certain process costing you money. Additionally, with its built-in functionality, you won’t incur any extra costs building your additional infrastructure – saving you lots of money.
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5. Improved actionable decisions. A SaaS platform gives you access to more data, analytics, and insights for your business to grow and improve. Without it, you could fall behind your competitors. You can pinpoint the cause of problems and visualise what exactly is happening in different locations, departments, and systems. All of these will help you make important business decisions, assess productivity levels and see what’s working and what isn’t.
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6. Room for business scalability. When you scale your business, you might need additional staff, to take on more orders, or open up other branches at different locations. SaaS lets you manage your workload, productivity and deadlines, and gives your employees the tools to manage their tasks better – equipping them to meet the business’ growing and scaling demands.

SaaS business models are transforming the fleet industry for fleet managers. How?

Let’s get straight to it.

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Fleet management software and solutions explained:

Insights from Fortune Business Insights reveal that the global fleet management software market size is projected to reach USD 67.38 billion in 2029. 

Fleet management refers to managing all aspects of a fleet operation, including drivers, vehicles, cargo, and all the fleet tasks that need to get done on time, and around the clock.

Vehicle financing, maintenance, vehicle locations, vehicle trip history, fuel consumption levels, and driver behaviour – are just some of the insights fleet managers need to manage a fleet successfully and profitably. 

To do all of this at once, and efficiently, fleet software solutions are the answer, and it’s the data insights that’ll get you there.

These are just some solutions that will help you boost fleet efficiency, driver performance, and productivity and save on business costs:

• Real-time location information and vehicle visibility
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• Driver behaviour data to identify driving patterns
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• Fleet maintenance insights to know when to service vehicles, avoiding unexpected downtime
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• Vehicle or machinery usage data to calculate the actual working hours of employees
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• Fuel insights to identify if there is any theft or poor fuel consumption

How does a vehicle tracking and fleet management system work?  

A GPS (global positioning system) receiver is installed into the vehicles, to monitor vehicle locations and pinpoint their geographical location. It connects to a network of satellites within the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) network. 

This network consists of satellites that communicate with GPS devices to provide information on the current location, direction, time, and speed of the vehicle being tracked.

Typically, a GPS tracking system will use the same tech that cellular networks run on, called Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM). 

The data is then collected and transmitted in real time to a fleet software programme or to the cloud, via an internet connection. 

Here, you’ll get access to the fleet dashboard, and get a bird’s eye view of your fleet operation. 

Interesting, right? Well, sit back and enjoy the benefits that come from it:

8 benefits of Cartrack’s SaaS fleet management solution for your company

What is the best fleet management software solution? One that gives you intelligent data, making you the master of your operation. 

What exactly though? Let’s find out:

1. Workforce optimisation and improved workflows
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   With Cartrack’s platform, customers report having 80% more improvement in workflows and spending 30% less time on tasks because there’s less miscommunication and lost paperwork in their business.You can also achieve this in your business, with a fleet tracking platform that lets you strategically allocate your people and resources, track staff attendance, and comply with changing workplace laws – to keep your workforce flowing. One way to do this is with Cartrack’s work log reports and driver ID tags to manage your drivers on the road. They just need to tap the sensor in the vehicle or machine with the unique tag to start or stop operating it. This will help indicate their actual working hours. These times are then fed through to the fleet platform, giving you full visibility of driver attendance, so you can pay wages accurately.
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2. Monitor fuel costs and consumption
   
   Another major hit with the fleet platform is that customers report a 10% decrease in fuel consumption across their fleet. This is a big saving for two reasons, one, you’ve got a lot of vehicles, and two, fuel is one of your biggest expenses. Commonly, Cartrack Nigeria will install a CANbus device into the vehicle, also known as CANbus integration. This will integrate with the vehicle’s on board fuel sensors and ECU (electronic control unit). The platform will then be able to retrieve all the fuel-related information from the vehicle, such as fuel usage per vehicle, as well as litres used per kilometre. If there is a sudden spike in fuel consumption, Cartrack’s MiFleet feature will give you financial reports regarding this.
   
   For example, you could be using an increased l/100km than previous trips. MiFleet will then red flag this along with any other discrepancies. You can then investigate the possible reasons for fuel wastage, which could be due to poor driving behaviour, inefficient vehicle maintenance, or fuel theft. Common types of fuel theft include siphoning, fuel card fraud, and false fuel card transactions. Pinpoint “which one”, “how” and “why” – to stop fuel wastage in its tracks
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3. Vehicle and cargo safety
   
   Your assets are the lifeblood of your fleet which is why they need to be kept safe, and even more so, if you are transporting valuable cargo. This helps reduce business downtime and costly asset expenses. In South Africa, truck hijackings have gone up by 36.8%, further emphasising the need for you to protect your vehicles from theft. Use the fleet platform to know where your vehicles are 24 hours a day. If one of your vehicles is ever stolen, Cartrack’s experienced air and on-the-ground recovery team have a 92% recovery rate so your fleet is in safe hands.
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4. Effective vehicle maintenance
   
   According to fleet experts, asset depreciation can be as high as 53% for fleet managers, and maintenance costs can make up 9% of expenses. If a fleet is well-maintained, with timely scheduled maintenance, these costs can go down rapidly. To effectively fight asset depreciation in a fleet, managers need to take measures to increase their vehicle longevity. With all this in mind, you’ll want the maintenance insights a fleet platform can give you. For example, receive alerts when your vehicles need servicing and maintenance, and get important vehicle diagnostics., such as worn-out brake pads, oil leaks, and much more. Get timely alerts on when to service your vehicles, and create effective maintenance plans to prevent costly breakdowns. And importantly, you’ll prevent unnecessary downtime and always keep your business moving.
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5. Automation and digitisation
   
   You can’t always attend to every area or problem in your business all at once, so why not make use of fleet tech, which helps you digitise and automate your processes? Automatically receive actionable data reports in your inbox when you need them, at the exact time you want, which you can customise too. Also receive live alerts and notifications regarding maintenance, fuel consumption, idling, and more, so you can make instant decisions in real time. With the alerts, you’ll know if something goes wrong, taking the guesswork out of your operations and keeping you updated on the progress of daily tasks. The result is having business management activities that are automated and streamlined, so you have less admin and paperwork, and can focus on more pressing tasks.
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6. Driver safety and management
   
   What’s a business without an efficient workforce? And in a fleet, it’s your drivers that are going to get your goods from A to B, in one piece and on time. Driver behaviour insights from a fleet management platform will give you control over your driver management. AI-powered camera technology tracks all your drivers’ behaviour in real time, audibly alerting them when it detects any form of dangerous or distracted driving behaviour. This could be anything from speeding, harsh braking, hard cornering or even distracted driving or yawning. They can then quickly rectify any poor driving in real-time, which not only makes your drivers drive safer but it helps them become more accountable too. You can then use the powerful insights you receive from driver behaviour scorecards, to educate and empower your drivers on best driving practices, creating a safe driving culture in your business.
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7. Secure operations
   
   If sensitive and confidential data lands in the wrong hands, there could be serious consequences for your business. Examples include criminals accessing physical data, like the location of your vehicles and cargo, which could lead to potential asset theft. Or if they access digital data and your client’s personal information, this could lead to a potential lawsuit and reputational damage. There might also be concerns about moving data from your server onto the cloud and keeping it safe from Cyber attacks. You don’t need that kind of stress on your plate. With a SaaS fleet platform, your information is kept safe and sound. It’s managed by cloud experts that use the latest practices and security technologies and constantly monitor the infrastructure for issues of any kind.
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8. Customer satisfaction and business growth
   
   When you use a SaaS solution to improve all parts of your fleet, the result is happy customers and a business model that works. There are so many fleet areas that could impact customer satisfaction. Maybe it’s using the platform to improve the communication with your drivers, and optimise delivery routes, so your customers get their orders fast and you are able to mitigate delays. Or you could be using it to keep your fleet safer so your customer’s goods are more protected and you can give better customer service. Word travels fast. Perhaps you’ll get more client referrals, increasing your profits or you can increase your customer retention better. This sounds much like a recipe for a stable and profitable business, and one that just keeps growing.

‍Ready to take your business head-on with SaaS?

SaaS fleet solutions assist thousands of fleet operations around the world. Shopping around for one? Luckily, Cartrack Nigeria is around to give you the ultimate fleet solution, trusted by over 1.7 million users globally.