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The future is mobile. By 2025, an estimated 80 billion mobile devices will be connected to the internet, which is four times as many as we have today. This is a trend that will impact every aspect of our lives and revolutionise the way in which haulage companies do business. Currently in the UK, almost half of fleet drivers and operators use mobile devices to handle haulage operations. This is also a growing trend in Europe, where 41 percent of fleet industry experts believe that apps have a positive role in managing fleets. These statistics are only set to increase as fresh, social media savvy professionals enter the industry, eager to use their technical nous to drive efficiency and revenue. 10 Perks Mobile devices help haulage companies and drivers increase their productivity. Replacing old-fashioned GPS trackers, these devices will give the following ten advantages on and off the road. 1. Paper Free – Going paper free is the aim for many businesses over the next five to ten years. Digital applications will allow drivers to limit the loss and damage of sensitive information, as this information will be encrypted and protected. 2. Update Processes – An app can connect all users to a central database. This will allow operations from invoices to dispatches to be accessed by everyone involved, reducing data duplication and general administrative time costs. 3. Cloud Documentation – With the help of mobile apps, information such as journey time, route and distance can all be logged automatically on the cloud. This information can then be downloaded at any time to other machines, reducing the need for paper print-outs. 4. Digital Data Trail – When information is documented on an online system, the job of operators overseeing work from the office is made much easier. As data is gathered and logically sorted and presented, it becomes significantly easier to identify and follow trends and trails. 5. Quicker Accident Response – Accident response time and effectiveness can be greatly enhanced via mobile devices, which immediately send a notification. This can help drivers communicate with the office and with emergency services quickly and easily. 6. Mechanical Failure Response – As with accident and emergency response, telematic solutions can send real-time mechanical information to operators. If there is a problem, it will be flagged up immediately. 7. Better Precision – We are prone to making errors, especially when it comes to manual data entry. Digital systems ensure that data only needs to be entered once, reducing the likelihood of mistakes being overlooked. 8. Faster Recruitment – Getting the best young drivers is a constant and important battle between haulage companies. To set your business apart from others, it’s worth staying up-to-date with the latest technological advances. The more technologically equipped operators will appeal to young drivers and give them confidence that the company is on the right track for the future. 9. Ease of Use – Everyone has a phone in their pocket. They are small, light and easily transportable. While drivers may have had to bring along a clunky laptop or set up a desktop to access systems in past decades, mobile devices allow them to do this easily at any time and place. 10. Inspections Simplified – Inspections can be long and complicated for haulage companies. With a mobile app, companies can simply and quickly access information on the condition of vehicles and schedule inspections and maintenance services. With these ten perks, it is impossible to ignore the importance of mobile devices to the fleet industry. It’s probable that haulage companies who best implement mobile integration will reap the biggest rewards and the largest revenues in the future. So, what are you waiting for? Author Plate Norman Dulwich is a Correspondent for Haulage Exchange, the leading online trade network for the road transport industry. Connecting professionals across the UK and Europe through their website, Haulage Exchange provides services for matching haulage companies or self-employed drivers with jobs in road transport and haulage work. Over 5,000 transport exchange businesses are networked together through their website, trading jobs and capacity in a safe 'wholesale' environment.
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