Fleets are always looking for ways to be more productive and efficient. Getting more work done faster brings in more money for the business, improves customer service, and keeps workers moving throughout the day. Drivers, in particular, want to be on the go, not sitting in traffic for hours at a time. This is why rich traffic data comes in handy for fleets looking to maximize their productivity and get the most out of their vehicles on the road. What are the benefits of rich traffic data? We will break them down below.
What is Rich Traffic Data?
Rich traffic data uses GPS tracking and historical data to provide the most accurate glimpse of what traffic looks like in a specific area in real-time. It uses features such as speed profiles to determine how fast traffic will move at a given time on a roadway. Whereas old navigation methods combined legal speed limits with road size, today’s speed profiles take advantage of actual speed data on specific roadways. They can also determine speeds at particular times of the day for an area. Rich traffic data even takes GPS tracking from vehicles and finds any delays caused by accidents or construction that will slow traffic in a specific location. There are many benefits to rich traffic data, which we will explain further.
Reduced Fuel Costs
One of the most significant budget items for fleets is fuel, which sometimes makes up 60% of a fleet’s budget. Naturally, fleets are always looking for ways to reduce fuel costs. One way that fleets can cut down on fuel use is by taking advantage of rich traffic data. When drivers spend less time in traffic, they use their fuel more efficiently. They spend their time on the road getting their jobs done. With rich traffic data and route optimization, drivers get more jobs done with less fuel, resulting in more savings for the fleet. It’s a win-win situation for everyone!
Improved Customer Service
Customers are happiest when their deliveries and services arrive on time. Traffic can often cause delays that prevent that from happening. With real-time traffic data, that issue becomes a problem of the past. Drivers can keep customers updated with automated ETA notifications and please them by staying on schedule more often. Customer relations is the most important part of any business, and maintaining positive customer relationships will keep businesses thriving for longer. Harnessing real-time traffic data is an easy step to improve customer satisfaction that any fleet can take.
Increased Capacity
When work is getting done faster, your fleet creates time for more jobs. This means that fleets that use real-time traffic data can get more jobs done than ever before! More jobs naturally means more money for the fleet, an immense benefit for fleets looking to grow and expand. The more customers that fleets reach, the better their reputation and the larger they will grow. Increasing a fleet’s capacity is a massive benefit for fleets to enjoy.
Reduced Insurance Costs
Insurance costs are another place where fleets like to try and cut the fat. Often, businesses can obtain discounts for implementing safety features for their drivers. Insurance companies want to see that fleets are making an effort to be low-risk for them. Driving in heavy-traffic areas is a high-risk activity that insurance companies dislike. By avoiding heavy traffic with real-time traffic data, fleets may receive discounts on their insurance premiums. This is especially true for fleets that use route optimization.
Reduced Liability
As mentioned, driving in less traffic is safer for fleets overall. The more cars that are around, the more likely a driver is to get into an accident. Accidents are costly burdens for fleets to bear. With real-time traffic data, drivers are less likely to get into accidents that will cost their fleets thousands of dollars and send their insurance rates skyrocketing. And, most importantly, it will keep drivers safer on the roads. Fleets are always looking for ways to reduce their number of accidents, and taking advantage of real-time traffic data is one way they can do so.
Conclusion
It may be surprising how many ways rich real-time traffic data can benefit your fleet. It is an immensely useful tool that will streamline your business’s everyday operations and help you save money in the long run. There is no reason not to take advantage of the many significant advantages that real-time traffic data offers. Find out how you can implement this feature in your fleet by speaking with an expert at Azuga today.