The convergence of existing technology and the correct utilization of existing business assets is, in the current climate, a topic for much discussion.  Industry statistics have shown that smart phones are the largest growth area of the mobile industry with mobile phone technology advancing so far in recent years that there is very little we cannot do from our mobile phones, no matter what your profession.

A mobile phone should be considered a tool of the trade and can be put to use to increase productivity, reduce fuel consumption and even protect workers.  Let’s take a look at the reduction in fuel consumption and the increase in productivity first.

Almost all smart phones now come equipped with a standard navigation application that will give the option of three different routes offering the quickest and most direct route as the first option to a driver.  Mobile employee management solutions will add to this, showing the location of an employee both on a map and street view, the nearest employee to a location and sites can be categorized for example, customer site, company site, supplier site, home site and problem site.  Those businesses utilizing one of these systems will be able to direct the nearest driver to a customer, the quickest route therefore enabling the company to reduce their fuel consumption, and in turn save costs.  This also will increase productivity of an employee by organising their route and making the most efficient use of their time.

Additional features of these applications will demonstrate what speeds the employee has travelled at on a journey and their driver behaviour. This monitoring can address speed related fuel saving issues, and then for example a business could send a driver on a drive safety awareness course to improve their skills. 

In terms of protecting an employee - the length of time they have spent behind the wheel is a crucial factor for fleet companies.  These apps can provide Duty of Care and Compliance for employees who drive on business (INDG 382) and for Lone Workers (INDG 73) in accordance with HSE Directives.  For example they can demonstrate:

- Anyone spending more than 20% of working hours behind the wheel last year
- Engineers working more than 60 hours last week
- Salesmen spending less than 35% of working hours at Customer sites last quarter
- Time on site more than 4 hours last week

For those company drivers in their own vehicles, also known as “Grey Fleet” are claiming company mileage this also applies.  Technology can monitor all those aspects of their journeys too as well as keeping tabs on their business mileage which unfortunately seems to be routinely exaggerated.

Here are some facts and facts and figures:

• The cost to employers for excess mileage claims can easily exceed £1800 per annum per employee.
• All companies are required by law to keep records of business mileage and substantiate what they pay to their staff. 
• Fleet Innovations say that up to 40% of businesses in the UK have inadequate mileage records.
• Last year HMRC announced that they are taking on an additional 2,500 staff to enable it to carry out Business Record Checks (BRCs) at 60,000 companies between now and 2015. 
• “Evidence shows that organisations typically pay out 24.7% more in fuel and mileage expenses than they need to” (The Miles Consultancy)

Incorporating technology in to the day to day working lives of employees can impact on so many different areas of their day, not only making it easier but also saving time, fuel and money as well as increasing productivity. With the ability to validate service levels, ensure accountability to clients and increasing both company efficiency and productivity - why wouldn’t a company implement this technology

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