The construction industry has always required a high degree of flexibility: seasonal cycles, weather delays, and the synchronization of permits have made adaptability fundamental. Booms and economic busts have created Picos in the demand and periods of market contraction.
The current volatility is more intense and systemic. In addition to the unpredictable fluctuations of demand and persistent labor, policy changes and inflation have interrupted supply chains, forcing continuous recalibation and unpredictable delays.
Construction companies need to be agile – ready to move parts and people on demand to support growth. Central to this goal: their vehicle fleets.
Reacting Fleet Management Strategies are not effective
A way in which construction companies can respond to market volatility is to postpone capital costs. This approach can be seen. When the demand is bounced, trying to quickly replace an inappropriate or aging fleet can make it difficult to rapidly increase.
“We often hear that business owners say they are trying to keep current vehicles until they have growth or vehicles are too expensive to maintain,” says Billy Dobosz, Deputy Vice President of Enterprise Fleet Management. “A reactive fleet plan like this involves a lot of problems: unpredictable operational expenses, increased inactivity time, safety risks avoiding its employees and an inconsistent customer experience.”
Companies can use solutions such as base on workers’ own vehicles while offering a mileage and wear refund. Although this approach avoids the need for a great capital disbursement, it can lead to a loss of control and visibility, and no backup when a personal vehicle is broken down.
In the meantime, investing in assets during an economic boom is difficult and expensive. This approach can also shoot during market falls, leaving companies a surplus of underused vehicles that provide a cost without contributing to the generation of income.
It’s time for top -level flexibility
A reactive fleet plan is insufficient in the face of systemic volatility. “Planning for the future refers to flexibility and predict business needs, which often requires proper fleet strategy,” says Dobosz.
A flexible next generation fleet model strengthens operations during lean and boom periods, optimizing the present while preparing for the future. The smartest construction companies do not work anymore, they work strategically. And this begins with a flex that flexes when they do it.
Three keys to staying agile in the midst of uncertainty can help construction business not only survive the crisis, but also position themselves for growth:
- A flexible property model of fleet
- Access to data and technology of the next generation fleet
- A mobility partner to optimize your fleet strategy
Mix property, rent and rentals
For many contractors, ideal fleet strategy will include property assets complemented by a combination of rented vehicles and long -term rentals.
This mixed property model adds flexibility: Contractors can climb their fleet quickly as the needs change. It also provides significant cost savings opportunities, as the owners will not be sinking with the expense of buying vehicles for temporary needs that are later sitting at the Ralentine when the work slows down.
“It is rarely owned, all the property or the entire lease of the appropriate strategy,” says Gordon Welsh, head of Enterprise Truck’s corporate business development. Both Enterprise Truck Rental and Enterprise Floet Management are connected to Enterprise Mobility, a leader of mobility solutions that provide flexible options to meet each client’s unique needs.
DOBOSZ claims that many full -service service management customers have a hybrid plan. “Elimination of all vehicles in your current inventory does not usually make sense, because they all have different ages, functions and purposes. Our fleet strategies and recommendations are rooted in what is suitable for the business.”
Proactively take advantage of next generation fleet technology
Data collection and analysis are key to optimizing a flexible fleet. “Vehicles are smarter these days and their data can produce shareable views,” says Dobosz. When a truck sends a maintenance code notifies the driver and Alert the managers of the fleet. “Analyzing this data over time allows you to be less reactiva and more predictive. The connected data also allows you to compare the vehicles of your fleet and see which ones are the best,” he adds. “For example: If I know that this vehicle needs the service now and I will need a service in the next 30, 60 or 90 days, I can start planning now.”
Access to data such as the availability of vehicles, operating time, maintenance costs and possible savings can also help determine which units need to be most urgently replaced to minimize expenses and optimize the use of assets. Many vehicles can provide this information today. The challenge is to take advantage of the data collected to serve unique business priorities.
Let experts build a fleet plan around your needs
Participating with a supplier of mobility solutions such as Enterprise, either to completely outsource the management of fleet, obtain a flexibility to cover the short and seasonal needs with the rent of trucks, or for the monitoring of vehicles and maintenance, can be especially useful, since the positions eliminated by post-paid reduction such as the fleet or the equipment manager and forced them to assume these responsibilities.
“Fulfillment and safety managers also manage fleets, including maintenance supervision,” says Brett Vandermeulen, director of North -American truck rental for business mobility. “We can do the heavy lifting for those who manage the fleet at home. We will call them to let them know that the services arrive and even program them. All that the vehicle operator has to do is to show themselves to the place and at the most convenient time for them.”
Enterprise has dominated the optimization of the costs of the life cycle, the acquisition and the resale of vehicles and the programming and the fulfillment of maintenance:
These offers, endorsed by decades of expertise, position the unique company to help construction fleets to keep it flexible and even on a scale in the current unpredictable market.
“Our customers need to be focused on their business,” says Dobosz. “They count on us to make them know what changes and how they can affect their business so that they can make the best decisions.”
To find out more or discuss your vehicle’s needs with a local expert, go to Enterprise.com.
