EROAD Fleet Day is New Zealand’s fastest growing fleet management event. This year, held at Mystery Creek in Hamilton, the event attracted over 1,200 business leaders, vendors and industry experts. Featuring notable speakers, including former  Prime Minister Rt Hon Sir John Key, a 150-vehicle display, a simulated car crash, and panel sessions on fleet safety and sustainability.

So what were the top insights for fleet professionals?

1. Culture: the foundation of successful business
Successful businesses often share traits like confident leadership and a strong culture of accountability.

2. Data: essential for long-term growth
Data is a critical asset for decision- making and strategic planning. Leveraging fleet data through telematics can help identify optimisation opportunities.

3. Safety: a human problem first and foremost
Drivers need support systems, proper training, and a focus on well-being. It’s also important to celebrate consistent good practice – it’s just as important as addressing problems.

4. Technology: a powerful enabler, but not a silver bullet
While technology is no silver bullet, modern fatigue and distraction detection technology plays an important role in combatting distraction, such as mobile use while driving.

5. EV market: slowed, but still growing globally
EV sales in New Zealand may have slowed this year, but globally the market continues to grow, and although some traditional car manufacturers have shifted away from EVs, newer companies have stepped in.

6. EV cost: stretch the asset to overcome high depreciation EV affordability and depreciation
remain a concern for fleets. But with fewer moving parts, EVs have lower servicing needs. Combined with over- the-air updates and advances in battery technology – fleets don’t need to cycle the assets as quickly as ICE vehicles, they can ‘stretch the asset’.

7. EV anxiety: staff buy-in is key to successful EV adoption
Getting staff on board remains a challenge, with three main concerns – range anxiety (how far can I go), charger anxiety (will there be a working charger), and payment anxiety (can I use the charger). A top tip from the panel was to get EV owners in your company to share their stories.

8. Climate reporting: a competitive edge essential to future growth
While regulation is a driver for climate reporting, changes in consumer demand and investor appetite are also leading  businesses to push for sustainability to gain competitive advantage or attract investment.

9. Fleet technology: upgrade to unlock safety, efficiency and sustainability
Fleet optimisation starts with measuring actual fleet activity for data-led decisions. Fleets may find they have under-utilised vehicles and assets, which when sold can support them to replace well-used vehicles with smarter, more efficient models.

EROAD makes it easier to manage your fleet, and can help you find ways to reduce running costs. With a wide range of devices and plans available, EROAD has solutions for location monitoring, maintenance scheduling, WoF & Rego reminders, pre-trip inspections, pool vehicle management, RUC management, fuel management, emissions reporting, and asset & equipment tracking.