Leading a team of geographically-dispersed employees? Now that’s a real challenge that can make overseeing your employees’ behavior nearly impossible. However, modern technology has made it easier to more effectively manage remote or field employees. For example, one of the most helpful tools you could add to your toolkit is a fleet tracking system.
Modern technology has made it easier to more effectively manage remote or field employees. For example, one of the most helpful tools you could add to your toolkit is a fleet tracking system.
This fleet tracking solution is your eyes and ears from afar, enhancing your ability to manage teams regardless of location. For some employees, a lack of managerial presence can mean straying from rules and regulations. And for the dedicated employees who are performing up to company standards, there may not be anyone around to recognize them for it. A cloud-based fleet monitoring system could be the answer to both of those problems.
In 2015, Tsedal Neeley of Harvard Business Review wrote a piece on the dynamic of a global workforce. In it, she noted that managers who lead global teams “are up against stiff challenges”. Your employees may not live in different countries like those Neely studied, but she did present ideas that universally apply. For instance, feedback on routine interactions is one area Neely highlighted. A fleet monitoring system is an excellent way to gather performance feedback you can deliver to employees. You may be able to use this feedback to improve performance, document problems, or congratulate an employee on excellent work.
Because of the way the software works, you’ll receive a variety of insights on employee behaviors. This data can include efficiency metrics like fuel consumption and the route driven to or from a job. But it can also include important safety measures, like your driver’s speed and if they brake excessively. Much like they probably do in their personal lives, your employees may look at driving as just another mundane task. However, managers recognize the impact safe and efficient driving can have on operations. A fleet monitoring system may be able to improve communications with your drivers in a truly meaningful way. As a result, you may even be able to keep your drivers safer and help your bottom line.
Some employees may take advantage of being a part of a scattered workforce. Nevertheless, fleet monitoring systems can give you nearly the same visibility you’d receive if you were in the passenger seat. The software can curtail employee downtime by reporting on their location and stops. An unnecessarily long break is a common example of an employee abusing the privilege of paid time off for lunch. However, it’s less likely to occur if managers have real-time visibility into the employee’s location with a fleet monitoring system. In addition, you can check what time an employee’s vehicle was parked and for how long. With that type of data, you’ll have a precise measure of how long your employees are spending away from work.
It may not seem as obvious, but milking the clock can also take place outside of breaks. In fact, something managers may have to watch is an employee taking longer than necessary to finish a job. If your expectation to complete the job is 60 minutes, and your employee takes triple that time, that’s a problem. The employee may be ill-equipped to do the job and could receive help from added training. Alternatively, they may be purposely taking longer than usual to avoid another scheduled job or to receive overtime pay. In any event, a fleet monitoring system again supplies you the visibility you need from afar. Some solutions are even able to organize that data into reports you can run to check employee utilization rates. If an employee is consistently taking longer than expected, it may be time for a discussion.
Your employees should be proud of their work. Field service technicians often perform difficult tasks that the average person could not handle. What better way to illustrate successful completion of these complex and confusing tasks than with photos or video? A fleet monitoring system allows your employees to upload documentation directly into the platform that shows what work they performed. Not only does it hold them accountable, but it gives you a chance to review their work from the office. It would be inefficient and time-consuming for you to drive from customer to customer to look at each completed job. With a fleet monitoring system, those completed jobs can come to you.
It would be inefficient and time-consuming for you to drive from customer to customer to look at each completed job. With a fleet monitoring system, those completed jobs can come to you.
Managing a geographically-dispersed team can be difficult especially when safety and correctness are strong concerns. That said, it’s imperative that there are checks in place to ensure employees are upholding the standards you expect of them. A fleet monitoring system might just be the solution your business needs. If you’re interested in seeing how we can help your business, reach out to schedule a free demo with EnSight+.
All monitored by you, in real time. Are you ready to take control?