COVID forces review of Fleet practices
WORDS BY PAUL OLIVER
COVID-19 has significantly ‘ changed the
game ’ for many organisations operating vehicle fleets in 2020 - resulting from lockdowns , workforce re-structuring , work from home practices etc .
Even those organisations providing essential services reliant on transport and tool of trade activities have been affected . Both pool vehicle and employee supplied vehicle utilisation has been well down .
As we look toward 2021 many businesses will now be looking at the upheaval inflicted by COVID on their fleet operations and asking “ What are the long term financial and budgetary impacts ? How has the culture of the business changed , and what will mobility and fleet operations look like post the pandemic ?”
Change Uncertainty
We do know that COVID has been a catalyst for change , on many fronts . Take for example video conferencing , a growing connectivity choice in 2019 , but within weeks of lockdown , it became the primary option for a dispersed workforce .
I recently spoke with fellow fleet management consultant Tim Roberts from fleetstrategy about his views on the current market and the year ahead and he reflected that “ Although many organisations are now moving back to a physical environment , the experience of work from home and a ‘ Zoom ’ culture will I believe , make lasting changes . Notwithstanding , I ’ d temper the view of expected change with a likely rubber band snap ….. that being our ‘ face to face ’, social and organisational preferences pulling us back closer to pre-COVID business practices earlier than we might currently envisage .”
Even-so , we have seen dramatic upheaval in many sectors . How will organisations adapt to economic , workplace , technological and social change ?
Vision
Of course , there is always expertise at hand to provide guidance , strategic planning and operational support with important business functions such as fleet management .
8 ISSUE 26 DECEMBER 2020 / WWW . AFMA . ORG . AU