Ask the Expert : The Issues Facing Local Government Fleet Management and the Technology That ’ s Solving Them
We catch up with Lou Boyle , National Manager of Local Government at Teletrac Navman
WORDS BY TELETRAC NAVMAN
Tell Us About Yourself
My interest in technology flourished as CEO Representative and Head of Corporate Affairs for Telstra in Queensland . Soon after , I went to work with the Local Government Association as their Innovation Executive , working with councils to better understand what they were doing within the technology space .
I have also been a board member of the Ministerial Smart Infrastructure task force with the Queensland Government , a board member on the Australian Digital Currency Association , an Australia delegate presenting to the Smart Cities World Congress in Barcelona , and I founded the Telstra Local Buy Industry Development Fund .
Today , I work as National Manager of Local Government for Teletrac Navman , where my key focus is assisting local government organisations to obtain economic benefit , mitigate risk and improve their data skills .
What are the key issues currently facing local governments ?
There are three key issues facing councils . The first is financial sustainability . Considering the current economic climate , especially the effects of COVID-19 , councils have been reluctant to increase rates or to push hard in claiming unpaid rates . At the same time , requirements for services haven ’ t diminished .
Secondly , pressure from the community to operate in an environmentally considerate manner is increasing . The recent
United Nations IPCC report made clear the need for all levels of Government to consider how they can contribute to a sustainable future .
Finally , there ’ s an issue with digital skills . Local Government is an aging workforce – it ’ s above all the industry standards in age demographics , particularly for regional councils . Ensuring that councils are staffed with digitally skilled workers is a significant hurdle .
How is local government fleet management impacted by these issues ?
Councils under financial pressure are still expected to deliver on services , and vehicle and asset utilisation is more important than ever as a result . Telematics and fleet management software helps councils deploy their assets in the most efficient way possible , saving time and keeping costs down .
32 ISSUE 30 AUGUST 2021 / WWW . AFMA . ORG . AU