How Covid-19 Has Impacted Fleet Business
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted nearly every aspect of life around the globe, leading to a massive slump in the world economy. Businesses of all types faced extended shutdowns throughout the year. The fleet business was no exception, as it also felt the heavy impact of the coronavirus. With a halt in manufacturing, enhancing and expanding fleets became a major challenge for companies operating in the transportation and logistics sectors..
Without a workforce, the businesses relied solely on vehicle tracking systems for fleet management. These solutions provide managers with updates about operations at their homes or any other remote location. Despite all efforts, fleet businesses saw difficult times due to the pandemic.
Let us look into the impact of COVID-19 on fleet business in detail.
The Fluctuating Demands:
The impact of the coronavirus on the fleet business is different from other businesses. Although at the beginning of COVID-19, there was a sudden decline in operations, they came back to normal gradually. During peak corona times, companies saw a huge demand, especially in the delivery business. The delivery companies had to take drastic steps to enhance their capacity.
Some businesses had to train new drivers to meet their growing demands. Somehow, these steps helped get the job done for some companies, but without any efficiency or convenience.
Operational Challenges:
Due to COVID-19, most businesses had to shut down and rely on home-based work. It caused a lot of operational problems because of a lack of communication and accountability. The leading cause of communication deficit was the substandard internet. As GPS tracking systems rely on data sharing, a slow-speed internet connection can halt operations. Due to this reason, many companies faced operational hiccups after COVID-19.
Without in-house managers, it is hard for companies to keep a check and balance on drivers. Due to this reason, their efficiency drops, resulting in lower productivity. However, the vehicle tracking systems helped in fleet management during the pandemic peak. In addition to that, due to higher demand and fewer resources, the companies faced a lot of challenges.
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Implementation of Strict SOPs (Standard Operating Procedure):
With the increase in demand and Covid-19 spread simultaneously, the fleet businesses had to find a way to continue operations safely. By implementing strict SOPs, they have been able to keep the business running. Many companies are imposing hefty fines for breaching SOPs to ensure risk-free operations. Some of the essential SOPs followed by companies are given below:
• Sanitizing Vehicles:
Sanitizing vehicles before and after use is a common practice by businesses worldwide. As the virus can stay on a surface for more than a day, disinfecting a vehicle’s parts can help prevent its spread.
• Single Passenger per Vehicle:
Social distancing is an essential practice to prevent virus spread. Therefore, the fleet businesses are implementing a passenger rule for vehicles. It helps decrease the probability of the spread by limiting contact.
• Personal Hygiene Guidelines:
Personal hygiene is also pivotal in limiting the Covid-19 spread. Companies have given strict cleanliness guidelines to drivers and technicians during routine operations. For example, using sanitizer before and after touching surfaces is a popular practice post-COVID-19.
Read Also: Benefits of Using Mobile Apps in Fleet Management
• Wearing Masks:
Although the companies have tried to practice social distancing, there are still moments of contact. All the employees, including drivers, are ordered to wear masks during routine operations.
An Element of Uncertainty:
Coronavirus has disrupted all types of businesses. Due to the strict lockdown, many companies had to shut down, while others are running under unfavorable conditions. The changing severity of the virus is keeping businesses in a state of uncertainty. They have to remain on their toes and adapt according to the circumstances.
It is hard to adopt a fixed business plan as there is always a probability of a lockdown. The companies cannot think ahead of time, and that is hampering their growth. With the ever-changing scenarios, many operational problems also arise.
Need for a Survival Strategy:
A pandemic demands survival instincts in every life’s aspect, and business is no different. Like all other businesses, fleet companies also faced a really tough time after the pandemic. The lack of resources and a sudden surge of demand have made it difficult for businesses to operate smoothly. They have to remain vigilant to adopt new practices with the changes in circumstances for survival.
As the pandemic is not going away soon, it is essential to have a sound strategy to cope with it. The fleet companies have to think ahead of time and devise a sustainable plan for the future. It will help them to develop a robust mechanism that can help sustain them in testing times. COVID-19 has put a big dent in the growth prospects of the fleet business. The companies are focusing more on surviving rather than on innovation. Vehicle tracking systems have been a big help in helping them get through this challenging period. After the pandemic’s peak, fleet operations are gradually coming back to normal, and hopefully, it will stay that way.
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