In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, you may have chosen to create or expand your business’s fleet on short notice. With so many customers requesting deliveries and in-home services, it was a necessary move. But now that you have a larger fleet, you may be wondering how to ensure that it remains a reliable revenue stream rather than becoming a financial drain. From investing in helpful software to partnering with Red Beach Advisors to develop a structured path for business success, these tips can help you manage your new fleet effectively while boosting your customer service.
For help with these and other strategies that will help you reach new levels of success, contact the experts at Red Beach Advisors.
Smart Marketing
While some consumers are choosing to leave their homes to shop and handle other business, others would still prefer paying for in-home services and deliveries, especially seniors and people who are immunocompromised. If you want to fully utilize your fleet, make sure that your marketing materials reach demographics that are more likely to continue staying home. And if your business conducts home repairs, you should continue focusing on your efforts to connect with homeowners, who might have exasperated their DIY options by now!
Management and Maintenance
In order to gather and analyze data pertaining to your fleet, you’ll need fleet management software and business insurance. Ituran explains that this type of software will help you keep track of where your vehicles are, monitor driver behavior and routes, and even figure out when your vehicles will need maintenance. Along those same lines, a well-chosen time card application eases scheduling by opening up crew visibility, notifies you about schedule changes, and even incorporates geofencing. With the right software, it will be easy to manage your fleet in an organized fashion, schedule maintenance, and find ways to reduce operating costs.
Inventory Management
If you want customers to continue relying on your delivery options and in-home services, you’ll need to make sure that your employees bring exactly what your customers ordered for every transaction. Otherwise, they may choose to buy from a different company or pick up orders in person instead, rendering your fleet less useful.
In addition to reminding your employees to double-check each order before heading out, investing in user-friendly inventory management software will help you ensure that you’re never out of stock of in-demand items or necessary tools and materials. You may also want to establish a warranty program so that customers have recourse if there is a problem with their items.
Delivery Tips
Want to save time on deliveries so that your drivers can fulfill more transactions during shifts? It all starts with storage. Whether you have a large warehouse or store supplies in the back room of a small retail space, you need to clearly organize this space to avoid confusion and misplaced items. You should also focus on creating a long-term customer retention plan for loyal customers who use your delivery and in-home services regularly. By creating more value for these customers, you’ll increase the future revenue of your fleet.
Safety Protocols
To make sure that customers feel secure choosing your delivery and in-home services, you’ll need to establish and communicate clear safety protocols. Whether your company is in the home maintenance, retail, or restaurant sector, this is non-negotiable.
ConsumerReports recommends asking customers about their potential exposure to COVID-19, offering touch-free payment transaction options, determining strategies for social distancing while in customers’ homes, and instructing employees to wear masks when they leave for deliveries or service calls. Let your customers know about these standards beforehand — they’ll know that they’re in good hands!
The last year has been a trying one for business owners, and you’ve likely had to make some unexpected decisions in order to adapt to the circumstances. If you’re currently responsible for a larger fleet, you can use this to your advantage. With these tips, you’ll find that your new fleet will provide you with a solid return on investment.