How Preventative Maintenance Software Makes Fleet Management Easy

Whether you manage a few taxis in Puerto Vallarta, a fleet of buses in Mexico City, or heavy equipment in Tijuana, preventative maintenance software is an essential tool to add to your toolbox. Rather than waiting for fleet vehicles to break down, preventative maintenance software empowers fleet managers to adopt a more proactive approach. The goal is to prevent vehicles from breaking down. As a result, your fleet will have fewer problems, less downtime, and lower costs. With the right software in place, the entire process can be easily managed. Here's a quick look at how preventative maintenance software can make fleet management a much easier task.

Proactive vs. Reactive Maintenance

Preventative maintenance is a proactive approach while towing disabled vehicles back to the shop for repairs is a reactive approach. Both have their costs, but preventative maintenance tends to be dramatically less expensive than frequent auto repairs. Consider the cost of a few man hours, engine oil, and oil filters compared to the cost of a new engine and you'll quickly see the value of a proactive approach.

When you implement preventative maintenance software, you are moving toward a more proactive approach. Preventative maintenance software allows you to schedule maintenance according to the manufacturer's (or your company's) recommendations. Using odometer readings or other indicators, the software alerts you to upcoming service requirements for all of the fleet vehicles under your care. Depending on how you have your preventative maintenance software set up, the software may automatically schedule service and create a service order.

The Value of Automation

Automation ensures that nothing gets overlooked or postponed indefinitely. Once you have a service order in hand, you can then order any parts listed and make any necessary arrangements. Since preventative maintenance is predictable, you can schedule service for times when the vehicle is not in use such as evenings, weekends, or when the driver is on vacation.

In addition, the software automatically creates a record of all preventative maintenance task performed along with detailed inventories of parts and supplies used. Each vehicle in your fleet will have its own detailed service history that you can use throughout its lifetime.

At the end of each vehicle's life, you can use these detailed records to calculate the total cost of ownership for the vehicle as well as to show potential buyers that the vehicle has been serviced regularly. This information can be used to make smarter purchasing decisions in the future and to increase resale value.

Most companies in Mexico purchase fleet vehicles rather than lease them. However, if you have a lease, the service records could also be useful in showing the leasing company that the vehicle has been cared for according to the manufacturer's requirements.

Preventative maintenance software can track everything related to each vehicle in your fleet, alert you to upcoming service, generate a detailed service order, and more. A well-designed system can quickly pay for itself by helping your organization take a proactive approach to fleet management.