Fleet managers of today: here are your four key challenges
The German Mobility Outlook 2024 has identified several crucial challenges that are currently impacting fleet managers. Specifically, this comprehensive outlook points to four major areas of concern that are top of mind for those responsible for managing vehicle fleets. These key challenges can be broken down into the following specific areas. Firstly, the report highlights connectivity as a significant hurdle that fleet managers are actively grappling with. Secondly, cybersecurity presents another substantial challenge that requires careful consideration and proactive strategies. The rise of mobility-as-a-service, or MaaS, also constitutes a key area that demands attention and adaptation from fleet managers. Finally, the increasing push towards electrification and the transition to electric vehicles poses a further significant challenge that needs to be addressed effectively. Therefore, connectivity, cybersecurity, mobility-as-a-service, and electrification collectively represent the four main issues outlined in the German Mobility Outlook 2024 that fleet managers must navigate in the present climate.
This survey, recently published by management and technology consultancy Bearing Point, examines the trends that are shaping the future of vehicle fleets in Germany. The results are, to a large extent, transferable to any modern fleet in Europe. And they point to four main areas of interest, where fleet managers will encounter challenges, and can seize opportunities.
Connectivity
More connectivity can lead to more efficiency. Networked vehicles can be monitored – and optimized – for fuel consumption, driving behaviour, utilization rate, predictive maintenance, emissions management, and more. Two main avenues are open to fleet operators, each with its own advantages and drawbacks: using the on-board digital capacity of the vehicle, or the increasingly performant functions of the smartphone, in each driver’s pocket.
Cybersecurity
Increasingly, cars are data fountains on wheels. As modern vehicles become more digitized and networked, the requirements for data protection and cybersecurity will also increase. Especially challenging for fleet managers will be how to deal with personal and transactional information. These data points have operational importance, but employees will be worried that their private use of company vehicles is sufficiently shielded from intrusion.
Mobility-as-a-service
Mobility-as-a-Service, MaaS for short, was a buzzword a few years ago. But it will come back into fashion, as digitization and AI progress to make MaaS propositions increasingly feasible, manageable, and profitable. Culturally, the younger employee cohorts – less wedded to the idea of a company car – will be the most enthused about MaaS options. The advantages for fleets: more flexibility, lower cost. If done right…
Alternate powertrains
No, the term “alternate powertrains” isn’t just synonymous with electrification. For the survey points to e-fuels (also known as synthetic fuels) as a potential transitionary solution for a low-emission future, especially as those fuels become more cost-effective and widely available. Eventually, though, the batteries of electric vehicles will achieve such high levels of performance that any worries about range and charging will melt away, and they will become ubiquitous.
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