While maintenance software is becoming more popular, the majority of fleets still do not use any software designed specifically for that purpose, according to a fleet survey conducted by Arsenault Associates.
Arsenault, which makes Dossier fleet maintenance management solutions, reported that less than 44% of fleets use software designed for maintenance purposes, and 16% of those use generic, off-the-shelf software such as Word, Excel, or Access. An additional 6%, Arsenault found, use a module based on their company’s accounting, purchasing, or payroll systems.
“You would think that in 2011, fleet-specific maintenance management technology is used everywhere, wouldn’t you?” said Charles Arsenault, CEO. “Well, you’d be wrong.”
The company said the most interesting development of the survey, which was conducted on Arsenault’s website, is that almost 34% of companies use paper and pencil or have no mechanism in place at all to track fleet maintenance records.
Arsenault pointed out that accounting, sales, and other corporate departments expect to use software designed specifically for their particular function. “But more than 55% of the fleets reported using either a make-do system or nothing at all to help manage valuable company assets,” he said. “This is equivalent to allowing mechanics to use the back end of a wrench as a hammer. It might work, but not very well and not for long.”
More than 100 fleets have taken the survey so far, Arsenault said, with 20% representing over-the-road fleets, 58% domiciled fleets that return each day, and 22% who operate in off-road environments such as construction sites.
