Whether you run a small fleet management business or an enterprise fleet management is a crucial aspect for both types of businesses. However, the challenges faced by each of them differ in numerous ways.
This article throws light on the critical differences between these two categories of business and suggests fleet solutions that will work for each.
Key difference between an Enterprise and a Small Business Fleet
The following table elaborates on the differences between small-scale and enterprise-scale fleets.
| S.No | Factors of differentiation | Enterprise Fleet | Small Business Fleet |
| 1 | Size and scalability | Enterprise Fleets comprise hundreds or thousands of vehicles used for diverse purposes from transporting goods across regions. | As the name suggests, small business fleets are compact ranging from a few to 15 vehicles. They are often used to serve local markets. |
| 2 | Operations and Complexity | Since, the enterprise comprises a large number of vehicles dispersed across multiple locations, managing logistics, maintenance and driver monitoring becomes a tedious task. | Operations of small business fleets are a bit less complex. Since they are majorly focused on a specific consumer base, coordination with them becomes smooth. |
| 3 | Resources | Enterprise Fleets have dedicated resources in place. They hire fleet managers to oversee vehicle acquisition, maintenance schedules and regulatory compliance. | Small business fleets have limited resources. Therefore, fleet-related tasks are managed by their employees besides their primary tasks. |
| 4 | Objectives | Enterprise Fleets aim for optimizing the efficiency of their fleet business. They collect data to analyze trends, minimize costs and streamline routes. | Small businesses prioritize personalized service. Their goals revolve around ensuring on-time deliveries, cost-effective operations and building strong customer relationships. |
| 5 | Regulatory Compliance | Due to larger fleet size and operational reach, enterprise fleets must adhere to several safety, emissions and industry-specific standards. | As compared to enterprise fleets, small business fleets have simpler compliance needs due to their smaller scale. |
Now that you have understood the key differences, let’s know about some of the common challenges faced by enterprise and small business fleets
Challenges Faced by Enterprise Fleets
Some of the common challenges faced by enterprise fleets include;
- Asset Utilization
It is easier for fleet managers of a large fleet enterprise to lose track of their vehicles. Especially when they want to know which of their vehicles are getting utilized and which are not. This may result in underutilization of assets which may lead managers to purchase extra assets, causing more expenses.
- Driver Turnover
It can be a problem for any type of fleet business. However, in the case of the enterprise fleet, this is something that keeps on happening. The inability to efficiently manage drivers can make them look for a better place with better opportunities.
- Huge bundles of data
Running a large-scale fleet management business means keeping track of loads of data starting from fuel consumption to vehicle performance. Managing big data becomes overwhelming without telematics solutions
How can Fleet Management Software(FMS) help them overcome these challenges?
An all-in-one fleet solution helps fleet managers keep easy tabs on every aspect of data including safety of vehicles, maintenance schedules, fuel usage and driver behavior. However, in the case of large businesses, certain aspects of FMS can prove beneficial.
For example, asset tracking helps them ensure the optimal utilization of their fleets and avoid unnecessary purchases. How? By offering real-time visibility and insights into the location, status, and performance of vehicles and other assets. This further helps fleet managers in making informed decisions that lead to improved efficiency, reduced operational costs, and better resource allocation.
Challenges faced by Small Business fleets
Some of the common challenges that small fleet management business face are;
- Competition
Limited tools and resources make it difficult for small fleet businesses to deal with the competitive market.
- Budget constraints
Small business fleets function on a tight budget. Therefore, they always have to be careful about making decisions regarding every aspect of the business whether it involves hiring more staff and gaining more customers.
- Reduced Margin for Mistakes
For small businesses, their reputation and budget play an essential role in business operations. So automatically, there’s less room for errors because minor errors can make them lose a valuable customer. They don’t have the same luxury as large businesses.
Can Fleet Management Software help small businesses too?
Yes, FMS can do wonders for small fleet businesses. Firstly, it can automate several aspects of fleet management such as route planning, driver behaviour monitoring, fuel monitoring and maintenance tracking and much more. Thus, eliminating the room for errors and freeing up a lot of time for fleet managers that can spend on strategizing and planning business operations.
Secondly, it can help them keep better track of data including operational costs. This will help them in setting up their fleet budget and reducing their spending.
