AUSTERITY PUTS FOCUS ON FLEET SOFTWARE INVESTMENT TO MEET COST SAVING TARGETS, SAYS JAAMA

Cost control remains the number one issue for organisations across the public and private sectors and many are realising embracing sophisticated online technology can help to meet their fleet budget targets.
 
Spend to save has been a campaign message from Jaama for more than a year and with Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne forecasting in his recent Autumn Statement that austerity measures are likely to remain in place until 2018, organisations are increasingly recognising the operational benefits of such a strategy.
 
No where is that happening more than among specialist service companies that are winning numerous outsourcing contracts from both the public and private sectors.
 
Many of those organisations, which includes the likes of Enterprise, Interserve, MITIE and Serco as well as Amey and Kier Construction, have turned to Jaama to help them deliver cutting-edge solutions through their Key2 Vehicle Management system.
 
Additionally, major public and private sector fleets also recognise the benefits that investment in technology can bring, but smaller fleets have, in many cases, yet to recognise that potential, says Jaama.
 
Martin Evans, Jaama’s sales and operations director, said: “During 2012 we have seen many organisations invest in our online Key2 fleet management technology to improve operating efficiencies along with health and safety compliance.”
 
In terms of working in partnership with major specialist outsource companies, Mr Evans said: “In these austere times, outsourcing will continue to be the focus for 2013 when investment is desperately needed but central and local government and companies must reduce their cost base. 
 
“Our growing base of outsource specialist customers are continually striving to deliver increased value for money without increasing their own cost base and fleet technology and software-based solution delivery and management helps to achieve that.
 
“Outsourcers are driven to invest in new technologies to ensure that their contracts remain sustainable and business objectives are achieved.”
 
Additionally, Jaama continues to win new public sector as well as major private sector contracts and anticipates that will continue in 2013. 
 
Mr Evans said: “Our public sector customers recognise that a ‘spend to save’ strategy works. Both public and private sector customers are looking at ways that our software can save them time and therefore money.
 
“For example our ‘touchscreen’ functionality for workshops means that technicians can update jobs directly rather than write notes on a job sheet that an administrator then has to decipher and re-enter onto a computer.”
 
Jaama is also continuing to work hand-in-hand with many contract hire and leasing companies including Days Contract Hire, JCT 600 Contracts, Ogilvie Fleet and Prohire.
 
However, Mr Evans says many smaller businesses can learn from major organisations and cut their own fleet operating costs by investing in technology.
 
“Some SMEs have invested in online fleet management technology, but many have not. However, all of our customers are cutting fleet operating costs through the effective use of software to manage vehicles,’ he said. 
 
Jaama is the UK’s most recommended fleet management software company and its continuing success and requirement to recruit more staff to develop and deliver solutions means that the business will be moving to larger premises early in 2013.
 
Mr Evans said: “We will be remaining on the same business park in Tamworth, but larger premises will enable us to recruit more people.
 
“Most of our new business is the result of referrals from existing customers and as those clients look to increase the depth of functionality so we further develop modules and launch new solutions to the point where Jaama is continuing to lead a technology revolution.”