As we move into the latter part of the first quarter of 2026, businesses operating fleets can expect expenses to increase from the procurement stage through to termination, and this is due to various local and international factors.
This is according to Johan van Niekerk, Fleet Solutions Consultant, FleetDomain, part of the Argility Technology Group, which in turn is a Smollan subsidiary. FleetDomain’s Fleet Management Information System (FMIS) is recognised as industry-leading software, developed and managed by a team of fleet professionals with decades of hands-on fleet management experience.
Van Niekerk highlights Fleet Domain’s FMIS capabilities to address the challenges and risks associated with fleet management on one integrated platform.
“We advise businesses operating fleets to invest time and effort in developing long-term strategies through the implementation of policies that aim to reduce costs on a sustainable platform,” says Van Niekerk.
FleetDomain recommends focusing on the following areas:
This must be comprehensive and include consideration of appropriate brands and models for the job in hand, areas of operation, distances to be covered and actual job function. Vehicle specifications such as engine size, gearbox, tyres and fuel will influence costs. Setting rules in place to manage time and kilometre usage through to the replacement date will prevent vehicles from over-ageing and being kept past their sell-by date. Old vehicles lead to downtime, increased costs and risk, and lower resale prices.
All funding methods should be studied and tested, ranging from cash, hire purchase, financial lease, operating rental and full maintenance leases. In-house financial experts should be tasked with testing all of these options and mapping out the possible impacts in a discounted cash flow (DCF) model that reflects the best long-term return on investment (ROI).
Vehicles need to be maintained by manufacturer-dealer outlets to ensure that service/maintenance plans and warranty stipulations are supported. Third-party vendors offering maintenance and service plans can be considered, but the cost implications and their impact on total cost of ownership (TCO) and cents per kilometre (CPK) must be carefully evaluated.
A further option is a third-party service provider who will handle maintenance management, taking on the risk on your behalf as required by time and kilometre usage. The inherent risk of this product is the risk of restructures, excess kilometres, usage, and early termination penalties.
The use of managed maintenance cards (MMC) as offered by banks is a fair option. Monthly expenses are managed and captured, rendering reports for a nominal admin fee. However, this method does not necessarily yield the lowest-cost option.
Passenger, light commercial vehicles (LCVs) and commercial vehicles (CVs) all have different requirements and applications. Each should be understood and catered for.
One example is that low-profile tyres are more expensive than higher ones and are more susceptible to road conditions. The load capacity and regular load weight onto LCVs and CVs, as well as the area of operation, can have a detrimental cost effect if not selected correctly. Tyre size, rating and pressure are vital to lower tyre costs.
Selecting a petrol, diesel or electric/hybrid vehicle is a matter of choice and should be selected based on the best CPK value and TCO. Service intervals and maintenance costs must be evaluated over the lifetime of a vehicle.
Considering a hybrid or electric vehicle should be well investigated and analysed, taking all points into consideration. Fuel can be managed by filling up with cash or using fuel cards supplied by banks.
GPS/tracking units fitted to all vehicles are part of the company's safety and risk policies. A GPS/tracking unit is not a fleet management tool. It is a driver behaviour and vehicle location tool that provides information to help improve driver behaviour, which in turn can result in cost savings.
GPS/tracking devices, along with supplementary products such as dash cams, need to be carefully selected based on how well they meet a company’s reporting requirements.
With the AARTO demerit system of fines back on the map, companies must prepare to manage driver and vehicle fines. It is extremely important to manage fleet drivers’ demerit status. Companies will have to put risk-mitigating policies in place to address potential loss of licences and other risks. Human resource (HR) departments should be involved in planning for this.
There are various insurance options available in the market. Companies should evaluate all options and select the best policy applicable to their operational requirements. Policies regarding accidents and the aftermath involving vehicles, drivers, passengers, third parties, and family members must be put in place.
Jai Kalyan, Managing Director, FleetDomain, highlights the importance of communicating company policies to staff in a way that ensures both their understanding and acceptance. “Personnel buy-in is essential, which in turn will drive good corporate governance, safety and risk mitigation for all. Our FMIS provides a holistic solution that covers all areas of fleet management and delivers peace of mind in the knowledge that your fleet is being managed optimally,” he concludes.
Contact FleetDomain for more information:
E: info@fleetdomain.net | T: (011) 712-1300
Fleet Domain’s online Fleet Management Information System (FMIS) is reducing operating costs and improving safety for leading South African logistics firms. Jai Kalyan, Managing Director, FleetDomain, a subsidiary of the Argility Technology Group, says Fleet Domain’s FMIS offers an impressive value proposition to the market due to the affordable pricing. Moreover, local customers are reporting rapid ROI on the system.
“When fleets are managed more effectively, the risk is reduced and operational savings as high as 15% can be achieved,” said Kalyan.
“This is significant when you consider that a fleet of 100 passenger vehicles, LDVs and panel vans can cost around R24 million a year to operate.” Benefits achieved by effectively managing the fleet and influencing driver behaviour can be as high as a 28% increase in driver compliance and 50% decrease in accidents; while savings possible by better management of delivery routes, reduced speeding and harsh braking can be as high as 30% on accidents and 15% on fines and downtime.
The comprehensive Fleet Domain FMIS system enables fleet owners to efficiently manage operations, multiple service providers, drivers and vehicles through a single integrated platform, thereby reducing operating costs and improving safety. Featuring a full suite of integrated modules, FMIS delivers all the information needed, in a self-service, easy-to-use and seamless environment.
The system simplifies fleet administration, mitigating fraud risk and helping fleet owners make informed decisions about the running of the fleet, with modules including driving licences and PrDPs, vehicle licences, COFs and permits, fuel management, maintenance management – including servicing; repairs and warranties; fines management compliant with the new AARTO legislation; accidents; trip logging; inspections; acquisitions; disposals and reporting.
The solution also consolidates and enhances information from existing services and solutions such as fuel cards, tracking devices and onboard computers, and automatically flags exceptions according to parameters set by the fleet owner. The constantly updated manufacturer information on vehicle specifications and costs, together with per vehicle reporting on consumption, workshop maintenance history and total cost of ownership, is a strong drawcard for fleet owners and dealerships. This allows for manufacturer comparison and informed decision making on purchasing and selling for the fleet, thereby maximising fleet cost efficiencies.
Kalyan notes that product enhancements are ongoing with the goal of simplifying fleet management processes.
“Our most recent updates include the use of Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and scanning modules, which have streamlined and expedited driver take-on by using technology to scan in drivers’ licences, ID documents and vehicle registration discs,” said Kalyan.
“Another recent addition is that of an Inspection Sheet with related photographic evidence and comments allowing for tracking and resolution of fleet maintenance actions. “Additional to its multiple features, FleetDomain meets the needs of local fleet owners by offering one of the most unique, flexible and powerful security systems available today, with the advantage of no capital outlay. Users simply need an internet connection, and a login name and password to run the application.”
Source: Intelligent CIO
We get to know Tanya Long, the Chief Operating Officer at Argility, to see what makes her tick…
While there are many projects that stand out for me as having a positive impact, I would say my most memorable achievement is the leadership roles to which I have been appointed to in my career. When I commenced working in the technology world, there were very few women in management roles. In my youth I was driven towards success and thought that I had to show up and compete with my male colleagues in their ‘game’ to get a seat at the table. I wore pin striped suits and tried to do things better on what was considered the norm for a tech leader. This honestly caused stress, as being something that you are not takes excess energy. There came a point in time, where close to burnout, I realised that regardless of the levels of success, if you compromise yourself trying to be something that you’re not, then the journey is meaningless. I re-evaluated my life, owned my femininity, and decided to become a leader who brings all of these strengths to the role – even if they were not outlined in the traditional job description – and structured my work to have time for my family and passions. I much prefer the leader that I am today and I’m sure my colleagues also do, by being true to myself, showing vulnerability and compassion and knowing that just because you’re wearing a floral dress doesn’t signify that you don’t expect results.
My father. He knew a guy, who knew a guy who was doing ‘great’ things in computers. So I did what any teenage girl would do, I rebelled and went backpacking. During this time I did temp work overseas, and got thrown a job where I had to work on a Wang PC. It frustrated me so much, that I signed up for a course to master it and loved it, that as soon as I arrived home I sent myself on a programming and networking course. Needless to say, there were many Christmas lunches that contained a few ‘I told you so’s’.
I am for servant leadership and a coaching or motivational management style. Ultimately as a manager and leader it is about people and how passionate, engaged and effective they are. If you believe in peoples’ greatness, empower them to be the best versions of themselves possible and hold them to that capability – you can truly call yourself a leader.
In our world it is customer experience, Internet of Things (IoT) and data science. The technology world is so competitive that a successful organisation needs to focus on bringing extra value to the customer, to simplify their lives. There is a lot of talk about Artificial Intelligence (AI) and IoT but also a slight hesitancy to embrace these innovations which I believe is purely due to not knowing where and how to start, and whom to partner with.
I call them my 2 W’s. Walking my hounds and writing are my best stress busters. A couple of years ago after reading Julia Cameron’s The Artists Way, I started writing morning pages first thing, a gratitude diary at night and then a weekly blog, which have been useful tools to help make sense of things.
To not hold on so long to something that’s not working. Over the years, there have been some stressful situations where I thought, ‘If I just tried this, or tried that’, I could solve this. The result is that I held onto certain things too long. I worked in a role that despite the challenges sapped my energy and for a few years made me completely unhappy. Eventually I had the courage to resign and in spite of the initial fear, I have never looked back. These days it is not that I give up; I have just learned to respect myself enough to know when to walk away.
Cloud tools and architecture; advanced analytics, inclusive of Machine Learning and data science, and IoT. The ultimate goal is, of course, the digitisation of the value chains and providing a personalised customer experience with frictionless service.
There is no doubt that solutions implemented in Africa have to understand the challenges, which are often not solved with international products. Solution design and hardware needs to be able to manage unreliable infrastructure in connectivity and power and must meet the needs of the customer segment that one is targeting.
I have been on a whirlwind of change since moving from Human Capital Executive to Chief Operating Officer of Argility, a few months ago. The benefit is being able to bring all sections of the business together to drive strategy and execution. Having oversight of sales and marketing now, together with culture, engagement and operations, has allowed me to impact from beginning to end. Going forward I’m thrilled to be able to begin with the end in mind and track it through the full loop.
Surround yourself with exceptional people who challenge you, if you’re the smartest person in the room then be worried. Be teachable and continuously push yourself to learn and take on new things. Set WIGs (Wildly Important Goals) weekly, monthly, yearly – for the right reasons.Be 100% committed to achieving them. Do the work; there are no traffic jams on the extra mile. Make sure you live in integrity and show the way. Never expect anyone to do something that you are not prepared to do yourself. And lastly have courage, take on things that scare you and if you fall down, own it, dust yourself off quickly, learn the lesson and keep moving forward.
FleetDomain, proudly part of the Argility Technology Group
Source: Intelligent CIO
The Argility Technology Group has announced the launch of its latest product innovation, MultiTRAX, a delivery management mobile app that enables businesses to schedule deliveries and manage administration, while at the same time providing their customers with real-time tracking capabilities.
Marko Salic, CEO of the Argility Technology Group, notes one of the most exciting aspects of the launch of this product is that the concept was developed in-house through the group’s Shark Tank initiative.
“We launched the Shark Tank initiative in 2016 as a vehicle to encourage staff to participate and contribute their ideas for new product development. We set up an adjudication panel that comprised senior executives from both Argility and a leading SA retail corporation. The winning team received a monetary reward, but even more exciting is the fact that they saw their idea come alive as a fully developed marketable product,” says Salic.
MultiTRAX provides real-time delivery management information such as the current location of drivers, the routes followed, and a holistic view of the progress of all deliveries. “Customers are provided with real-time information, including estimated arrival time, current location of a delivery and more.”
Salic adds this innovative product delivers benefits to businesses and their customers. “From the business perspective, the app provides easy access to delivery documents, immediate delivery confirmation and the ability to schedule routes. The businesses’ customers enjoy a unique connected and reliable delivery experience and are able to track the location and progress of their delivery at any time in the entire process. A customer-centric business culture that leads to consistently positive customer experiences should be a core focus of any organisation. It translates into competitive advantage in a crowded marketplace.”
He confirms the product is already generating market interest with planned deployments in major South African brand organisations.
Tanya Long, Argility Chief Operating Officer, says 2019 will see the technology innovator taking its Shark Tank initiative to another level. “Not only will it be about promoting staff to develop innovative ideas, but will also aim to encourage them to define what return on investment the concept may hold for customers. In today’s fast moving world, it is vital to build entrepreneurial skills and business acumen within organisations and we are striving to ensure that our teams are not only technical experts, but are also able to quantify and design bottom-line, value-adding solutions that give our customers the edge in their respective industries,” says Long.
Source: IT Web
Enterprise retail software solutions company, Argility, has formed the Argility Technology Group and announced the acquisition Cquential Solutions and Fleet Domain, from Capital Eye Investments.
According to Argility CEO, Marko Salic, reveals the acquisitions form part of the execution of a broader strategy aimed at building an innovative technology group with specialised experience and expertise across multiple industry verticals.
“These markets are comprised of the expansive retail sector which is inclusive of digital transformation; omni-channel; prescriptive analytics; customer experience, and more. They also include warehousing, supply chain and fleet management,” says Salic. “One of the most important outcomes is the combination of expertise within these businesses and consequently the associated extended value proposition this will bring to our customers.
In terms of operating structures – Salic confirms he will head up the new group in the capacity of chief executive officer whilst continuing as CEO of Argility. “Each business in the newly formed group will retain its individual brand and identity, with the existing management structures remaining intact. Therefore, Steve Mallaby will continue as CEO of Cquential but has also been appointed COO of the group and Colin Steyn will remain CEO of Fleet Domain.”
Salic says the vision behind the formation of the new group is to position it as a leader in disruptive software technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), internet of things (IoT) and blockchain. “In line with this, we are already engaged in plans to increase our investment in the development of game-changing solutions in these areas. Embedding these new technologies into our current offerings will enable us to diversify, target new markets, and significantly enhance our existing solutions portfolio.”
For more information contact Sales on 011 712 1300, email info@argility.com or visit the ATG website.
