Flexible fleets in this ever-changing world

The coronavirus pandemic has caused some unpredictable outcomes over the past year. Businesses have had to quickly adapt to a new way of working. Having more flexible systems in place, such as flexible fleets, help fleet managers manage their teams and vehicles better.

Whether you are a business that offers company cars or relies on your business vehicles to do your work, such as deliveries or taxi services, then your fleet may be operating differently from how it did pre-pandemic. The effects of the pandemic have accelerated the use of flexible fleets and provide a better solution for your business going forward.

How does a flexible fleet work?

Having a flexible fleet allows you to adjust how many vehicles and the types of vehicles you use throughout your leasing contract. Having a flexible fleet means you have more leverage on the terms of the lease. It allows you to have a tailor-made contract that suits the needs of your business at any time. Meaning you can be flexible with the rate, duration, payments and contract termination that is usually found in open and close end contracts.

Using fleet management technology, you can monitor and track how often your vehicles are used and based on previous trends of usage, you will be able to understand when the peak seasons are to better prepare you for a more cost-effective way of managing your fleet.

Benefits of a flexible fleet

The main benefit of having a flexible fleet means you can adjust the number of vehicles and type of vehicles you have throughout your contract. So, whether you need more vehicles during peak seasons, or if you need to change the type of vehicle you use throughout the year, it’s made possible by having a flexible fleet lease.

Having the freedom and flexibility will help you manage your fleet costs as payment is taken upfront every month. There are no large deposits to find, and you won't have to worry about vehicle depreciation or capital expenditure.

Why now is the right time for fleet managers to explore flexible fleet solutions?

The way fleet managers operate has changed significantly over the past year. Because of this, around 53% of fleet managers think that their fleet size will increase in the next 12 months, whereas 81% think having a flexible fleet would help them handle unpredictable changes.

To improve company sustainability and green policy, switching to a more flexible fleet will help businesses that are still relying on petrol or diesel vehicles to speed up the process of switching to electric-powered vehicles as part of the phasing out of petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030.

How does it work with fleet insurance?

Having a flexible fleet means you will have to have flexible fleet insurance, too. Fleet insurance is a priority, especially if you are swapping and changing vehicles throughout the year. Researching insurance providers that offer flexible fleet insurance will ensure all vehicles in your fleet are covered. 

Insurance brokers will be able to advise you on the type of fleet insurance you need. And will be able to provide you with a range of insurance providers that are suitable for your fleet needs.

Does a flexible fleet support green business agenda?

Most businesses are focusing on improving their carbon footprint and making their businesses greener for the environment. One way to do this is by switching to electric or hybrid vehicles.

Having vehicles on a flexible basis means that organisations can start to benefit from greener vehicles without delay and start to reduce their co2 emissions. Having a flexible fleet is a great way to try electric vehicles before you lease them. Leasing electric vehicles on a flexible basis will help your business transition to electric vehicles more smoothly and help your drivers adjust to the change in vehicle.

Conclusion

Opting for a more flexible fleet is becoming increasingly popular. But as mentioned before, make sure you keep your fleet insurance provider up to date with any changes or new vehicles. Not only is insurance a legal requirement it also protects and covers your employees if they are involved in an accident.

You can find out more about Bluedrop's fleet insurance, or you can discuss with one of our team members by contacting us.