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Fleet and mobility


of...collection and delivery, saving the engineer’s time. Additionally, we have a fleet of surplus vehicles available and ready to go, thereby saving hire costs but also ensuring drivers have a fully- kitted van to use if theirs is in for some extended repairs.” It goes without saying, of course, that not needing to transport vans several miles for repairs is a balm for the planet too.


Staying safe


British Gas have a fleet of electric vehicles ready to go at any moment – saving energy as well as hire costs.


environmental sweeteners too. One important aspect here is the so-called circular economy. This is where waste, via the continual use of resources through reusing, sharing, and recycling, leads to the creation of a closed-loop system – limiting resource use and waste production. As far as British Gas is concerned, the company has a supplier that recycles vehicles, thereby reducing a significant amount of downtime and reaping savings for the company.


“These reports have given us the knowledge to ensure the equipment is suitable for all drivers and minimises the risk to employees.”


23%


The amount of fleets surveyed who use big data analytics to guide strategic decision-making – only 15% plan to in future. Teletrac Navman


50


“Any written-off vehicles are sent to a supplier where they are broken down with recyclable parts retained and made available to our accident management and maintenance teams,” Winter says. “The effect is that if one of our vans is unfortunately involved in an incident and needs a replacement door, we can supply a recycled door in the right colour with delivery the next day and at a fraction of the cost and downtime. Clearly this is only for non-safety related items, but still saves a considerable amount.”


Mixing finances and environmentalism can be seen in other ways too. “Engineers are mapped to a repair network, mostly within a few miles of their location,” says Winter. “We also make extensive use


Driving down internal costs is one thing, but events beyond the company’s control always need to be factored into the equation too – not least when it comes to the issue of road safety. Collisions, for example, mean not only more downtime but also, potentially, additional costs. Mindful of this, British Gas has a detailed risk management system in place. Covering several areas, it provides a risk score for each driver, and recommends the support they require. The company’s Driver Risk Management system, for instance, takes data feeds from a number of sources, including licence mandates, collision history, maintenance spend on a vehicle, and fuel economy. That helps determine which drivers might need additional training – and helps cut downtime and costs. “We work with leading organisations looking at the risk to occupational health of our drivers using the vehicle and its racking and equipment,” says Winter. “These reports have given us the knowledge to ensure the equipment is entirely safe and suitable for all drivers – minimising the risk to employees.” A similar scheme, meanwhile, involves getting experts to report on any drivers that are experiencing issues with their vehicle or equipment, with British Gas making changes where appropriate. “Our drivers also have access to user guide videos that are accessible via a QR code in the vehicle,” says Winter, “to help easily find operational details.” Like other organisations, of course, British Gas hasn’t avoided the impact of Covid-19 and has had to face many subsequent challenges – but for Winter, it’s a matter of adapting no matter the circumstances. “Our suppliers have been willing to help and adapt as much as they can. We’ve had some issues with booking MOTs and services but there has always been a solution. All of our suppliers have home working capability, and, in some cases, this has improved processes.” As a business issue, naturally, the obstacles borne by Covid-19 will hopefully fade away with time. But climate change and its long-term impact certainly won’t – so just as well British Gas has been so energetic in the battle for the planet, and is not just embracing but encouraging the move towards electric vehicles and sustainable methods of developing vehicles in future. Let’s hope other companies are just as vigilant. ●


Finance Director Europe / www.ns-businesshub.com


Alexandru Nika/Shutterstock.com


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