4 Ways an Electronic Dispatching System Can Help Your Fleet

Dispatching drivers successfully is one of the most important aspects of productive fleet management. A dedicated method of communication is necessary for dispatchers to give drivers important information about jobs and send them to the right locations. Comprehensive fleet management technology can streamline this process and make your workforce more efficient, increasing your fleet’s profitability and ability to provide great customer service. Let’s look at four of the specific benefits of having an effective dispatching system.

1. Know the status of each job with two-way messaging

Fleet management solutions should include two-way messaging and notifications for better communication between drivers and dispatchers. This allows drivers to send real-time updates on their status. For instance, maybe a service job like repairing an HVAC system is going to take longer than expected, or maybe a produce delivery was held up by heavier-than-usual traffic. Being late for appointments reflects poorly on your business regardless of the circumstances. With a two-way messaging system, the driver is able to let the dispatcher know that another driver must be sent to their next job.

Combined with GPS tracking technologies, a messaging system can also send automated updates to dispatchers when drivers arrive at their locations or when they depart. Modern fleet management systems enable drivers to submit updates from their mobile devices while on the go, and this allows for more accurate scheduling.

2. Schedule jobs in real time or for future dates

Automated dispatch allows you to improve your fleet’s scheduling process in a variety of ways. With this technology, dispatchers can make changes to schedules in real time according to the updates they receive via two-way messaging. When a driver gets a notification about a new job, they can immediately accept it from their device, or they can communicate to the dispatcher why the job is not possible. Dispatching solutions also make it easier to manage future appointments. SkyBitz Dispatch allows you to preload appointments into the system for up to 30 days in advance.

3. Increase response times with better navigation

Improved scheduling contributes to quicker response times because more efficient planning allows your drivers to get more done in a day. However, scheduling isn’t the only dispatch feature that can help with response time. GPS tracking is part of a comprehensive dispatch solution for a variety of reasons, and one is that it enables you to have full control of your drivers’ routes.

With the SkyBitz Local Fleets solution, not only can you map out the most efficient routes, but you can make sure drivers are taking them. Beyond that, the system can give drivers turn-by-turn directions to the locations where they’re needed. This is especially helpful if you dispatch a driver to a location that is not normally part of their route.

4. Improve your customer service

If your fleet is in a service industry such as HVAC, plumbing, or the electrical industry, improved scheduling capabilities and quicker response times directly impact the quality of customer service you can provide. Enhanced scheduling also makes it easier to promise customers that drivers will arrive on time. If you can get more jobs done is less time, your availability may become more flexible—decreasing the chance that customers will work with another company that can schedule a sooner date or more convenient time.

Enhance your fleet management with dispatch software

Factors outside of technology play an important role in fleet management. For instance, a manager’s ability to facilitate communication with drivers will involve “people skills” that technology can never replace. However, fleet management solutions and GPS tracking greatly enhance fleet management and give you the tools you need to implement the best possible dispatch procedures.

Looking for the perfect fleet dispatch management software? Learn more about SkyBitz Local Fleets and its features here.