The future of accident management in fleet

In March, GE Capital’s Fleet Services division launched an online service named Integrated Solutions which helps “streamline” its clients’ accident management strategies – and ultimately save money.

Integrated Solutions aggregates fleet data, including costs incurred from driver speeding fines, the cost of any accidents in which employees have been involved, the cost of non-standard maintenance and tyre replacement, with risk assessment scores.

This is then analysed by bespoke software to produce detailed reports showing the frequency and cost of all major aspects of driver behaviour.

Simon Cook, LCV commercial leader for GE Capital UK, says: “Looking at the different criteria in Integrated Solutions enables fleet managers to build up a picture of the way their drivers behave and to plan their strategy in order to cut costs and improve driver safety.”

Accident management services are likely to grow and improve rapidly over the next few years, according to Michael Wilmshurst, chief executive of Nationwide Accident Repair Service.

He says: “As technology advances in vehicles, and more generally in everyday life with mobile and hand-held technology, cloud computing, and ever-improving IT platforms, this will affect the type of support services large fleet operators will want and how they will acquire them.”

Many fleet managers are currently forced to use traditional analogue systems in an increasingly digital world and this approach can be fragmented and inefficient.

In addition, automotive support service providers will need to move forward quickly to keep pace with the demands and expectations of the industry.

“Historically, fleet support could involve a large number of service providers, adding complexity and cost,” says Wilmshurst.

“A number of automotive support services suppliers, including Nationwide, have identified there is a market for a more integrated approach.

“Accident management is one element of this – it brings together the insurance claim handling, repair, replacement vehicle solution, and budgeting.”

He believes future accident management will form part of an integrated automotive support, covering the life of the vehicle.

“Although some providers claim to do this at the moment, the truth is that until the IT platforms are integrated throughout the entire service chain, they are fallible because there will always be gaps between the systems,” he says.

“What we and others in the industry are aiming for is truly integrated service in which there is seamless IT infrastructure throughout the life of the fleet vehicle covering servicing, windscreens and glass, accident management, courtesy cars and vans, delivery , as well as pre-fleet and end of life preparation and disposal.”