In the latest instalment of our fleet industry executive interview series we spoke to Jason Schurek, Senior Account Executive at Brightorder, about fleet management software, the challenges businesses are facing to control costs, how new technologies can help find those efficiencies and how the impact of AI will be felt in the coming years…

Tell us about your company, products and services.

BrightOrder is a boutique software company having developed a solution that is conclusive of every facet of fleet management for the operator, repairer, and customer in one centralised platform. We integrate across departments and bring real-time information from telematics, shop, and fleet management in order to centralise data, create accuracy and enable better budgeting and forecasting within a tumultuous industry.

Simply, we help make the biggest decisions easier.

What have been the biggest challenges the Fleet Services industry has faced over the past 12 months?

The cost of doing business. Over the past 12 months the compounding effects of increasing fuel prices, supply chain disruptions, cost management and vehicle acquisition has put a huge strain on so many operations. With the disruption to vehicle replacement programs, fleets have to extend the life of existing vehicles meaning an associated increase in maintenance costs.

And what have been the biggest opportunities?

The adoption of new technologies to get ahead. Operations have brought on a wide variety of platforms and systems to help reduce costs universally across fleets. In turn they better predict which costs may lay ahead and help to budget and forecast the external and unavoidable costs such as inflation, rising fuel costs, economic disruption, etc.

What are the main trends you are expecting to see in the market in 2024?

We see an increased presence of AI and an increased movement for operators to move from reactive to proactive management and maintenance. While some fleets have already moved in this direction, late adopters will begin to invest in the near future.

Additionally, the integration of different technologies into a centralised ecosystem will become more common and more necessary.

What’s the most exciting thing about your job?

With the industry being extremely dynamic and diverse you get the opportunity to work with every calibre of client from operator to repairer. It’s exciting to be able to support so many companies’ operations due to the versatility of our solution. 

You go to the bar at the Fleet Services Management Summit – what’s your tipple of choice?

Can’t go wrong with a double El Dorado 21 year over ice with a wedge of lime.