Stuart O'Brien, Author at Fleet Summit - Page 36 of 53
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Stuart O'Brien

Forum expands virtual networking events offering

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Forum Events and Media Group, organiser of face-to-face meetings-based events like the Fleet Summit, is launching a series of new Virtual Forums.

For over 20 years Forum has been bringing together procurement decision-makers with suppliers for pre-arranged meetings and networking at its Forums and Summits. These events have generated £millions of new business agreements between buyers and suppliers over the years.

With live events unable to take place for the foreseeable future due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Forum has expanded its cutting-edge proprietary software to create a new interface with live video meetings. This has allowed the company to create a virtual Forum platform, taking the events experience virtual. It will allow procurement executives to source new solutions, and give suppliers the opportunity to discover new clients – and ultimately, keep industries talking.

“During this unprecedented time, we have chosen to redirect our focus from live events to virtual so that we can still deliver expectations to our supporting exhibitors and create a platform to meet with high calibre decision makers face-to-face,” explained Forum Events and Media Group MD Sarah Beall.

“We cannot wait to welcome attendees back to our live events from September and have implemented a COVID-safe risk assessment at all our venues, ensuring the two-meter rule throughout, introducing temperature check and reduced numbers, but still creating the same professional and informal atmosphere of buyers and suppliers.”

“We are prepared and ready to kickstart our Forums from this month across four industries via our virtual platform. And we will continue to serve industries’ supply and demand by holding hybrid live and virtual events that are COVID-safe throughout the coming months.”

The first four virtual meeting events from Forum Events and Media Group will be:-

  • Total Security Summit – June 29th
  • Security IT Summit – June 30th
  • eTailing Summit – July 6th
  • Digital Marketing Solutions Summit – July 16th

Forum Events and Media Group is working alongside other UK events industry to promote the #GetBritainMeeting initiative aimed at kickstarting the events sector in a safe and sustainable way. The events industry employs some 700,000 people across the UK and contributes over £70 billion to the UK economy every year.

For more information, visit www.forumevents.co.uk.

Fleets and garages debating cost of car sanitation

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Fleets and garages are currently working out ‘who pays the cost’ of sanitisation on cars and vans that undergo service, maintenance and repair (SMR).

That’s according to epyx, which says that while there appears to be general agreement among all parties that vehicles will need sanitising thoroughly before they are handed back to their usual driver after undergoing work, who actually will pay for cleaning products, PPE equipment and the time taken is very much open to debate.

Tim Meadows, Vice President and Commercial Director at epyx, said: “This is a development that we are just starting to see through our 1link Service Network SMR platform… Sanitisation is becoming recognised as an essential part of almost any visit by a vehicle to a workshop. The car or van is potentially touched by many people as part of almost any SMR process, and the potential spread of infection needs to be minimised.

“However, that santisation has a cost and is starting to appear as a formal charge on some job sheets. The question is, who pays? Garages see it, understandably, as an additional cost that they shouldn’t have to bear. Their fleet customers, equally understandably, feel the same.”

Meadows said that issue was especially acute where, on lower SMR bills, it could be interpreted as a disproportionate amount.

“If you are having £1,000 of work done, then a potential £10 item doesn’t stick out but, if your car is in the workshop for an MoT test or even just having a small repair, it becomes more noticeable

“Some of the fleets that use 1link Service Network have hundreds of thousands of maintenance jobs every year and adding £10 to each suddenly becomes a very large sum of money.

“Equally, this is a significant cost for garages to absorb. However efficient they become at sanitisation, this is something that takes time and money.

“One thing that we have found during the coronavirus crisis, though, is that a very strong spirit of co-operation has emerged across our industry. Everyone recognises that they are facing the same issues and they need to resolve them together. We are sure that sensible solutions will be found to this problem.”

Trakm8 to help businesses bounce back with free route optimisation tool

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As lockdown measures begin to be eased, Trakm8, the UK’s recognised leader in the field of telematics, is making its Insight Optimisation platform free to fleets of all sizes during the COVID-19 crisis to ensure businesses can get back up and running as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Insight Optimisation is Trakm8’s intuitive route planning solution which uses data to handle even the most complex fleet requirements. It’s proven to cut fuel expenditure by up to 20% and increase productivity by up to 33%. Maximising the concept of useable data, rather than planning a simple A to B route, Insight Optimisation takes into account the size and capabilities of your fleet and then plots the most efficient routes for each driver, whether your business is making five or five hundred deliveries a day. 

To learn more about Insight Optimisation, please visit https://buy.trakm8.com/insight/optimisation.

For the full terms and conditions, please visit: https://buy.trakm8.com/insight/optimisation/free-trial-terms-and-conditions.

The Fleet Summit has now moved to September!

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Now taking place on the 14th & 15th September at Whittlebury Park, the Summit will be bringing together senior fleet management professionals and suppliers to help build business relationships.

During such uncertain times, it is key to stay up-to-date with all the latest industry news and source new solutions for every eventuality.

Your bespoke place is entirely free and includes benefits such as;

  • Full hospitality – Enjoy free overnight accommodation including all meals and refreshments.
  • Gain industry insight – Enjoy a series of topical seminar sessions led by industry thought leaders.
  • Prepare for every eventuality – We can build you a bespoke 1-2-1 itinerary of relaxed, no hard sell meetings with innovative and budget savings suppliers who match your requirements.
  • Save time – We will handle everything for you, saving you time and money by arranging all the meetings for. These are based on who you would like to meet and those who match your requirements.

Click here to secure your free place

Take the Fleet Briefing Industry Lockdown Survey today!

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Here at Fleet Briefing we’re looking for the best ways to keep you connected with the industry during these difficult times, so we’ve created a short survey to gauge your views on lockdown working practices and the kind of virtual events you might be interested in attending – it’s all completely anonymous and will take less than two minutes to complete.

To take part, simply start answering the questions below – if you can’t see the questions, just click here to display them in a new browser window.

Thank you in advance for taking part – your answers will help make our content and events even more relevant to your needs.

Create your own user feedback survey

Groundwork London installs Lightfoot across van and utility vehicles

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Groundwork London has announced the successful roll-out of Lightfoot’s award-winning in-cab technology and rewards platform across its fleet of 73 vans and utility vehicles, resulting in a 7.8% improvement in MPG, a 6% fall in vehicle idling and the eradication of instances of poor or dangerous driving.

The organisation, which works alongside local communities, public bodies, private companies and other voluntary sector organisations, delivers over 600 projects across London every year.

For more information about the project, click here.

Do you specialise in Fleet Telematics? We want to hear from you!

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Each month on Fleet Management Briefing we’re shining the spotlight on a different part of the fleet & logistics market – and in June we’ll be focussing on Fleet Telematics solutions.

It’s all part of our ‘Recommended’ editorial feature, designed to help fleet buyers find the best products and services available today.

So, if you’re a supplier of Fleet Telematics solutions and would like to be included as part of this exciting new shop window, we’d love to hear from you – for more info, contact Chris Cannon on 01992 374096 / c.cannon@forumevents.co.uk.

Here’s our features list in full:

Jun – Fleet Telematics
Jul – Contract Hire & Leasing
Aug – LPG/Alternative Fuel & Fuel Management
Sep – Vehicle Tracking
Oct – Duty of Care
Nov – Grey Fleet
Dec – Service, Maintenance & Repair

An update on the Fleet Summit

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We wanted to update you on how we are moving forward with the Fleet Summit, which is taking place on 14th & 15th September at Whittlebury Park in Northampton.

We have adapted the event layout to ensure we are abiding by the social distancing rule, and therefore ensuring the health, safety and wellbeing of our event attendees and staff.

The event will have controlled numbers, prescheduled meetings and be hosted within a safe environment. 

We have increased the size of our meeting booths to allow for a 2-meter gap, and added a clear partition screen between all meeting participants. Plus, there will be clear floor markings throughout.

This Summit will go ahead either as a live or virtual event. Alongside meetings and networking, you can also enjoy a series of seminar sessions, to ensure you don’t miss out on the latest tips and challenges from leading industry experts.

You can also enjoy complimentary overnight accommodation, including all meals and refreshments throughout.

To secure your place and enjoy all the benefits of the Forum, click here to book your complimentary place.

Here are the top driving apps for 2020

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The UK was home to 38.9 million vehicles by the end of September 2019, with 32 million being cars. The number is rising 1.3 per cent year on year too, so it’s safe to say that we in the UK love a good road trip. But with the nation on lockdown, many of us are yearning for the open road. Get yourself prepared for that post-lockdown road trip by downloading the best driving apps of 2020, as picked by SEAT dealer Vindis…

Find the car again with Car Locator

When the lockdown eases, you know the roads are going to be packed. So much so, you can go to the shops, the seaside, or local attractions and struggle to find a parking space. After driving around aimlessly, you finally find one! Success — or so you think. Once you’ve left your vehicle and gone about your business, there’s a great chance you’ll have forgotten where you parked. It has happened to the best of us.

In fact, a study by Nissan found that two thirds of the British public have forgotten where they parked their vehicle. On average, this search for your missing vehicle takes 10 minutes before you spot it. However, for five per cent of people this can take over half an hour!

Enter Car Locator. This app can be your saviour. With Car Locator you can either manually enter your location or set your phone up so that it automatically marks it using the car’s Bluetooth. Therefore, simply activate your GPS as you return to your vehicle and eradicate your search time. This app is best used for those who are sprawling outdoor car parks or are in an unfamiliar location. Because of its use of GPS, it’s not effective in underground or multi-storey car parks.  

PlugShare is amazing for electric car owners  

Have you opted to go electric yet? While only 4,054 out of 149,279 cars purchased in the UK in January 2020 were battery electric vehicles, this figure is more than double the amount purchased in January 2019. While the UK continues to work on cutting its emissions and ceasing production of petrol and diesel vehicles in the not-so-distant future, the sales of electric vehicles will continue to rise.

It can be hard to find charging points though. While the amount of charging points is constantly increasing, it’s always important to know where you can ‘refuel’. PlugShare is a free app which can pinpoint charging points near you to ensure that you’re never caught short. 

Android Auto or Apple CarPlay to stay connected 

These two app do similar jobs. Choosing the right one will depend on which phone you have. Android Auto is for those with an Android operating system on their phone. Essentially, this app means that while you’re behind the wheel, you can say ‘OK Google’ and be able to undergo the following tasks: 

  • Set up real-time GPS navigation and be informed about traffic alerts.
  • Check your calendar for any occasions that you have scheduled.
  • Set reminders.
  • Get up-to-date news.
  • Set a do not disturb message on your phone.
  • Make or answer phone calls handsfree.
  • Access so many of your media apps, such as those containing your favourite music playlists, audiobooks and podcasts.

Apple CarPlay is the choice of iOS smartphone users. Featuring Siri voice control, you are able to: 

  • Search for attractions while driving by simply asking for directions through the following means: “Siri, where’s the closest petrol station?”.
  • Have the app predict where you need to be by analysing addresses on your recent emails, text messages, contacts, and calendars.
  • Make calls and listen to voicemail handsfree.
  • Have Siri read and reply to text messages, as well as send messages in new conversations too.
  • Gain access to content via your iTunes, Apple Music or other audio apps accounts, as well as even requesting for Siri to become your personal DJ for the duration of a road trip.

Let these apps keep you connected while your stay focussed on the roads 

Lockdown-safe digital driving thanks to Asphalt 9: Legends

Yearning for the road? Stay safe during this troublesome period and get your automotive fix by downloading this app. For your driving experience during lockdown, this game will allow you to immerse yourself in racing action thanks to developers, Gameloft. Take advantage of your time at home and dive into this arcade-style racing action from your phone. You can compete in a 60-season career mode with over 800 separate races, while also taking part in an online multiplayer competition which pits you against up to seven other active app users.

We’ll be back on the roads soon, but until then, we need to stay safe and stay indoors. Of course, these are just four apps to choose from, and with 20 billion apps in general anticipated to be downloaded this year, there are many more for you to choose from if you wish!

Additional sources

https://www.motoringresearch.com/car-news/best-mobile-racing-games-ios-android/

https://kit.honestjohn.co.uk/top-tens/top-ten-smartphone-apps-for-drivers/

Image by Dariusz Sankowski from Pixabay 

Trakm8 builds on 10-year association with E.ON

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Britain’s foremost vehicle technology specialist, Trakm8, will continue to supply its innovative telematics solutions to leading energy supplier E.ON; as part of a new agreement that further bolsters the decade-long relationship between the two businesses.

The fresh contract will see Trakm8 upgrade the tracking and driver behaviour technology it provides to E.ON’s fleet of LCVs, which comprises some 2,100 vehicles. 

Having previously used Trakm8’s T8 devices, E.ON will further enhance its fleet operation with Trakm8 Connect 500 devices, providing unparalleled insights into key metrics such as vehicle tracking, identifying the best means of asset utilisation and helping E.ON’s fleet deliver maximum ROI; and driver behaviour, to ensure drivers are operating safely and fuel efficiently.

Ellie Barnes, senior contract manager at E.ON, said: “For any fleet manager, knowing the whereabouts of your vehicles – and knowing that they are being driven safely and sustainably – is a critical consideration. That’s why innovative technology, such as that offered by Trakm8, is so important for delivering valuable peace of mind.

“Trakm8’s telematics solutions fit seamlessly into our wider fleet operation, providing all of the insights we need to best manage our vehicles at just the touch of a button. The past decade has been a fantastic learning curve into how telematics and smart data can drive significant benefits for a business of our size, and we’re looking forward to building on that further as part of our new contract agreement.”

For more information on the full-range of Trakm8’s products and services, please visit www.trakm8.com