II QUEST Dfl F TECIIII
Page 28
Page 29
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
61
The range of information technology available to CV operators is as impressive as the promises made by its suppliers. But in an industry notorious for its conservativ attitude to innovation, we wondered how many potential users had taken the plunge, There was only one way to find out...
ow widespread is the use of computer equipment and other new technologies among hauliers? In the first survey of its kind, Commercial Motor spent three days talking to companies which represent a crosssection of the industry in terms of type and size of operation.
Our sample was split into three categories:
A. Up to 5 trucks; B. 6-25 trucks; C. 26 trucks and over.
Hauliers have traditionally been reluctant to adopt any technological innovations before they have to, but we were still surprised by the proportion of operators who run their businesses without computer equipment of any kind: 40% of those running 1-5 trucks still rely on the old technologies, if mobile phones and faxes can be referred to as "old". And because most hauliers fall into this category it means that the industry remains significantly low-tech compared to most others.
Of those who do use computers, however—and this included almost everyone with more than five trucks—the picture emerges of an industry becoming increasingly comfortable with the use of computer equipment and with a clear idea of the job such equipment is required to do, and what it can do to boost efficiency and profits.
When it came to their motives for
using information technology Or 23% of respondents gave savit money as their prime motive. Savit time was the deciding factor for 5oc, while 62% cited increased efficien( The most common reason for gob the IT route was the ability to cor municate better with drivers, me tioned as a prime buying motive 1 GB% of hauliers.
The mobile phone is everywhe now, of course—the only surpri here is that 5% of hauliers in the 6.. truck category do not use them routine business accessories.
But for some operators, such as ti permen running very short distanc from base, such instant communic tion might not be vital.
Our survey tells an interesting, perhaps sometimes predictable sto! about computer use. As you wou expect, the largest category of use are those with the largest fleets. All these use accounts software (t1 most popular category overall if y( exclude mobile phones), and 6o use route planning equipment (ti second most popular category).
E-mail and the Internet are makii their mark too, with a number hauliers now running their own w( sites. We are sure that this mediu will emerge as an indispensable to in the future.
For now a picture emerges of industry that doesn't rush to folic where others lead. But that once sees the sense in adopting a new s of tools, it has a pretty focused idea what it needs to do with them.