ARI to deliver new data capture solutions to FSG customers
Mar 14, 2012
A raft of new, sophisticated real-time fleet data capture solutions are set to be among the initiatives to be introduced to customers of UK fleet management company Fleet Support Group (FSG) following its recent acquisition by US-headquartered Automotive Resources International (ARI).
ARI President Carl Ortell has spent a week at FSG's Chippenham headquarters during which he visited a number of major customers of the company, which manages 55,000 vehicles.
Those organisations, including Home Retail Group - the parent company of Argos and Homebase - Network Rail and Travis Perkins are long-established FSG customers and have already recorded significant fleet operating cost savings as a result of the company's zero tolerance approach to vehicle maintenance management mated to online reporting systems and analysis.
ARI is a technology-led organisation that has '20 times the resources of FSG' notably in the areas of intellectual capital and investment and has a history of introducing market-leading innovative fleet solutions.
ARI also includes in its technology arsenal a range of predictive analysis tools to help public and private sector fleets use historical data to forecast future costs.
The company has a team of 180 IT experts at its New Jersey headquarters in the United States developing new vehicle management solutions and working in partnership with customers and hardware suppliers to deliver individual reporting products.
Mr Ortell said: "It is obvious from my visits that existing customers hugely value the support they receive from FSG as illustrated by the fact that the business relationship in many cases stretches back up to 20 years.
"During my discussions with customers it is apparent that all fleets are desperate to improve their capture of real-time data on journeys, vehicles and drivers.
"ARI has reporting tools that deliver the highest quality analysis to fleet managers throughout North America and provides highly sophisticated telematics solutions to individual customers frequently in partnership with hardware suppliers. Our philosophy is tell us the problem and we will deliver a solution.
"Technology is a major differentiator for ARI, and our experts have also developed a range of robust predictive analysis tools.
"Our investment in technology has resulted in the delivery of numerous online management reporting tools to business and we will bring those solutions to the UK and pilot them with FSG customers."
Mr Ortell added: "FSG already has a reputation in the UK for delivering great service and that is one of the hallmarks of ARI, which none of our competitors come close to matching.
"FSG has also invested in customer support areas such as its online Interactive maintenance management reporting suite, which is valued by customers. However, the availability of ARI's additional resources means significant new investment opportunities, which will benefit UK customers and deliver reduced vehicle ownership costs."
Mr Ortell has been accompanied on client visits by FSG Chairman Geoffrey Bray, who said: "Cost of ownership is the number one issue facing fleet decision-makers and for them to make further financial savings new methods of capturing data capture is crucial.
"ARI's customers in North America are ahead of UK-based fleets in terms of using technological solutions to improve every aspect vehicle, driver and journey management, but those resources will be introduced.
"Crucially, FSG and ARI will also provide expert support to customers so they can use the new telematics and online reporting tools available to them to maximise cost-saving opportunities."
