I don’t know who first said “if you want something done, ask a busy person” but I bet they weren’t a fleet manager.
If I need something done, asking my already busy drivers to do it means it’d end up last on their to-do list. It also means they’d do it after a long day battling traffic and installing essential care equipment in hospitals and care homes, which isn’t the ideal headspace.
To my technicians, what’s more important: helping a child with additional needs or senior citizen live as comfortably and independently as they can, or telling me about a warning light that quickly flashed up on the dashboard? I’d like to think that with the tech available nowadays, that shouldn’t be a question my team needs to face.
But just like patients, vans need looking after. Hoping that warning lights go away or going an extra fortnight before that oil change meant that across the 109-van fleet, Prism used to lose over 40 days a month to vehicles being out of service.
That had a knock-on effect on clients; although we aren’t paramedics, delays and breakdowns still mean patients may have to go longer without the specialist equipment they rely on to sleep, bathe or move around safely and with dignity.
I’d been invited to trial Ford Uptime Services when I was in my previous job, so when I joined Prism Healthcare I quickly realised how much time and effort it could save the team. Now, Ford Uptime Services monitors our fleet in real time and can directly contact a driver with information and a solution if issues come up.
“Ford Uptime Services monitors our fleet in real time and can directly contact a driver with information and a solution if issues come up.”Alan Akester, head of fleet and facilities, Prism Healthcare Group
Usually, the answer is a visit to the local dealer, but we also use Mobile Service to sort vans out while at the depot or, if the timing needs it, while at a job site. 1 And because Ford Pro remotely sees vehicle data, they can often find the issue remotely and line up whatever parts or tech support are needed to fix it.
We used to lose as much as a couple of days of downtime before we even had a diagnosis, but now dealers know what they need to do before the van arrives.
That mix of proactive monitoring and faster service means we’ve gone from an average of 43 days of downtime per month to just six days. All in, Ford Uptime Services is saving us around £18,000 each month, as well as a lot of time and admin that the technicians and I are happy to see the back of.
“Ford Uptime Services is saving us around £18,000 each month, as well as a lot of time and admin.”Alan Akester, head of fleet and facilities, Prism Healthcare Group
Far fewer techs stranded on the hard shoulder, more money left at the end of the month, and less time buried in paperwork. Now when I want something done, I’ve got the capacity I need to get it done properly.
Alan Akester is the fleet and facilities manager at Prism Healthcare Group
Alan has over 15 years of fleet and facilities expertise in the UK and Middle East, and is on the Association of Fleet Professionals’ Fleet Intelligence Panel. He specialises in large fleet operations and increasing transport operations’ sustainability.
1 Ford Mobile Service is offered by participating dealers and may be limited based on availability, distance, or other dealer-specified criteria. Does not include parts or repair charges. See your Ford Dealer for details.
