Affordable fleet management solution caters for SMEs

In a move designed to bridge the digital divide by providing affordable telecommunications options to the SME sector, telecommunications giant MTN has developed a Mobile Fleet Management solution that caters for the distribution, delivery and courier services sector. “This is a transport and logistics solution for businesses with less than 200 employees and is designed to increase profitability by making business simpler, but more manageable,” says Natasha Basson, senior manager: MTN SME. It’s a mobile device with a software application that allows managers to have visibility of their fleet and assets at all times and allows delivery people to provide customers with electronic proof of delivery and immediate escalation to a main office should something be wrong with a parcel. The application is easy to learn and operate, she told FTW. “It literally allows one to track goods and assets on the web and from a mobile device. Everything is done electronically, which means no more paper work, and it also offers 24-hour real time reporting on all deliveries and transactions,” she added. As it is mobile, it allows a company’s drivers and field force the ability to view task lists and automatic updates, provide a proof of delivery, use GPS positioning, and update through the back end system – all from a handheld device. “It is about keeping in touch with all aspects of the business – be it the dayto- day operations, supplier negotiation or customer relationship,” says Basson. “Through this application you can provide visibility on all your vehicles and draw reports on vehicles, parcels and drivers, while also assigning new tasks en route to a driver.” Explaining the background to the move, Basson commented: “As small and medium enterprises remain the driving force of innovation and job creation in South Africa, MTN is committed to providing solutions to improve this market’s business efficiencies. “There is no doubting the importance of the SME market in South Africa. They are a critical driver of the economy and are extremely important, but face their own unique set of challenges in the current economic climate.”