MHD spoke with Linde’s Stuart Hitchens about the company’s FleetFOCUS solution, a fleet management system designed to monitor material handling equipment.
Businesses are embracing digital solutions to enhance their operations. As technology advances, modern logistics systems continuously collect and analyse data, using it to optimise complex warehouse and transportation processes.
Forklift trucks are becoming increasingly autonomous due to advanced sensors, making fleet management and real-time data access crucial.
“Fleet management provides vital insights into your equipment’s operation, ultimately improving safety, efficiency, and productivity while ensuring compliance with government regulations,” says Stuart Hitchens, National Fleet Contract Manager at Linde Material Handling Australia.
One such solution leading the charge in this area is Linde’s FleetFOCUS, a fleet management system designed to help businesses optimise their material handling operations. It provides a top-of-the-range Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) solution, allowing real-time communication between businesses, their fleets, and their operators.
What is FleetFOCUS?
FleetFOCUS is a tool designed to give businesses control over their resources. The system facilitates real-time monitoring and management of fleets, providing the insights needed to enhance operational efficiency. Businesses can monitor daily equipment usage, identify under- or over-utilised vehicles, observe driving patterns, control vehicle access, and review WHS compliance in real time.
FleetFOCUS isn’t just about visibility. It’s about intelligent management – businesses can take control and make informed decisions to ensure that their fleets are operating at optimal levels.
Benefits of FleetFOCUS
FleetFOCUS offers several benefits to businesses, each targeting key aspects of fleet management and operational efficiency:
Optimised Fleet Utilisation – It enables businesses to identify and address fleet utilisation and operational issues before they affect the bottom line. By analysing equipment usage, businesses can adjust their resources to where they are needed most.
Workplace Safety Transformation – Safety is paramount in material handling operations, and FleetFOCUS plays a crucial role in monitoring forklift usage and identifying infrastructure damage. The system enhances workplace safety by providing immediate feedback on operator behaviour and equipment conditions.
Access to Real-Time Information – FleetFOCUS continuously collects and organises data, allowing 24/7 access to fleet information through an online portal. This real-time access ensures that decision-makers are always informed and able to act quickly.
Cost Savings – By identifying overused or underused equipment, businesses can optimise resource allocation.
Customised Solutions – The system can be tailored to meet a company’s unique equipment and operational needs, and integrates with existing security systems, allowing operators to use a single card or fob for access.
Intelligent features of FleetFOCUS
Intelligent features include customisable firmware, shock reporting, pre-operational questionnaires, driver access control, electronic tag-out systems, and GPS tracking.
Reprogrammable Firmware – FleetFOCUS can adapt and customise software to meet unique requirements. With efficient two-way messaging, it enables seamless communication between drivers and supervisors. The system is also designed to support a range of security cards and fobs, making integration smooth and efficient.
Shock Reporting – a standout feature, which helps businesses ensure safe operation following vehicle shocks. Any shocks that exceed the pre-determined level automatically reduce the vehicle to ‘limp’ mode, and the supervisor must reset the unit, ensuring accountability and WHS compliance.
Pre-Operational Questionnaires – it includes a customisable pre-operational questionnaire that drivers must complete before using the equipment. These questions can be tailored to specific sites or vehicle types and ensure that each operator confirms the equipment is safe to use before operation.
Driver Access Control – access can be limited to authorised personnel only. The system accommodates security cards, fobs, or pin codes, further enhancing security and operational control.
Electronic Tag Out for Unsafe Vehicle – FleetFOCUS also includes an electronic tag-out feature that allows supervisors to lock out unsafe vehicles, ensuring that only qualified personnel can move them to safe locations.
GPS Tracking – GPS comes as standard in FleetFOCUS, providing businesses with a powerful tool to monitor the movement and location of their equipment.
Connectivity and Fleet Reporting
One of FleetFOCUS’s major strengths is its reliable Wi-Fi and GPRS (3G and 4G) connectivity, allowing seamless fleet management even in large or complex environments.
“Our system was the first Australian fleet management solution with dual Wi-Fi and GPRS connectivity, ensuring uninterrupted data access,” explains Stuart.
The system also features memory card backup in the event of a network loss, ensuring that data is always preserved and automatically updated when the connection is re-established.
FleetFOCUS offers up to 30 real-time reports, providing businesses with critical data to identify areas for continuous improvement. “These reports enable informed decision-making, helping businesses optimise battery consumption, monitor hardware conditions, and track operator licensing,” adds Stuart.
The system’s interactive dashboard offers real-time updates on impacts, battery charge, and operator checks, eliminating the need to log into multiple systems or wait for email reports.
The role of data in optimising fleet operations
FleetFOCUS doesn’t just collect data for the sake of it – it uses data to drive real improvements in fleet operations.
“FleetFOCUS utilises data from forklifts to monitor hydraulic traction and driver presence, helping businesses see how their equipment is being used,” says Stuart.
This allows companies to identify inefficiencies, such as using an expensive reach truck for tasks that a more cost-effective pallet jack could handle.
These data-driven insights also extend to operational decisions. For instance, if data shows that equipment is only being used during certain times of the year, businesses can adjust their fleets accordingly.
“FleetFOCUS gives businesses the information they need to manage their fleet effectively, ensuring they don’t overspend on equipment that’s not being fully utilised,” explains Stuart.
Reducing costs and enhancing customisation
FleetFOCUS helps businesses reduce costs. By identifying underutilised equipment and highlighting opportunities for resource reallocation, the system ensures that businesses are making the most of their assets.
“It’s all about optimising resources, not just adding more equipment unnecessarily,” says Stuart.
The system’s customisation capabilities also make it a highly flexible solution. Pre-operational checks can be tailored to specific equipment models, while the data collected from each piece of equipment can be used to tailor future fleet strategies.
“We’re constantly receiving feedback from our customers, and we use that to improve the system,” explains Stuart.
As FleetFOCUS is developed locally, any changes or improvements specifically made by Linde, or our fleet management partner are rolled out quickly and free of charge to all users.
Click here to read more about Linde Material Handling Australia.
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