Many companies realise the need for efficient fleet management and real-time vehicle tracking as their operations grow and fleet size increases. This was the case for our client, SAEK.
SAEK is short for Suomen aurinkoenergiakeskus (Finnish solar energy centre). SAEK is one of Finland’s leading solar power system installation companies. They install solar systems for everyone – from small residential projects to large solar parks with thousands of panels. Their fleet has grown to about 50 vehicles, and GPS tracking has become an essential part of the company’s daily operations.
“The biggest advantage of Mapon is how easily we’ve been able to scale it from just a few vehicles as our fleet has grown. Mapon works excellently for both small and large companies,” says Mikael Laine, the CEO of SAEK.
Fleet software offers many benefits
As SAEK’s number of vehicles began to grow, the most important reason for adopting a fleet monitoring system was the ability to locate their fleet in real time and log all the routes. Today, Mapon offers many additional benefits for SAEK, such as maintenance reminders for vehicle inspections, vehicle condition reports, and repair cost tracking for each vehicle. In the near future, the company also plans to integrate fuel management and use driving behaviour monitoring to motivate their drivers.
“With driver behaviour monitoring, we would like to create incentive for our installers to drive better and more economically.”
Managers use the Mapon mobile app for quick checks on the go, while detailed data is easy to access via the desktop platform. Installers and managers are not the only ones to benefit from the detailed vehicle data, as the accounting and billing department uses it often as well. “We no longer have to remember details from past customer visits. We can always get the exact data on how long we’ve been on-site. That’s a huge help when it comes to invoicing,” Mikael explains.
Vehicle tracking provides practical use cases
GPS tracking data helps to clarify misunderstandings. SAEK employees have used Mapon solutions on several occasions to solve issues arising from uncertainties or miscommunication.
Mikael recalls a situation when one of their installers was about to go on vacation, and his phone broke down right around the same time. Before leaving for his vacation, the employee was supposed to deliver a machine to a specific location. The next day, the team couldn’t reach him via phone and wondered why the machine wasn’t at the agreed-upon site. “Without Mapon, we would have been completely baffled as the machine wasn’t where it was supposed to be. We would’ve ended up driving to the wrong city to retrieve it,” Mikael says.
“If we didn’t have Mapon, we would have driven an extra 400 kilometres for no reason.”
Mikael shares another example of how the Mapon platform’s route history data came in handy. SAEK received an invoice for rental equipment, but the billing period was incorrect. Thanks to vehicle tracking and route history, they were able to prove to the rental company exactly when the equipment was picked up and returned.
“You don’t even realise how easily these kinds of things can be solved until you start using a tracking system. It’s also really simple to verify how long we’ve worked on a project if we need to confirm it to a customer,” Mikael adds.
A simple system with great client service
Today, real-time fleet tracking is an essential tool for SAEK. Mikael describes the Mapon platform as a reliable, easy-to-use system. Field operations have become more efficient, as managers always know where their installers and vehicles are. “It’s hard to put into words. I just see it as something we absolutely need,” Mikael reflects.
“At its best, it’s an unbeatable tool for certain aspects of fleet management.”
Mikael says getting started with Mapon and learning the basic features was straightforward. He appreciates that they can always reach out to a contact person at Mapon to help with new features or resolve issues quickly.
Ordering new devices for additional vehicles has been smooth as well. “The installation process has always been good and easy to carry out,” Mikael praises the technicians. “When we were looking for a tracking solution, we did consider other options as well, but I had heard great feedback about Mapon from others. I’m very happy with my choice,” he concludes.
Mapon is a respected company in fleet management and asset tracking, with over 18 years of experience in the industry. Along with SAEK, over 30,000 clients worldwide trust us. Request a quote today and level up your fleet management!