Three ways fleet mobile apps can improve your day-to-day operations

If your goal is to improve daily fleet operations without sacrificing time, quality, and money, then fleet mobile apps can equip you and your drivers with convenient solutions designed to simplify your day. Easily accessible fleet mobile apps are usually included with your fleet card program.

Getting started is simple, as fleet mobile apps leverage the devices that you and your drivers already use. A recent study conducted by the Pew Research Center found that 85% of American adults own a smartphone and 53% own a tablet. Moreover, when age demographics are taken into consideration, a staggering 96% of Americans between the ages of 18-29 own a smartphone. By taking advantage of the technology that you and your drivers likely already carry, you can utilize a powerful suite of mobile apps to optimize your fleet operations.

Three key uses for fleet mobile apps

1. Pay at the pump

There is no reason for your drivers to speak to a cashier. An app like DriverDash allows drivers to make secure payments from a mobile device without hassle. And you still get the detailed transaction-level data included with your fleet card. Paying for fuel with DriverDash offers increased protection against card-skimming and other fraudulent activity. Additionally, a driver must enter specific prompts and complete biometric authorizations from their mobile device to more securely complete transactions. All receipts are stored electronically within the app, so drivers do not need to store countless pieces of paper — and you no longer have to worry about sifting through receipts to reimburse your drivers’ expenses. Using a fleet mobile app saves time and in turn allows your drivers to get back on the road — and back to business — more quickly.

There is also incentive for drivers to complete transactions with a fleet mobile app. They can link DriverDash to their loyalty programs to collect points and rewards from the stations they frequent most, all without impacting your company’s bottom line.

2. Find the lowest priced fuel at nearby locations

Have you ever finished filling up at a gas station only to notice that the price per gallon at a station across the street is significantly lower? Although these frustrating situations happen all the time, there is a simple way to avoid them. An app like WEX Connect allows drivers to find the cheapest fuel on their travel routes as well as electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and service locations. Drivers can search by lowest price, fuel brand, distance, or location to make the most out of their route to a fueling station. Moreover, fuel prices are updated in real-time as transactions occur, so you can rest assured that you always get the most up-to-date information. WEX Connect provides drivers with directions to the lowest priced fuel stations and saves the locations for future use on an easily accessible virtual map.

As many fleets transition from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles to EVs, WEX Connect displays nearby EV charging stations. Drivers can filter for the more than 100,000 ChargePoint stations across the US.

3. Fleet management from the palm of your hands

Fleet mobile apps are not just for drivers. Fleet managers can complete myriad administrative tasks through their mobile device, such as making payments, checking available credit, tracking spending, and managing cards. An app like Fleet SmartHub mirrors the administrative tasks that you normally complete with a desktop or laptop computer, thereby allowing you to manage your fleet from anywhere, anytime. Plus, Fleet SmartHub offers real-time alerts for declined transactions and allows you to easily make or schedule payments, cancel lost or stolen cards, and quickly identify potential misuse.

You and your drivers likely already have mobile devices, so the advantages of fleet mobile apps are just a quick search and download away. Use them to optimize your business operations and modernize how you manage your fleet.

WEX is a leading, global fintech solutions provider, simplifying payments and back-end business processes in the fleet management, benefits management, and corporate payments areas. To learn more, please visit the company’s About WEX page.

Editorial note: This article was originally published on October 12, 2022, and has been updated for this publication.