In “Fleet and Technician Operations Practices”, the PRSM Association report focuses on a variety of topics, including an analysis of whether it is more economical to own or lease vehicles, the types of fuels commonly used, technologies commonly deployed to drive efficiencies and lower the cost of field service and the benefits of preventative fleet maintenance.

The report is a transparent look at data recently collected from industry suppliers who are operating fleets that service retail stores and are self-performing in major trade categories, including HVAC, flooring, waste management, electrical and lighting.

Of respondents who said they perform fleet maintenance in-house, approximately 70 percent reported higher costs than those who contract out for maintenance. The report also showed that vans are on average more economical to operate and maintain than trucks.

Regarding the use of various technologies to facilitate field service, results show the industry is evenly split between the use and non-use of GPS technology, with 43 percent currently tracking vehicle location with GPS devices. Also, 57 percent of respondents said they are using some sort of fleet management software to improve operational efficiencies and meet customer needs, including work verification requirements.

“This report is the first of its kind to shed light on how suppliers, who maintain retail stores across North America, structure and manage this costly and important aspect of their business. With this new information and insight the supplier and retailer community will be able to benchmark their operations against industry standards and identify ways to lower costs and increase efficiencies,” said Patricia Dameron, executive director, PRSM Association.

The PRSM Benchmarking program, assisted by the association’s Benchmarking Committee consisting of retail and supplier members, conducts regular studies of topics and issues relevant to multi-site retail facilities management. Past reports have focused on work verification, retail utility consumption in Canada, vendor payment processes, HVAC and janitorial technology and services.

For more information on PRSM and resources for the retail facilities management industry, click here.

Source: Professional Retail Store Maintenance Association