Intelligent CIO Africa Issue 14 | Page 86

INTELLIGENT VERTICAL: TRANSPORT “ in the truck. Until recently, little of this innovation focuses on the engagement with the person who is fundamental to ensuring that the customer is a happy and satisfied one. Driver-Led Visibility harnesses the ubiquity of the mobile device to turn the driver into the central character of the supply chain show. By using specifically crafted applications and tools, the driver becomes the critical source of proactive, reliable and first- hand information for improved business operations. In the past, live, real-time updates from the vehicle were only available via black box telematics, however mobility solutions that empower the driver have fundamentally shifted the level of engagement, insight and accuracy and this is finally resulting in material cost savings, and tangible improvements to customer experiences. “ THIS DISRUPTION OF HOW THE INDUSTRY TACKLES THE CUSTOMER SERVICE, IGNITED BY THE ACCESSIBILITY AND COST- EFFECTIVENESS OF TECHNOLOGY BECOMES A POWERFUL BUSINESS TOOL. 86 INTELLIGENTCIO David Slotow, CEO at Trackmatic By fulfilling operational tasks independently while liaising closely with the customer where necessary, the driver shifts from just changing gears to changing relationships. They extend the collaboration with operations by providing reliable information around delays, customer feedback, location and other issues that could impact on overall ‘on-time and in-full’ (OTIF) delivery. They can also work closely with customers to ensure that they have the right address and that they are delivering at a convenient time. This has had proven results in changing how customers perceive a brand and their willingness to repurchase and refer, as well as improving the reliability of the deliveries themselves. DRIVERS THAT ARE REWARDED OBJECTIVELY FOR THEIR EMPIRICAL SUCCESS ARE MORE LIKELY TO TAKE INITIATIVE AND COLLABORATE WITH BUSINESS TO IMPROVE OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY. The narrative shifts from bad behaviour to good behaviour and creates a more positive approach to collaboration and engagement and the results extend beyond employee happiness and into customer delight. This disruption of how the industry tackles the customer service, ignited by the accessibility and cost-effectiveness of technology becomes a powerful business tool. In the past, equipping a driver with a mobile phone would have been far too expensive to consider, today it is a mandatory tool that ensures driver, customer and business can operate efficiently. It has also had a marked impact on driver behaviour. Drivers who are rewarded objectively for their empirical success are more likely to take initiative and collaborate with business to improve operational efficiency. Now, the drivers are the new frontier of customer engagement and they are the ones that cement the brand’s relationship with the customer; it is vital that the business empower and support them. Traditionally, drivers are only recognised for what they have done wrong. Changing the model to Driver-Led Visibility turns tradition on its head, recognising drivers for what they have done right. The industry has optimised trucks, roads and systems. Now it is time to recognise that the team of people so often overlooked are the ones capable of bringing the change we want in logistics. n www.intelligentcio.com