In the second part of our series looking at the use of big data in trucking, we are going to take a closer look at one of the major problems trucking companies face in using big data to guide decision-making: Information overload.
Of course, the ability to gather huge amounts of data in real-time, on everything from truck operations to driver schedules, is nothing short of amazing. Gone are the days of metal filing cabinets and reams of paper flying everywhere.
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Still the main problem lies in something called information paralysis. The fact is, everyone can look at specific piece of data and then come back with their own interpretation. The key is to decide where to focus your attention.
Focus Items
Are you using comprehensive reports to guide your purchasing decisions and maintenance activities? Have you asked yourself what needs attention first, what is important, or what is actionable?
As you are wading through the prolific amounts of information provided by today’s advanced software systems, make sure you aren’t focusing on too much at once. Instead, put your attention to three to five action items until they have been resolved. Try to monitor reports from no more than four outside vendors on any given day.
Using advanced fleet management software isn’t a one-and-done endeavor. There are plenty of questions that you should be asking along the way. Take warranty recoveries as just one example. Do you know what the warranty actually covers?
In many cases, you’ll need to ask if that “bumper-to-bumper” warranty covers things like oil changes or belts. Another consideration should be payments. How long does it take to recover the money? Finally, you need to be tracking information on recalls.
You should be ensuring you review your engine parameters on an annual basis. When manufacturers are making changes, they don’t always alert the end user. While a supplier might think it’s no big deal, a truck driver who can’t idle because an auxiliary power unit is being used might not take it as well.
Dealing with Different Branches
Another key to avoiding information overload is understanding how to communicate when different branches or departments are gathering data in different ways, which makes analyzing reports much more difficult.
If your accounting team is using a fixed asset management model, but your maintenance team is using a system with a flexible model, different groups under the same corporate umbrella may not be able to properly communicate with each other.
Under such an arrangement, it should be no surprise that the industry can’t address simple line items like a standard definition for cost per mile. Even such things as standard repair times haven’t been matched industry-wide. Add third-party shops to the mix, who have their own software and proprietary systems, and you’ve got a tangled web of competing data sets and analytical tools.
Tire programs are another area where information overload is easy to come by. Tires represent the third-highest cost for many a motor carrier, but can you squeeze out efficiencies by properly mining the data?
While teams analyzing scrap tire data and feeding data into their reports, many times this data is standardized cross a wide variety of tires. One solution could be in using RFID chips and bar codes to track code casings.
Ensure Results-Oriented Solutions
The final consideration lies in taking care of what maintenance software you use. Is the software solution you are choosing scalable to your business’ needs?
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You don’t want to find yourself working with a certain dataset, only to find the underlying details aren’t matching up with your desired end result.
As interesting as big data, always check to see what reports are being reviewed and how the data is being used. In the end, big data is your friend. The key is to avoid information overload.