For any business that has a fleet of automotive vehicles, whether that’s a taxi company or a delivery service, a big part of the management process consists of protecting vulnerable and high-value assets.
This can be surprisingly difficult to get right, and deserves proper care and attention from the get-go, but where do you start? Below, we explore one of the most important aspects to get right – choosing an appropriate modern key management solution.
Traditional solutions + their main issues
In a range of business contexts that involve the organisation and management of automotive fleets, people are still using pretty basic ‘traditional’ key management solutions.
Whether that’s just chucking them all in a single drawer that can be locked with a key, or a slightly more aesthetic but even less secure approach like hanging them on wooden pegs on the wall, there’s a lot to be improved upon.
These solutions are basically accidents waiting to happen. Whether those accidents are relatively minor, like keys being lost for a few days, or more significant, such as vehicles being stolen, it’s imperative that you take steps to improve upon these archaic solutions.
Modern solutions
The main type of solution that businesses tend to go with nowadays is some sort of smart locker system from a provider like KEYper UK.
These solutions aim to facilitate a high level of control and accountability in key management processes, without negatively impacting efficiency in any way.
There are a few different options to choose between, and it’s worth assessing your specific key management needs before looking at the main features that might be beneficial.
Main features
These are the main features that are available in modern key management solutions.
Controlled access
Modern key lockers provide a tight level of control over each individual key. You can ensure that only certain people have access to specific keys, and change that access remotely via an app or online portal. This can be critically important when it comes to fleet management.
Audit trails
If something does go wrong, modern key lockers make it a lot easier to get to the bottom of things. They often produce automated audit trails, providing accurate data on each and every key that’s taken out or returned. This is practically beneficial, but can also be useful in achieving compliance.
Integration
These lockers and key management solutions tend to be easily integrated into dealership management systems, fleet reporting systems, and a whole host of other existing tools that are commonly used in these contexts.
This makes their practical integration a whole lot more seamless, and increases the likelihood that they’re actually used at their maximum potential.
Automotive key management solutions have come a long way in recent years, and it’s absolutely worth seeing if there are some options that could be beneficial for your business. By starting with a clear examination of your sticking points and areas for improvement, and then taking it from there, you can ensure that your efforts are put in the right direction.
