The Internet serves as both a preferred tool and rarely-used option for parts distribution to fleets. Got that?
Almost all — 90 percent — of fleet managers surveyed in the Aftermarket Business World Fleet Product Study reported that they use the Internet to purchase only 0-10 percent of their products. However, the web played a much bigger role in their communication preferences.
Like this article? Sign up to receive our weekly news blasts here.Sixty-two percent of respondents named email as their preferred method of contact by suppliers — encompassing both their current suppliers and suppliers seeking to secure new business. And business opportunities are available in the fleet market — about one fourth of respondents indicated they are open to considering a new supplier for their fleet product needs.
When determining which products to purchase, quality, reliability and price were the most important factors considered by the respondents, just over half of which had fleets of 50 vehicles or less, while 15 percent carried fleets of 1,000 or more vehicles. National parts retailers, dealerships and warehouse distributors were the most common parts suppliers utilized by fleets, and price, parts availability and delivery speed encompassed the most important supplier qualities, respondents reported. Fleet managers are open to changing their supplier "whenever necessary," said 53 percent of those polled.
The most common fleet vehicles are Ford, Chevrolet, Dodge and GMC models; and one-fourth of respondents report all vehicles receive some sort of monthly repair.
See full results here.
METHODOLOGY: The Aftermarket Business World Fleet Product Study was sent via email to fleet manager in both the United States and Canada.
