Telematics technology has helped British retailer, Currys, reduce the annual fuel bill for its 262 Ford Transits and 410 Iveco Dailys, by more than £400,000p.a.
The total saving of £416,000 equates to an average of £620 per vehicle – a 10.8% saving in fuel consumption thanks to the improved driving habits of its drivers. These new behaviours also have environmental benefits, with CO2 emissions down by 11%. This includes a 5% reduction in idling times, which has cut unnecessary fuel use and lowered pollution.
The cutting-edge telematics system is provided by Lightfoot and was first adopted by Currys in 2016. It gives real-time feedback to Currys’ fleet drivers, and has evolved to match the company’s needs over the years. To date, it has resulted in 98% reduction in risky driving behaviours – this includes things like harsh braking and hard acceleration. This instant driver feedback has led to smoother and safer driving habits, and Currys has incentivised these positive driving habits, by adding elements of gamification – drivers are motivated through incentives like cash rewards and participation in a ‘Drivers’ Lottery’. The business also recognises the best drivers with internal competitions like its ‘Delivery Crew of the Year Awards’.
Chris Georgiou, Currys’ head of compliance for supply chain and service operations, emphasised the value of real-time driver feedback over retrospective reviews.
“It’s a world apart from using telematics retrospectively,” he revealed. “This has helped our drivers improve their driving standards, enabling them to become smoother and safer at pace.
Chris Georgiou, Currys’ head of compliance for supply chain and service operations
“For us, the key is driver engagement. Our drivers see the direct benefit of becoming Elite Drivers. We also use data from Lightfoot to feed into our Delivery Crew of the Year competition.
“Add to that the fact that a good Lightfoot driving record can help reduce private vehicle insurance premiums, and it’s easy to see why so many of our team are using the app, helping them to become better, more mindful drivers on the road.” 
Telematics is proven to be an effective solution to three of the top strategic priorities for fleets.
27% of fleets say they are planning to invest in fleet-management software
27% are focused on improving employee productivity
31% are seeking to reconfigure and optimise journey planning and payloads
The best telematics systems can help achieve all of these goals.
Source Fleet Outlook Survey, November 2024