Maurice Rogers

Project Overview

Bowen and Bowen, a large organization with a fleet of vehicles, needed an efficient system to manage the vast amounts of data associated with their vehicles, drivers, and operational processes. The Bowen Fleet Management System was created to address these needs, offering a centralized platform for managing vehicle records, inspections, work orders, maintenance schedules, financial data, and more. Built using the Grails framework for the backend and Ionic for the mobile app, the system enables Bowen and Bowen to track and manage fleet operations seamlessly. The system also integrates with SharePoint to store and manage documents, improving accessibility and collaboration across teams.

The Challenge

The main challenge Bowen and Bowen faced was managing the complexities of their vehicle fleet, including tracking maintenance schedules, inspections, work orders, and finances. With a large fleet and multiple service providers, the organization needed an efficient way to categorize vehicles, manage maintenance tasks, track expenses, and ensure timely service and compliance. Additionally, Bowen and Bowen required a solution that could be accessed by both staff in the office and drivers on the road, making mobile access a necessity. The system also needed to integrate with existing infrastructure, including SharePoint for document management.

The Approach & Solution

To meet these challenges, I designed and developed the Bowen Fleet Management System with several key features:

• Vehicle Module: Vehicles are tagged according to which business unit or company they belong to, ensuring proper categorization and easy tracking.
• Vehicle Inspection Module: This module allows for vehicle checklists to be created, ensuring that each vehicle undergoes regular inspections and maintenance as per company policy.
• Work Order Module: Work orders are classified and tracked by business unit and service provider, improving task assignment and monitoring.
• Vehicle Maintenance Module: This module tracks the maintenance history of each vehicle, schedules upcoming tasks, and helps prevent unscheduled breakdowns.
• Invoicing and Finance Module: This feature helps manage and track financial transactions related to fleet operations, such as service costs, repairs, and maintenance expenses.
• Tire Maintenance Module: A specialized module for tracking tire maintenance, ensuring that tire changes and rotations are performed regularly to avoid issues.
• News Module: A platform for sharing important news, updates, and communications within the organization, keeping all stakeholders informed.
• Reporting Module: Provides detailed insights into vehicle performance, maintenance costs, and operational efficiency, helping decision-makers track key metrics.
• Driver Module: Manages driver profiles, tracking performance, safety, and operational compliance.
• Companion Mobile App for Drivers: Built using Ionic, the app allows drivers to access essential information, including work orders, maintenance schedules, and vehicle details while on the go.
• SharePoint Integration: The system integrates with SharePoint to store and manage important documents such as maintenance reports, invoices, and vehicle records, allowing for better document management and access across departments.

The Results

The Bowen Fleet Management System brought measurable improvements across multiple aspects of Bowen and Bowen’s fleet operations. The results can be broken down into four key pillars of success:

The Bowen Fleet Management System has proven to be a valuable tool for Bowen and Bowen, enabling them to manage their vehicle fleet more efficiently and cost-effectively. By centralizing vehicle data, automating maintenance tracking, and providing mobile access for drivers, the system has streamlined operations and enhanced productivity. The integration with SharePoint further improved document management, making it easier for teams to access critical information. I am proud to have developed a solution that has made a tangible impact on the efficiency and performance of Bowen and Bowen’s fleet operations.