How BH Botswana JCB Reduced Fuel Costs with Frotcom

For businesses running a fleet, fuel costs can be a major challenge. BH Botswana, Botswana's authorized dealer of JCB mining and construction equipment and power products, faced this reality until they found an intelligent way to manage their vehicles. Discover how Frotcom’s advanced fleet management system helped them cut fuel expenses, streamline operations, and drive efficiency like never before.  

BH Botswana JCB is a leading distributor of JCB equipment in Botswana, specializing in mining, construction, and power-generating machinery. Established in 1973, the company maintains a strong presence, with its headquarters in Gaborone and branches in Francistown and Orapa, offering top-tier equipment and aftermarket services. Currently, BH Botswana JCB operates 37 light vehicles managed with Frotcom's fleet management software.

Before implementing Frotcom, BH Botswana JCB faced several challenges:

• High fuel consumption and lack of control over vehicle use: Without real-time tracking, it was challenging to detect fuel waste, prevent unauthorized vehicle use, or manage idling time effectively, leading to excessive fuel costs.
• Excessive administrative workload in daily fleet operations: Fleet management tasks required significant manual input, reducing productivity and diverting staff from more strategic activities.
• Limited visibility into driving behavior and vehicle misuse: The company didn’t monitor driving patterns, which led to increased vehicle wear and compromised safety.
• Inefficient and unintuitive fleet management system: The previous solution lacked user-friendly features and failed to support the company’s operational needs, making fleet monitoring and reporting cumbersome and time-consuming.

During the transition to Frotcom, they also encountered additional challenges:

• Transition from Previous Supplier: Removing existing tracking units and installing new ones required centralizing all vehicles, temporarily affecting operations.
• Contract Overlap: Avoiding service disruption meant incurring dual tracking service costs for a month.
• Operational Efficiency: The need for a fleet management solution that was intuitive, cost-effective, and well-supported.

After careful evaluation, BH Botswana JCB selected Frotcom for its excellent service, competitive pricing, and ease of use. The transition presented logistical challenges, including replacing existing tracking units and centralizing vehicles, but despite these hurdles, the implementation was completed successfully with minimal disruptions.

Key Frotcom features implemented include monitoring driving habits to improve efficiency and safety through Driving Behavior Analysis, as well as Fleet Alarms, which provide real-time alerts to minimize unauthorized vehicle use.

Since adopting Frotcom in 2020, BH Botswana JCB has seen significant improvements in fleet operations:

• 40% Drop in Fuel Use

The company significantly reduced fuel costs with smarter routes and real-time vehicle tracking.

• Better Control Over Vehicle Use

By monitoring driving habits more closely, BH Botswana JCB eliminated unnecessary trips and idling, reduced wear and kept vehicles in better shape.

• Simplified Fleet Admin

The platform made day-to-day fleet management easier, reducing routine tasks and allowing the team to focus on strategy.

• Smooth Onboarding

The intuitive design meant employees across the company could start using the system with minimal training.

• Responsive Local Support

The Frotcom team offered hands-on assistance during rollout and beyond, setting a high standard for customer service.

Liam Keevil, Director at BH Botswana JCB, shared his experience:

“The biggest improvement was the massive reduction in fuel costs due to eliminating vehicle abuse, with fuel usage dropping by up to 40%. The Frotcom interface is simple and easy to use, which means we spend less time on administration and more on what matters. Additionally, the local Frotcom support team is incredibly responsive, which is rare in this region.”

With Frotcom’s advanced fleet management tools, BH Botswana JCB has optimized operations, significantly reduced fuel expenses, and enhanced overall efficiency. The company now benefits from greater control over fleet operations and costs, reinforcing its success in Botswana’s construction and mining industries.

If your company is also facing these or similar challenges, contact a member of our team and start making the most of your fleet with our fleet management software.