Interviews
31 May 23

Gleison Oliveira, Algar Telecom: Using technology to optimize fleet management

Boasting more than 122,000 km of optical fiber network serving 16 states and the Federal District in Brazil, local telecommunications company Algar Telecom and its team of more than 4,200 collaborators certainly needs a top-notch fleet to support its goal to offer robust Telecom and IT solutions.

According to the company’s operations and fleet manager Gleison Oliveira, making use of technology plays a huge role. Mr. Oliveira has more than 20 years of experience managing people and processes in corporate operations of which approximately 12 years are in fleet. 

Name

Gleison Oliveira

Job Position

Operations and Fleet Manager

Company

Algar Telecom

No. of Employees

4,200+

No. of Vehicles

1,300+


Fleet Manager Tip: Innovation is key. Fleets are on the move so managers need to be in sync by training their teams to be aware of new technologies.

 

Technology

When it comes to deploying technology in fleet, it is important to understand that driving behavior occurs instinctively. With that said, the deployment of AI and predictive models need to communicate directly with drivers, guiding them so that decision-making occurs instinctively in a quick and simple way, according to Mr. Oliveira. 

To help manage fuel consumption and to push more defensive and economical driving habits, the company recently implemented automation which offers driving tips that result in driving behavior being adjusted instinctively. Technology such as telematics is also used to develop fuel supply and vehicle maintenance parameters which are aimed at optimizing overall operations. 

“All of this results in more safety for our collaborators as well as savings for the company,” Mr. Oliveira told Fleet LatAm, the Latin America arm of Global Fleet.
 
Sustainability

Caring for the environment is part of Argal’s commitment toward sustainable development. To ensure the protection of natural resources, the prevention of pollution, and effective climate governance, the company has been developing specific programs and projects associated with these issues for more than 12 years.

“Besides staying within the Algar Telecom Environmental Policy guidelines ourselves, we expect parties associated with us to follow our guidelines,” the executive said, explaining that the company is also making the transition toward fleet electrification.  

In 2022, the company maintained electric operations which are 100% renewable, thanks to its three self-generating photovoltaic energy plants which purchase renewable energy and acquire International Renewable Energy Certificates (IRECs).

“Currently, we are prioritizing fueling our fleet vehicles with ethanol which is a renewable and less polluting fuel than gasoline or diesel. And through this, we have stopped emitting thousands of tons of CO2 into the atmosphere, part of our plan to effectively decarbonize our operations,” said Mr. Oliveira.


Global Fleet Editor of the Americas Daniel Bland and Gleison Oliveira in Brazil at the PARAR awards, media partner of Global Fleet (copyright: Daniel Bland)

Last but not least, the fleet and operations manager highlighted some of the main challenges he needs to keep on top of:  

• Maintaining excellent financial management
• Achieving correct fuel management with the proper indicators and targets
• Developing a top-notch maintenance plan and vehicle downtime plan
• Appropriately applying telematics in risk management and collaborator safety
• Maintaining a practice of sustainability (maintenance, tires, overall performance, among others)
 
To learn more about managing total cost of ownership (TCO) in Latin America and for more insight on fleet trends in the region, download Global Fleet’s latest eBook on the topic. 

Photo (handout)

Authored by: Daniel Bland
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