JLL Latam, Victor Coelho: Aligning global strategies in fleet management
Founded in 1783, American multinational Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) is not only a leading commercial real estate company but one of the largest investment management firms in the world.
To find out more about its fleet management services, I had the pleasure of having a brief chat with Victor Coelho who is a Brazil-based fleet coordinator for the company. He is part of a team that not only handles procurement and management of JLL’s own fleet but provides fleet management services for other multinational companies.
Could you start by telling me about JLL and its fleet management services in Latin America?
Coelho: With almost 93,000 employees worldwide, JLL is a large company with a background in real estate, corporate solutions, and facilities management, the latter of which includes fleet management services. Regarding the global partnerships we have with our international clients, we offer an integrated service which connects all countries and markets through an all-in-one global strategy.
I prefer not to mention names, but I can say that one of our main clients (a multinational consumer goods company) has 97,000 employees alone. As such, you could imagine the potential of fleet management support needed for such an operation. How many vehicles do you manage in Latin America?
Coelho: Worldwide, we are managing 6,000 light vehicles right now (5,500 leased and 730 owned). Approximately 1,000 of them are located in six Latin American countries (Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, Peru and Venezuela), most being in Brazil (700 units). In Latin America, there is also a mix of leased and owed vehicles.
Despite covering the entire region, our main focus is on Argentina and Brazil. In Latin America, we first deal with the complexities in these countries and then maintain an established quality of service throughout the whole territory. Our goal is to manage fleets on an international level.
Remember that a fleet project which covers multiple countries can leverage itself, accomplish strategic negotiations with vendors, deliver better service, and capitalize on cost savings.
Victor Coelho with JLL fleet (source: JLL)
What are the biggest challenges you face when it comes to international fleet operations?
Coelho: Knowing the best practices among countries and applying it regionally can be tough so, yes, I’d say that standardization is the biggest challenge we face when it comes to international fleet operations.
We need to deal with multiple vendors, different types of fleet and mobility services, put together cash allowance programs and fuel solutions, and decide whether to lease or direct purchase cars.
We need to understand all the opportunities available so that we can streamline operations on a global scale, seeking the same service from global vendors regardless of where the fleet is based.
How has COVID-19 impacted your fleet operations?
Coelho: We have faced so many challenges with COVID-19, both locally and globally. We have had to deal with maintenance shops closing down, auto makers halting production, and the overall challenge of our partners trying to maintain the same level of service.
To deal with the new normal, we have created online channels and events and are continuously working to improve our relationship with vendors to maintain the same level of service.
Finally, what would you say is the key to achieving success when it comes to international fleet management?
Coelho: Make sure you maintain close ties with your global team at all times. Develop strong and reliable partnerships with global vendors all while constantly seeking to improve local relationships. In the end, aligning a single global strategy is the key to achieving your objectives.
