Trends in commercial van upfitting and how to capitalise on them

 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/telegraph-connect/small-business/Renault/renault-kangoo-van.jpg  

The demand for van upfitting is growing day by day and customers select a pickup or service body truck for a mobile service application. Few commercial van options are available in the North American Market – three full-size vans and one compact van. And this number is increased more than doubled to 10 van models. These models provide a wider range of roof heights, wheelbases, payload capacities and engines for fleet managers to choose from. 

We noticed that most of the customers switching from pickup trucks to vans because there is more demand for vans especially small vans and euro-style full-size vans. Below are given some new trends that are popular in commercial van upfits. 

Rightsizing the van to the job

Fleets give more importance to their business and focused on selecting the right size van. With greater options, they choose a more effective tailor vehicle that increases efficiencies and lower operational costs. How to upfit a van:

  • Expand upfit offerings that fit each van model
  • Offer modular or adjustable cargo management systems so that technicians can personalize the upfit according to their customer needs. 
  • Reorganize the cargo area inside the high roof vans and create a new upfit design that increases efficiency and productivity. 

Taking weight out of the upfits

New vans are bigger in size with more cargo area and you can fit a lot more gear in it. More stuff in the van increases the risk of overloading. So in these trends, lighter weight materials are used to increase legal payload capacity. Upfitters use lighter material to reduce overall upfit weight, depending on the customer’s functionality, durability and budget requirements. How to upfit:

  • Offer lighter weight options depending on the requirements
  • Help customers to assess the cost-benefit of light-weighting in the form of increased productivity, payload capacity and reduce acquisition costs. 

Higher demand for ergonomic upfit

A number of fleet managers are growing and managers are looking to equip their vehicles with upfits that improve ergonomics to protect their technicians health. The upfit products are designed by taking ergonomics in their minds.  Drop-down ladder racks, which are especially helpful with taller Euro-style vans because it enables workers to load and unload ladders from the side of the van, while standing safely at ground level, instead of having a strain and lift to load a heavy ladder onto a standard roof rack. How to upfit:

  • Educate customers about ergonomics options such as drop-down racks, grab handles and contoured bulkheads. 
  • Research on how the vehicle is intended to be used in the field to uncover new ideas for designing upfit that help in improving workflow and ergonomics.

Increased demand for mobile power

We’re seeing a trend toward fleets wanting van interiors that offer a more productive mobile workplace, with increased demand for power ports to run laptops, charge mobile devices, and operate electric tools. How to upfit:

  • Expand the product offerings and upfit according to the customer’s mobile power needs for commercial vans in terms of electrification and air power. 
  • Help customers to make the right choice between maximizing onboard power while minimizing the system’s weight and impact on cargo capacity. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Best Vans for Summer Road Trips

Image
You can make or ruin a summer road trip with a  sprinter commercial van   choice. A road trip is a chance to enjoy time with family or friends. Such a journey needs a vehicle that can withstand the abuse on the road and offer comfort to everyone. Vans have become the go-to options when planning a road trip. The choices are varied, from Mercedes to Ford to Volkswagen but how do you know the best van to pick for that summer road trip coming up?  Here are some choices that offer you a variety of must-haves for a road trip. Volkswagen Transporter The load capacity in the  Transporter  is one of the reasons it makes an excellent choice for a road trip. You can find the van in two seating layouts each offering sufficient comfort when traveling. It is available in two wheelbases, the SWB and the LWB. The Volkswagen Transporter is smooth and quiet on the road, which is perfect when you want to sleep or read. For the interior, there is a 5” inch display that works with USB and SD ca
Read more

Fleet Managers: Listen to Your Service Technicians

Image
Purchasing vehicles for a fleet is challenging. The responsible party has multiple considerations: timing, budget, and vehicle fit with the rest of the fleet. In the midst of estimates, spreadsheets, and software, sometimes a key factor can be overlooked: what works well in the field for technicians? There are both quantitative and qualitative data points to consider. Fleet Managers Need Data Fleet managers tend to operate out of a home office. Technicians are the "boots on the ground." They are the ones crawling in and out of a low-roof van on their knees. They are reaching up multiple times a day to grab a ladder off a materials rack. They are getting parts and tools in and out of compartments several times a day. Work vehicle features and prices may look good in a brochure or on a website, but the application of the vehicle and accessories may not function well in the field. Collaborating with your technicians is a great way to get valuable input
Read more

How To Choose The Right Van For Your Business

Image
Buying a van is likely to be one of the biggest investments for your business as well as being an essential tool that you need to make sure is fit for purpose. Before you commit to buying anything, you should ask yourself the following questions to understand exactly what it is you're looking for in a van. How Much Space Do I Need? The main function of a van is to transport cargo and tools. They provide a reinforced space so that they can carry heavier and larger loads than a car. You should work out the typical payload you transport day-to-day and how much space that takes up so you know what load area size you need to look for. It's a good idea to give yourself an element of flexibility, but at the same time, you don't want to waste money by paying for a van that is too big. If you occasionally need to transport a larger load, it might be worth hiring a larger van for those times rather than investing in a vehicle with t
Read more