Intelligent Fleet Management Systems,information Communication Technology and Operational Performance of Transport Companies in Mombasa County, Kenya

Abstract

Transport companies are faced with the pressure to be reliable, deliver faster and offer affordable services through cost effectiveness. The study objective is to form an opinion on the impact of IFMS on the operational performance of transport companies and to determine the moderating effect of ICT on the correlation between IFMS and operational performance in transport companies in Mombasa County; Kenya. The study embraced a descriptive crosssectional survey design. The study targeted all transport companies in Mombasa County. Closed questionnaire were used to collect primary data for the study. The collected data was cleaned, validated, uniformity and edited for accuracy, consistency and complete data ends. To find out the effect of IFMS on the operational performance of transport companies in Mombasa County, a regression model was used. The study concluded that there is a direct relationship between vehicle finance and maintenance and operational performance of the companies. This means that an improved vehicle finance and maintenance practices would lead to high level of operational performance. The study also concludes that adoption of vehicle telematics does not reliably predict operational performance. Regarding the moderating effect of ICT, the study concluded that adoption of ICT strongly and positively influences the relationship between operational performance and vehicle finance and maintenance, vehicle telematics and driver and fuel management. This means that ICT adoption is significant in IFMS. The findings of this study commends that systems that allow timely and free movement of information between internal structures, individuals and departments should be put into place. This will allow actual flow of information between the organization and key stakeholders. The study also commends the management of fleet and employees trained on best available practices so as to avoid failures in the system and consequently wastage of resources.