Called Wizeo, the platform uses various technological methods to help companies better monitor their fleet performance along with a proprietary card-based payment system for drivers to refuel quickly at more than 750 Mobil and Esso service stations throughout the country.

The main benefit for firms is centralizing the entire process into one system that gives users intelligence into the operation of their work fleet, said Colombian Sodexo head Carlos Ferrer at a launch event in Bogotá in January. From their corporate headquarters, managers can, for example, track the time it takes trucks to travels between refueling stations, generally analyze driver patterns, and see the real-time cost-per-mile of any trip.

Photo: Company executives gathered in Bogotá in January for the launch event, including (left to right) Andrés Duque, president of Redeban; Carlos Ferrer, CEO of Sodexo Benefits & Rewards Colombia; and Carlos Noack, president of ExxonMobil in Colombia. (Credit: Sodexo)

The payment system is at the heart of the pledged efficiency gains. The payment cards, which are provided through the Redeban network, replace the cash payments that are typically used by drivers, which create tedious invoice processing and require vehicle operators to carry enough money to pay for large-tank refuels at all times.

The cost of membership in Wizeo varies depending upon the company but is generally predicated on a set fee per vehicle in the company’s fleet. Joining the ExxonMobil-affiliated platform also offers fuel discounts for users depending upon the volume purchased by the fleet.

In the future, there will also be partner companies that specialize in roadside assistance and maintenance, according to the company. Hotels may even become preferred stopover locations that offer drivers various benefits on long-haul routes.

The Wizeo card that drivers can use for refueling at some 750 Mobil and Esso service stations across Colombia. (Photo credit: Jared Wade)

The company says that it is trying to tap into a market of 1.2 million work vehicles in Colombia that consume an estimated three billion gallons of fuel per year.

Wizeo is already operational in the two larger Latin American markets of Brazil and Mexico, making Colombia the next logical nation to bring into the fray, said Ferrer.

Based on previous operations, Sodexo says that Wizeo can lead to operational savings of 14% on top of the increased ease of use and data collection that can be used to further optimize fleet operation over time.

While Sodexo operates other fleet management systems in areas including the United States and Europe, the company believes that the innovations in Wizeo will allow it to become a new global model.

According to the companies, the name Wizeo was chosen because it can be pronounced in various languages, with its root coming from the notion of helping companies make “wise decisions” about their system.