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Cal Wilson / April 21, 2025

Don’t dismiss the importance of tires in your fleet’s fuel spend

Gas prices can fluctuate and make it hard to budget for your annual fuel expenditure. However, there are other factors that might be impacting your fleet’s fuel expenses. One of them is tires. It may not sound like a crucial part of the fuel mileage equation, but poor tire condition can severely deplete your vehicles’ fuel efficiency.  

In this article we look at the connection between tires and fuel, and how you can ensure you’re not missing an opportunity to become more fuel efficient.  

How do tires impact fuel efficiency? 

Many aspects of your vehicles’ tires impact their fuel efficiency. These include: 

  • Pressure 
  • Quality 
  • Alignment  
  • Rotation frequency  
  • Tire size and weight 
  • Maintenance 

All these elements, if properly kept up with, will save you money on fuel in the long run.  

Tire pressure is crucial, because underinflated tires lead to increased rolling resistance, making your engine work harder to move the vehicle. Keeping your tires properly inflated can save your vehicles approximately $0.02/gallon. That may not seem like too much at a glance, but when you consider every vehicle in your fleet, and every mile driven over the course of a year, that adds up.  

Tire quality can also save you money on your refuelling bills. Some higher-end tires will come labelled as low rolling resistance (LRR) tires and are specifically designed to improve fuel efficiency by an estimated 3-4%. 

Proper tire alignment with your wheel “ensures that your tires meet the road at the correct angle, preventing uneven tire wear and reducing rolling resistance. Misaligned tires can drag slightly, causing your vehicle to use more fuel to maintain speed.” 

Regular tire maintenance makes sure all these elements are being routinely monitored, and catching any issues or damage that might detract from your fleet’s fuel efficiency.   

Best tire practices to keep in mind. 

To make the most of your fuel budget, and not waste any money because of improper tire practices, make sure to keep up these habits: 

  • Conduct monthly tire pressure checks to ensure you aren’t losing fuel efficiency to underinflation.  
  • Invest in LRR tires, when possible, for long-term fuel savings.  
  • Conduct regular checks for wear patterns on the tire that may be indicative of the need for realignment. 
  • If your drivers complain of excessive steering wheel vibration, check to see if the tires need realigning.  
  • Ensure your fleets’ tires are rotated, usually every 5,000 to 8,000 miles, to maintain consistent rolling resistance.  
  • Ensure you’re only using the right tire size recommended by your vehicles’ manufacturer. 

In conclusion
 

Tire maintenance and upkeep goes a long way in protecting your fleet’s fuel budget. If you’re ignoring this aspect of your vehicles’ fuel economy, it could be costly in the long run.  

Jessica Souza / April 14, 2025

The Impact of AI on Business: Innovation and Risk to Data Privacy

A while ago, we asked ourselves what life would look like in the 2020s. Sci-fi movies fueled our imagination with visions of flying cars, robots handling our work to ease our daily stress, and a future where technology would simplify life in ways we could only dream of. While flying cars remain a fantasy, one of these visions has become a reality; artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a futuristic concept but a powerful force transforming industries worldwide.

Businesses are embracing AI to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and stay competitive, from automating routine tasks to delivering advanced data insights. Yet, while AI unlocks a world of new possibilities, it also introduces significant risks, particularly regarding data privacy and free AI-powered tools and platforms.

The Bright World of AI in Business

AI is reshaping how companies operate. Automated processes save time, while predictive analytics help organizations make more intelligent and data-driven decisions. In customer service, chatbots offer 24/7 support, enhancing customer experience and freeing the human team to focus on more complex (and not robotics at all) tasks.

Companies leveraging AI are improving operational efficiencies, reducing human error, and enhancing customer engagement. However, with these advantages comes a responsibility to navigate the risks carefully.

The Hidden Cost of “Free” AI Tools

Free AI tools seem like an attractive, cost-effective solution, promising to speed up processes and lure you in with bright colours and one-click solutions. However, they can pose significant risks for businesses dealing with confidential information. Many free platforms use the data you enter (while attempting to streamline processes) to train their models. This practice could expose sensitive company data without explicit consent or control.

When employees input proprietary information into public AI systems, the data may become part of the system’s learning model, making it accessible beyond the business. This can lead to unintended leaks of trade secrets, intellectual property, and other confidential information.

So, it depends on the business to carefully evaluate which AI platforms to trust (or not) with their data. Also, establishing and following clear guidelines on how AI is used internally is critical to safeguarding proprietary data.

Embracing AI Responsibly

As mentioned before, AI offers significant benefits for businesses, but its impact depends on how it is used. To effectively manage both the opportunities and risks, consider these best practices:

  • Implement Clear AI Policies: Establishing internal guidelines for how AI can be used, especially regarding sensitive data, can give your employees a sense of responsibility for managing company information securely.
  • Invest in Secure AI Solutions: Prioritize platforms with robust security measures and clear data privacy policies.
  • Educate Your Team: Ensure employees understand the risks of sharing proprietary information on public AI tools.
  • Regularly Audit AI Usage: Continuously monitor how AI tools are being used in your company and evaluate their impact on both data security and employee productivity.

In conclusion


AI has an immense potential to revolutionize businesses, driving innovation and efficiency. However, the risks associated with data privacy and the use of AI platforms cannot be ignored. Companies must strike a balance by adopting responsible AI practices, ensuring that sensitive data is protected. This way, companies can fully leverage AI’s capabilities while mitigating potential threats.

Cal Wilson / April 7, 2025

Will rising coffee prices impact your company’s breakroom supplies spend?

Coffee drinkers, beware! Prices are on the rise. But even if you don’t personally drink coffee, chances are, many of the employees at or visitors to your business do. Your breakroom supplies budget may notice the surge in coffee pricing that the global market is experiencing.  

Why are coffee prices rising? 

Poor weather conditions in Brazil’s coffee-growing regions, specifically lower than average rainfall, have negatively affected coffee yields this year.  Vietnam, one of the world’s other large coffee suppliers, is experiencing similar weather concerns. Meaning, depending which companies and vendors you source your coffee from, the prices may rise.  

This isn’t just an anomaly. 

In February of 2025, Conab reported that global coffee exports fell -12.4% year over year. Other data from late 2024 also reflects a downward trend. Amidst climate and economic uncertainty, it’s best to prepare for this expense to be unpredictable.  

What does this mean for your company? 

We know taking coffee off your office’s shelves may lead to an insurrection, but you do have to find a way to manage costs. Analyzing the vendors from which you source your breakroom coffee, your contracts, delivery frequencies, and other variables will allow you to optimize your spend. Now is not the time to be paying for more than you need, or missing opportunities to save money.  

Some third-party consultants can help you analyze these expenses, as well as other office and facility supplies costs that your business encounters substantially every year.  

In conclusion
  

Coffee prices are on the rise, as poor climate conditions in the world’s largest coffee-growing regions stifle production. As this continues, and as climate crises continue to impact these regions, you may notice the cost of your breakroom supplies increasing. Working to solidify better vendor pricing on these expenses and protecting your budget is a must to continue providing your employees with what they need to thrive.  

Cal Wilson / April 1, 2025

6 Ways to Make Better Connections Online

Networking expert Margaux Miller offers a fresh playbook for making meaningful connections online, presenting six tips for building online relationships that emphasize quality over quantity and the importance of genuine, personalized interactions.

Cal Wilson / March 24, 2025

Does your company offer ‘frustration-free’ packaging?

There’s a fine line when it comes to packaging. You don’t want so little packaging that items get damaged, but you also don’t want to frustrate customers by overdoing it with tape and other difficult materials to break open.

One way to toe this line is frustration-free packaging; a method of packaging your shipped goods that helps you increase customers satisfaction sustainably. If your company isn’t ahead of this trend, you may want to consider switching processes. In this article, we take a look.

What is frustration-free packaging?

Simply put, the objective of frustration-free packaging is to make your products easy to ship, open, and reuse or recycle. The idea is to minimize packaging materials without compromising product safety, making it more accessible for the customer, and less costly and wasteful for you.

The term was coined by Amazon, which has a frustration-free packaging program; a set of guidelines for Amazon merchants to reduce packaging waste, lower shipping and packaging costs, and improve the customer experience.

There are benefits for you.

Ultimately, frustration-free packaging allows you to reduce packaging and shipping supplies costs, as well as the waste generated by this expense. If your brand aligns itself with sustainability or eco-friendliness as a value, this is one initiative that can show consistency with your values, all while saving money.

Other advantages it offers are reduced chances of returns chargebacks,  saving you significant money in the long run.

There are benefits for your customers.

Lowered shipping costs for you also mean lower shipping costs for your customer. Likewise, the benefit is in the name. Simple, scaled down packaging that still protects shipped goods reduce frustration for the customer during the order fulfillment process. This will improve their experience with your business and potentially increase the likelihood of return business.

Even if you’re not selling on Amazon, you can use frustration-free packaging.

Although this strategy started with Amazon, it doesn’t mean you can’t implement it on your own.

Of course, there are challenges to consider. These include:

  • Finding the balance between product protection, simplicity for customers, and minimal waste.
  • Implementing the change to your packaging system without disrupting operations.

Some tips to make this easier include:

  • Analyzing the current packaging type you are using to assess its biggest advantages and disadvantages regarding protection, design, and other factors – what must be changed and what can stay the same?
  • Investigating packaging vendors with frustration-free options – shop around, don’t go with the first option you see right out of the gate.
  • Prioritizing product protection – if there’s anywhere to scale back, it’s not here.
  • Considering a consultant with expertise – if you’re concerned about what packaging supplies solutions you’re paying for, a third-party, independent consultant may be able to give you peace of mind.

In conclusion


Frustration-free packaging can save you money, reduce waste, improve your customers’ experience, and show your commitment to sustainable solutions. If your only hesitation is implementing a large scale change, there are plenty of experts and vendors who can help.

Jessica Pett / March 18, 2025

Typos Could be Trashing Your Reputation

In the workplace, the content of your written work, be it email, report, job listing, or social media post is obviously significant, but the importance of its grammar and spelling is commonly undervalued. Avoidable errors can subconsciously portray a lack of professionalism and credibility to those receiving it. In this article, we discuss why the appearance of written work is just as imperative as the content and how staying on top of common spelling and grammatical errors will improve a company’s reputation overall.

Ensure a Good First Impression

In a blog post, Kyle Wiens, CEO of iFixit and self-proclaimed ‘Grammar Stickler,’ has stated that he refuses to hire anyone who uses poor grammar, even if they are otherwise qualified, declaring that bad grammar shows a lack of professional credibility, attention to detail and learning ability. While his stance may seem extreme to some, it goes to show that we are constantly being judged based on our ability to communicate on paper.

Support the Brand Image

When it comes to customer-facing components in business, like marketing materials, proposals, social media posts, and emails, written communication directly reflects customer perception overall. Each employee at a company has the power to directly affect the reputation of a business, and when put that way, Wiens’ view doesn’t seem so outlandish. Ensuring that team members are keeping a keen attention to detail when it comes to their spelling and grammar in every aspect of their work, will ensure the image of the brand remains positive.

Credibility is Key

In the technological age we live in now, words are significantly more impactful. Take a look at this social media post from a plumbing company:

Call us today! Our team of expert plumbers is here to help you with all of your plumbing needs! From leaky taps to clogged drains and even broken pipes. We fix them all! Dont wait till it’s to late, call now and we will take care of it!

We works 24/7, no job are too big or small. We will be happy to assist you!

Would you be inclined to choose this plumber over one with a more professional-looking ad? Not likely- and they could be perfectly qualified! If a company won’t take the extra time and attention to detail to ensure their ad is written correctly, customers may be inclined to think that’s how their home will be treated by them too.

Streamline the Workplace

Proper spelling and grammar are not only advantageous in customer-facing situations but can also allow for a more streamlined workplace. In communicating with team members, vendors, or superiors, a simple grammatical error could mean the difference between missed appointments or dollars lost. Ensuring emails and other communications are written correctly will make for effective communication and clear up any potential confusion amongst all parties.

How to Avoid These Mistakes

Utilize the spellcheck feature. There are many applications and built-in features that can be used as a backup editor in your everyday writing. There is nothing wrong with taking advantage of them.

Read, proofread, and peer review. Before sending or publishing anything, give it a once or twice-over. Get another pair of eyes to take a look. That extra few minutes spent could be all the difference in avoiding a major issue. It has even been said that waiting between proofreads will allow your brain to forget about what you’ve read and create a fresh mindset when looking at it again- potentially revealing new errors missed the first time around.

Review the rules. It is never a bad idea to review the rules around grammar and spelling or ask Google if you’re unsure. Automatic grammar and spell-checkers don’t always catch contextual errors, so it is important to have a grasp on what makes sense.

There is always an exception to the rule. Despite the previous tip, there are always exceptions in grammar and spelling. Sometimes your relationship with the recipient of your email allows for you to be more casual so an acronym or funny spelling is okay. Readability is a big factor too, if breaking a standard grammar rule allows for the reader to understand your message clearer, sometimes that’s okay.

In Conclusion

Simple spelling and grammar errors make a larger difference in business than are often given credit for. Keeping these ideas and tips in mind will only help to improve the first impression, brand image, credibility, and efficiency of the workplace.

Cal Wilson / March 10, 2025

Is driver stress impacting your fleet’s bottom line?

A recent study from fleet management company, Geotab has found that 68% of commercial drivers report that work-related stress negatively impacts their performance. Driver performance has a huge impact on your bottom line; from deadlines being met, to preventing accidents, and more. So, in the era of rising costs and performance being more important than ever, what does this research have to say? In this article, we take a look.  

Geotab’s research: 

According to Geotab, the financial ramifications of driver stress should not be ignored. Its research found that driver stress “leads to increased costs, reduced efficiency, and higher risks for everyone on the road. The financial impact is significant, including higher insurance premiums, potential legal liabilities, and increased fuel and maintenance costs.” 

It also found that:  

  • 78% of commercial drivers feel that that stress and mental health contributes to road dangers.  
  • 34% have considered leaving their job in the past year.  
  • 68% would support new technology that would help with their driving performance.  
  • 26% admitted to regularly speeding to meet deadlines.  

The cost of poor driving. 

Poor driving – such as speeding and overloading – might mean a few deadlines are met quicker, but overall, it’s not worth the risk. The financial ramifications include: 

  • Higher maintenance costs 
  • Faster wear and tear 
  • Reduced fuel efficiency 

Overall, this is going to lead to your fleet’s expenses rising, and the frequency of replacing vehicles or their parts increasing. Likewise, the “average cost of a large truck crash involving a fatality can reach up to $3.6 million.” Prioritizing safety is both the ethical and economical thing to do.  

The cost of driver turnover.  

Work-related stress doesn’t just lead to adverse driving conditions. It also leads to higher rates of turnover. Turnover can be incredibly costly to organizations, especially when certain commercial drivers require special training or licenses. Some research even indicates that the loss of a single driver can cost companies between $10,000 and $20,000. 

How do you prioritize drivers amidst rising costs? 

Clearly, its critical to prioritize your drivers stress levels and job satisfaction. Failing to do so is expensive and dangerous. However, with so many other costs rising, and your budget spreading thinner, how do you manage this? 

Optimizing your fleet’s other expenses, without compromising quality of service, allows you to focus more on your drivers and your profitability. Expenses like fuel and telematics can be analyzed and monitored on an ongoing basis to ensure you’re spending fair market rates, and never a penny more. Working with a third-party expert in fleet management expenses can help save you time and money on this front.  

Cal Wilson / March 4, 2025

Do you give feedback effectively?

Feedback is an important part of employee motivation in an evolving, always-improving workplace. Employees being responsive and adaptable to feedback is only one half of the equation. Managers, supervisors, and other leaders are the other half. Giving effective, motivating feedback is just as necessary.  

So how can you deliver feedback and constructive criticism to your team more effectively? In this issue of The Pulse, we take a look. 

Don’t delay. 

It can be very tempting to delay or avoid difficult conversations. And, often, giving potentially tough feedback is a difficult conversation; especially if the employee may not be entirely receptive. However, the best thing you can do is address the issues promptly.  

Having the conversation sooner rather than later is important for the following reasons: 

  • It prevents the issue in question from continuing or worsening. 
  • It gives the employee the opportunity to resolve things quickly and potentially make amends with other team members, if required.  
  • Other employees’ morale may be suffering if the issues go unresolved.  

It’s also important to remember that an employee with a performance issue may not realize they have said issue without feedback. The kind thing to do is talk to them as soon as you can.  

Don’t blindside.  

Sometimes, if you bring an employee into a meeting to give them constructive feedback, and they’re not expecting it, the anxiety associated with the experience may prevent them from fully processing what you’ve said. Giving them a heads up about the topic of the discussion allows for them to be prepared.  

Be clear.  

Prepare what you want to communicate ahead of time. It should be very clearly explained where they are falling short in terms of their responsibilities and behaviors and how they can improve to meet your expectations going forward.  

Don’t make it personal. 

One mistake to avoid, if possible, is attaching any personal judgement to feedback. Often, when we work hard, it’s easy to feel a personal attachment to our work. We can conflate criticism of it, with criticism of us. Avoiding statements like “I’m unhappy with you,” or “you messed up,” can make the feedback experience easier on the recipient.  

Be open.  

There might be valid reasons why an employee’s performance is struggling. There may be another issue on your team that you’re not aware of. Be open to receiving feedback from them, as well, that may help resolve the issue. Ask your employee questions relating to the issue, rather than doing all the talking, actively listen to what they have to say, and keep an open mind.  

In conclusion
 

Without feedback and constructive criticism, none of us would ever improve. However, not all feedback is delivered equally. Ensuring that you communicate effectively when having these conversations is tantamount to your team’s success.  

Cal Wilson / February 24, 2025

As helium demands steadily rise, ensure your supplier is charging fair rates.

Many businesses and organizations rely on compressed helium to operate. In fact, so many, that the global demand for the gas is expected to nearly double over the next decade. Helium is a finite resource; meaning rising demands may cause a significant supply and demand imbalance that could impact the going market rates for this gas.  

In this article, we take a look at the projections, and what they might mean for organizations reliant on this resource.  

Where is helium used?  

If you’re not in the business of using helium, you may just think of balloons and squeaky voices. But the truth is, it’s a critical resource for many industries our society relies on to function. Its expansive list of uses includes: 

  • Medical imaging, (e.g., MRIs) 
  • Thermal management for batteries 
  • Aerospace engineering 
  • Chemical and pharmaceutical production  
  • Semiconductor manufacturing 
  • Fiber optics 
  • Welding 
  • Other scientific research and pursuits  

According to a report published in IDTechEx, helium’s “high thermal conductivity, chemical inertness, and cryogenic properties uniquely lend itself to its applications with limited or no available alternatives in some cases.” 

The market is rarely steady.  

For such an important resource, it doesn’t command a steady market. Production difficulties often lead to shortages and rising prices. With the global demand for helium skyrocketing from 176 million m3  in 2024 to an estimated 322 million m3 in 2035. In the same time period, the semiconductor market – reliant on helium – is predicted to grow by over 13%. These factors, plus a dwindling supply of the natural resource, means operations reliant on helium can expect costs to soar. 

So, what can you do? 

Given the lack of alternatives, there might not be a lot your business can do but eat the rising costs of helium. Right? Well, yes and no. True, you cannot control the market value of helium. But you can ensure that you’re not being overcharged by your supplier.  

It’s not uncommon for suppliers to hide markups in miscellaneous fees that appear on your invoices. Sometimes, all it takes is a simple call to your vendor to discuss and object to these fees. Likewise, if you’re seeing increases in your helium spending of more than ten percent a year – but no change in volume – it may be worth investigating if you’re paying fair market rates. Especially if you’re signed on to a contract.  

If you’re pressed for time or don’t know where to begin, consider working with a third-party consultant who understands the marketplace, but won’t make recommendations that benefit your vendor more than you.  

In conclusion
 

If projections about the demand for helium are correct, compared to production limitations, prices are going to climb. This might represent a significant added expense for your business, with no alternatives to turn to. However, there are steps you can take to protect your budget from markups and unfair rates.  

Cal Wilson / February 18, 2025

Are consumers cutting back their spending habits in 2025?

One of the compounding challenges to economic uncertainty, as a business owner or manager, can be how your customers respond to it. And, as a consumer yourself, it makes sense, right? When prices may spike, spending less is wise. But that doesn’t necessarily bode well for businesses that rely on that clientele.

With economic uncertainty in our midst, what are some spending trends to look out for this year? In this issue of the Pulse, we take a look.

Are consumers looking to cut back?

There are some indications that consumers are slowing down their purchasing habits. For example, consumer credit utilization rates dropped towards the end of 2024. Likewise, the Bain’s Consumer Health Index noted a 10.8% drop in intent to spend among even high earners, or those whose incomes are $150,000 or more. The Kearney Consumer Stress Index found that the majority of consumers are stressed about prices and inflation, especially when it comes to groceries.

It’s not just big data points discussing this, either. In January, a Washington Post article examined a trend called “No Buy 2025.” Whether or not the majority of consumers are making a conscious effort to spend less, the idea of this shows a pattern towards anxiety over consumption.

Credit card delinquency is at a high.

Another sign that spending may slow down are credit delinquency rates. In the United States, even amongst high earners, consumer delinquency rates are “near a five-year high, rising 130% over the last two years from January 2023 to December 2024.”

This could mean that consumers are more likely to be cautious with purchases made on credit.

Which industries may feel the heat?

As with any period of economic uncertainty, some industries are going to feel the consumer hesitancy more than others. For example, restaurants or other food service businesses may want to keep in mind that 81% of Americans say saving money on food is a priority for them in 2025. Essentially, anything that could be considered “discretionary spending” is potentially at risk.

What does this mean?

To weather a potential downtrend, in 2025, businesses should look into sustainable strategies to keep costs low and avoid layoffs or raising prices. The latter, especially, certainly will not make consumers more likely to spend in this climate.