It’s All About "Big Data" (and "Little Data," Too!)

For decades, NAFA has been telling fleet managers they need to collect data about their fleet operations, analyze the data, and make informed decisions based on that data. We’ve been teaching this in our seminars and certification courses since the 1980s. We even created the first lifecycle cost analysis tool in which you could enter your vehicle-specific data, compare it with benchmark data, and determine your optimal replacement cycle.

That same logic of making informed, data-based decisions is driving the NAFA Board of Directors and staff toward some major projects launching this month. Each of the projects will, naturally, collect quantitative data that will help us make more decisions based on numbers. More importantly, the projects will gather qualitative data that will help us make decisions on factors outside of just numbers, such as your level of satisfaction, or how well we met a specific need.

In the first project, we will assess the “layout,” traffic patterns, hot spots of activity, and other non-content-related aspects of our annual conference, the Institute & Expo (I&E). From this study, we hope to better understand all of the business dynamics supporting I&E, such as our exhibitors’ and sponsors’ short- and long-term objectives, and reasons why fleet managers attend. We will also be gathering feedback from attendees at the event to assess the value they derive from I&E.

Simultaneously, we will be conducting research on member motivation for joining and remaining a member of the association. This project will include analysis of the familiarity, use and satisfaction with NAFA’s products, programs, and services; issues of concern; and the image and overall satisfaction with the association. Additional research will focus on why folks do not renew their memberships, as well as why some choose not to join NAFA in the first place.

Another massive research project starting soon will, when completed, provide insight as to how NAFA can more quickly develop and implement relevant professional development content for our education, certification, and sustainable programs. This study will not only look at NAFA’s existing content in those programs, but the delivery mechanisms and development processes currently in place to produce those programs.

Finally, all of this big data (and little data, too), will be stored in a brand new Association Management System (AMS) here at NAFA headquarters. Later this year, we will have one central database that not only stores data about our members but also provides critical analytic tools to help staff and the Board make informed decisions.

Portions of these research projects will be open to all members, while some will randomly select members. Others will select individuals based on a demographic they possess. In any case, please be on the lookout for lots of scientific-sounding people asking you lots of questions about NAFA. And, of course, if you’re ever in doubt about the legitimacy of someone asking you questions about NAFA, please drop me an email at prusso@nafa.org or give me a call at 609-720-0882.

Our big data collection will help us make NAFA even better in the years to come. I encourage you to participate in our research when you are invited to do so.

Thank you!

Phil