The Dot Connector: Robert Collard, Powering Up Commercial Customers

For businesses with dozens or hundreds of vehicles in their operations, transitioning to an electric fleet can feel like navigating a maze. From understanding vehicle fit to managing charging infrastructure installations and decoding complex incentives, there are countless pieces to the puzzle.

For Robert Collard, however, the fun part of his role is precisely that – connecting the dots to create a clear, seamless path for commercial customers such as the businesses, large corporations, and government agencies that purchase vehicles, charging infrastructure, and software from Ford.

“I enjoy looking at the white space and solving problems that don’t have answers,” Collard said.

As Ford Pro's Fleet Home Install Program Manager, Collard works with businesses looking to add electric vehicles to their fleet, simplifying their transition by providing crucial information and services.

"What we try to focus on is basically customer education," Collard explained. "We do everything from understanding where the customer is in their electrification journey to helping them understand which vehicles might be fit for transition from internal combustion engines (ICE) to battery electric vehicles (BEV)."

Ford Pro takes on the complexity so customers don’t have to. Ideally, they just plug in and go — unaware of the heavy lifting happening behind the scenes.

Collard's work is heavily driven by data. Over 1 billion datapoints per day from Ford commercial vehicles are monitored and analyzed by Ford Pro Intelligence, a cloud-based platform seamlessly integrated with Ford Pro’s suite of software. Fore Pro Intelligence leverages data from vehicle components, sensors, dashcams, and EV chargers to deliver a comprehensive overview of fleet operations.

"We can look at a customer's routes using Ford Pro Telematics Software to understand what makes sense," Collard said. "Does it make sense for a driver to actually take this vehicle home, or are their routes too long? Once you understand the vehicles and the driver fit, then you have to look at the site fit."

To evaluate the site fit, Collard collaborates with Ford Pro customers to assess their business locations and drivers' homes, determining whether commercial depots, home charging solutions, or a combination of both would be most effective. His team then partners with Ford Pro's network of service providers to facilitate charger installations.

Another crucial "dot" Collard connects involves navigating the multi-faceted needs of customers when electrifying their fleet.

“We have seen state government customers who wanted over multiple depot chargers on a single site, but a feasibility studies often reveal 2 to 2.5-year delays due to utility upgrades,” Collard recalled. “Our team is able to quickly pivot when these issues arise and identify drivers for home installs and strategically placing chargers throughout the region for small depots where drivers could top off and charge."

This innovative approach allowed Collard and his team to avoid significant time and cost for the customer, as residential installations are considerably more affordable than commercial depots.

Beyond the sales, Collard, a 12-year Ford veteran, finds immense satisfaction in the positive impact he has on Ford Pro customers.

"I didn’t realize how many businesses rely on our vehicles to make their living. It is cool to be at the forefront of helping service industries," Collard said. "You’re selling a car to fulfill a need in the world."

Robert's unique ability to "connect the dots” - from data analysis to navigating obstacles—doesn't just simplify fleet electrification; it empowers Ford Pro customers, building the foundational infrastructure for a sustainable future, one connector at a time.