4 Benefits of Using Geo-Fencing

Fleet tracking and management software offer a multitude of useful features and capabilities that will help you achieve optimum efficiency with your fleet operations. One of fleet management software's best features is geo-fencing. Geo-fencing will offer you a range of benefits that we will discuss in this blog. But first, let us explain what Geo-Fencing is.
 

What Is Geo-Fencing?

Geo-Fencing signifies a predetermined 'digital fence' that you can set up around specific points of interest (POI). Such areas can include job sites, customer areas, gas stations, out-of-bound areas, and much more. As you set up these digital boundaries, the fleet management software will send you real-time alerts when your vehicles enter or exit the geographical boundaries.

Let us now demonstrate how the benefits of using geo-fencing for your fleet operations.
 

Benefits of Using Geo-Fencing

1. Keeps you alert on authorized activity

Fleet managers should be able to respond to the potential vehicle or asset theft quickly. If not, they might lose it forever. Vehicle theft has been on the rise in the U.S; in 2019, over 700,000 motor vehicle thefts were reported by fleet companies.

You can set up geo-fencing boundaries around your frequent job sites and normal operations or areas outside your job areas. So when a vehicle leaves your job areas or enters any out-of-bounds areas, you will be instantly alerted on your mobile or desktop fleet management software. You can then pull up its exact location and communicate with the driver to ensure if it's still in safe hands or not.
 

2. You can collect analytical data regarding their fleet operations

Geo-fencing will allow you and your fleet managers to improve your operational efficiency and optimize your drivers' routes. Geo-fencing can provide you with accurate job timings for deliveries, optimizing travel routes between points of interest.

Moreover, accurate job timings can also be beneficial for calculating accurate payroll and billing for your hourly-rate drivers. So you do not end up paying them more or less than they deserve.
 

3. Keep tabs on drivers in unsafe areas

Fleet managers can identify the unsafe location that is more viable for vehicle theft or threats with publicly available data on crime. While you might be able to entirely avoid such areas, some deliveries or operations may require your drivers to pass through them.

As you set up the geographical boundaries around such areas with geo-fencing, the fleet tracking system can alert your drivers as they enter them so they can be more attentive and careful. And your team can be alerted when a driver has safely left such areas.
 

4. Prevent operational overlaps

As large fleets usually cover wide areas and distances, they should be able even to distribute their driver workforce across geographical areas. Geo-fences allow fleet businesses to assign specific areas to drivers and be alerted when they overlap in such areas or when a driver diverts into a less efficient route.

This benefit ensures that your vehicles are not unnecessarily covering long distances when another driver is more suited to complete the job in a certain area.
 

Summary

Overall, geo-fencing capabilities will improve your fleet and driver visibility. Setting up geo-fencing boundaries should be simple to do, as you only need to pin key locations and set the boundary limits. Most fleet tracking and management systems should provide you with geo-fencing capabilities as it has become one of the hottest trends in the fleet management industry.
 

Best Fleet Tracking and Management Systems

Now that you understand the importance of geo-fencing and how it can benefit your business. Allows us to present you with our top three fleet tracking and management software that are packed with geo-fencing capabilities.

1. Samsara

For our first recommendation, Samsara ranks first place for one of the best fleet tracking and management systems. It is highly rated and praised by its customers for aiding them in efficiently optimizing their fleet operations and performance.

Samsara supports a wide range of industries and businesses of all sizes, and its top features include the following:

• Integrated routing and dispatch tools
• Custom reporting
• Fuel management
• Maintenance workflows
• Mobile fleet tracking application
• Dash Cameras
• Integrations

Get Started With Samsara

Samsara offers its customers customized pricing for its fleet software and GPS hardware depending on their vehicle types, numbers, and requirements. We recommend you reach out to their team from their Contact Us page, or click on the "Get Started With Samsara" button, and go through the short survey, and they will get in touch with you.

2. AUTOsist

AUTOsist is our second pick for one of the best fleet tracking and management systems. It offers scalable and affordable plans and prices that can suit any business size and industry. AUTOsist's fleet tracking software is known for its friendly user interface and comes packed with a variety of rich features such as a centralized document storage system and many more, including:

• Maintenance tracking
• Web Portal
• Offline Use
• Automated maintenance scheduling
• Fuel management
• Real-time communications with drivers
• Detailed trip log
• Customized reports

As for its scalable plans that we mentioned earlier, AUTOsist allows you to choose the way you want to pay for its software. You can either by the number of users you want to have on your system or by the number of vehicles you want to track. You should choose the plans that suit you best, so you do not end up paying more for what you do not need.

We will present you with one from each plan type:
 

1 User Plan: $149/month, plus two free months with annual billing.

The 1 User plan will provide you with the following features:

• Up to 1 User and Sync 2 Devices
• Manage Unlimited Vehicles/Assets
• Unlimited Records & Storage
• User Permission Control
• Inspection Checklists
• Parts Inventory Management
• Mobile App Access
• 24/7 Email and Phone Support
   

5 Vehicle/Assets Plan: $59/month, plus two free months with annual billing.

This plan will provide you with the following:

• Manage up to 5 Vehicles/Assets
• Unlimited Users & Devices
• Unlimited Records & Storage
• User Permission Control
• Inspection Checklists
• Parts Inventory Management
• Mobile App Access
• 24/7 Email and Phone Support

3. Azuga

Our last recommendation goes for Azuga. Its fleet tracking and management system are dubbed as one of the best in the industry by many reviewing sites. It offers an inclusive package of feature-rich solutions for your drivers, managers, dispatchers, and field workers.

Some of its key features include the following:

• Asset Tracking
• Route Optimization
• Field Service Management
• Scheduled Maintenance
• Driver Safety Rewards as a Service (RaaS)
• ELD Compliance

As for its subscription plans, Azuga offers three. Each comes with a set of features, yet with no prices advertised, as they provide you with the package and price that fits your fleet business most. Here is a brief of their plans:
 

Get Started With Azuga Now!

BasicFleet Plan

The BasicFleet plan includes core vehicle tracking features plus driver scoring and rewards. Its features include:

• GPS Tracking
• Alerts and Notifications
• Driver Scores
• Driver Rewards
• Reports
• Geofence
• Unlimited phone, email, and web-based support
• Dual-facing HD camera
   

SafeFleet Plan

This plan includes everything in the BasicFleet plan, plus the must-have safety features and efficiency-boosting tools, such as:

• SpeedSafe
• Distracted Driving
• Panic Alert
• Vehicle Diagnostics
• Scheduled Maintenance
• Trip Logs and Tags
• Fuel Card Integrations
• API Integrations
• TrackMe
• Occupant Recognition
• Messaging
   

CompleteFleet Plan

The Complete plan includes everything in the previous plans, in addition to:

• Azuga Coach
• Fuel-Saver
• One-minute Tracking
• Custom Reports
• Quarterly Fleet Review
• Concierge Support