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What Is GPS Fleet Tracking: A Brief Introduction
Updated: February 13th, 2024
The ability to track and optimize fleet vehicles in real-time can significantly streamline business operations and impact productivity, efficiency, and, ultimately, your bottom line—whether you're delivering goods or providing services. At the core of this capability is GPS fleet tracking, a technology that completely changes how businesses manage their mobile assets.
Have you ever wondered why companies seek to contract out the use of software for fleet management and tracking? This blog post will provide an in-depth analysis of GPS fleet monitoring to facilitate further comprehension. In addition, the software application industries, the benefits of outsourcing, and the diverse range of these systems will be examined.
An Overview
At its most basic, fleet tracking is a management structure that tracks, monitors, and helps with fleet vehicle activities by using global positioning system (GPS) technology and satellite assistance. The software in question is based on telematics and satellite technology that improves security and visibility. The fleet in question could consist of anything from cars to trucks to trailers and everything in between.
Installing GPS trackers in every vehicle and asset to act as the fleet manager's eyes and ears is critical to GPS fleet management software. These gadgets gather various data, from the most essential location coordinates to more complex information like speed, fuel consumption, idling time, and engine diagnostics. As a result, a centralized software platform receives this abundance of data and provides business owners with detailed insights into every activity.
What Are the Benefits of the Software?
An effective GPS fleet tracking system can prove to be an excellent investment for businesses that depend on transportation for their operations. By implementing such a system, some of the benefits to a business include:
Asset tracking
GPS fleet tracking increases productivity and efficiency by giving fleet managers real-time visibility into assets and equipment. The insights from a GPS tracking device monitor all assets, whether large or small. In addition, asset monitoring can prevent wasted productivity, maximize return on investment, and enhance inventory management, thereby conserving time, money, and resources for businesses.
Optimizing routes
GPS fleet monitoring enables organizations to formulate strategic decisions regarding the routes of their entire fleet. This software can analyze traffic data, road conditions, and vehicle positions to calculate the optimal routes before departure. Furthermore, a driver's whereabouts and estimated arrival times can be tracked, enhancing customer service and increasing satisfaction. By streamlining routes and avoiding traffic, businesses can reduce driving time and boost productivity.
Maintenance management
GPS tracking devices improve inventory control visibility and simplify the equipment maintenance process by lowering the risk of failures and extending the lifecycle of all assets. Live data on equipment usage, mileage, and other information is gathered, along with custom alerts sent out when maintenance is about to be performed. GPS fleet tracking can also help with vehicle maintenance by enabling them to plan routine maintenance checks and avert breakdowns, which lowers downtime and repair costs.
Fuel management
Fuel management is gaining prominence in fleet operations because of its potential to have far-reaching effects on both financial performance and ecological sustainability. Firms may enhance their fuel management tactics with monitoring software by keeping tabs on variables like idle time, route efficiency, and driver behavior.
As a result, businesses may lessen their negative effects on the environment while also cutting operational expenses and fuel waste.
Improved safety
The primary goal of fleet management is to guarantee driver safety and the security of their vehicles. Businesses may enhance road safety by using GPS fleet tracking software to detect risky driving habits, follow drivers' actions in real-time, and implement fixes. The software has several functions that make driving safer, reduce the likelihood of accidents, and protect drivers and property. Some of these features include hard braking detection, speeding alerts, and seatbelt usage.
Compliance
Strict regulations like the International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) and Hours of Service (HOS) significantly burden fleet-based businesses, particularly those operating in highly regulated industries. To ensure compliance, GPS fleet monitoring software enables comprehensive record-keeping of driver activities, vehicle maintenance schedules, and adherence to safety protocols. Organizations stand to gain advantages from the robust functionalities of these systems as they navigate intricate legal frameworks, mitigate legal liabilities, and uphold industry benchmarks.
What Industries Use GPS Fleet Tracking?
- Construction industry: GPS fleet tracking is vital in the construction industry due to the constant movement of large equipment and trucks between building sites. Fleet monitoring helps construction companies maintain tabs on their vehicles and equipment, improve logistics by allowing them to plan their routes better, and ensure on-time product deliveries. Important construction objects may be better protected from theft or unauthorized use with the use of GPS tracking, which also improves security and asset management
- F&B suppliers: Food and beverage companies rely on streamlined delivery processes to ensure customers, such as grocery stores and restaurants, receive perishable goods on time. Using this technology, food and drink companies may monitor their delivery vehicles in real-time. This aids in the optimization of routes, which in turn reduces fuel consumption and travel time. Also, by maintaining a consistent temperature during transportation, food is kept safe in accordance with the FDA. This technology allows the food and beverage supply chain to function more efficiently, improving customer service
- Trucking industry: The trucking industry implements monitoring for more efficient monitoring and management of long-distance freight transportation fleets. Transportation companies can derive numerous benefits from this monitoring, including tracing their vehicles, determining the most time- and fuel-efficient delivery routes, and holding drivers accountable for adhering to safety regulations. Optimizing maintenance administration through the use of real-time alerts and diagnostics provided by GPS technology
- Oil and gas industry: The oil and gas sector is extremely dependent on GPS fleet tracking systems in order to monitor drilling operations, control service vehicles, and ensure strict adherence to safety protocols. This assertion holds particular validity in light of these sectors' frequently isolated and arduous operational environments, and by taking preventative measures and observing driver behavior, oil and gas enterprises can optimize routes for the effective movement of workers and equipment, track the status of their vehicles and assets in real-time, and increase safety
- Utility industry: Utility companies use GPS fleet tracking to maintain tabs on their field service operations. Water, power, and telecommunications providers are all part of this category. Utility companies can keep track of service vehicles' locations and conditions, dispatch technicians to client sites more efficiently, and optimize maintenance schedules for infrastructure assets like water pipes and electricity lines through monitoring. Utility companies may increase operational efficiency, decrease expenses, and give consumers dependable service by adopting GPS fleet tracking. This technology enhances overall visibility and helps to maximize production
- Government fleet industry: To ensure regulatory compliance, optimize routes, and improve vehicle usage, businesses in the government sector rely significantly on GPS fleet tracking. Vehicles may be tracked in real-time to reduce repair costs and downtime, safety features can be improved, and regular preventative maintenance can be executed. Using the accurate data and statistics provided by GPS monitoring, public sector businesses may enhance service delivery, reduce expenses, and streamline operations
The Different Types of GPS Tracking Systems
In the realm of GPS fleet tracking, various methodologies cater to different needs and operational requirements. Here's an overview of the different types:
Active tracking
Active tracking is a highly suitable solution for businesses in need of immediate insight into their fleet operations. It entails the continuous surveillance of vehicle locations and activities in real-time. The vehicle-mounted GPS devices consistently deliver data to a centralized system, furnishing the audience with immediate updates regarding the vehicle's whereabouts, speed, and additional relevant metrics.
Passive tracking
Passive tracking, as opposed to active, involves the storage of data on a device installed within the vehicle. The data is subsequently retrieved and analyzed. During the configuration process, data is captured at pre-established time intervals. Although it lacks real-time monitoring functionalities, this feature proves valuable for organizations requiring historical data review for purposes such as route analysis, driver behavior evaluation, or legal compliance.
Semi-passive tracking
Active and passive monitoring principles are combined in semi-passive tracking. The device stores real-time data regarding the location and performance of the vehicle locally, enabling future retrieval. The hybrid methodology presents a versatile and effective solution, rendering it well-suited for a wide range of fleet management situations.
Asset tracking
Asset monitoring primarily refers to the surveillance of non-vehicular assets, covering containers, equipment, and transporters, among others. Adding GPS devices to valuable assets allows organizations to optimize asset utilization, prevent theft, and track their whereabouts.
Cell-based vehicle tracking
Cellular networks are utilized for data transmission between GPS devices and the tracking software in cell-based vehicle monitoring. By combining the reliable attributes of cellular networks with the flexibility of GPS technology, this solution offers a comprehensive approach to fleet monitoring in areas with copious cellular coverage.
Satellite-based vehicle tracking
Satellite-based vehicle tracking provides worldwide coverage, including in remote or off-grid areas, by utilizing satellite networks to transmit data. This form of monitoring is well-suited for enterprises functioning in secluded regions characterized by inadequate or unreliable cellular coverage, such as maritime or wilderness environments.
Conclusion
Overall, by employing advanced analytics and real-time monitoring capabilities, GPS fleet tracking successfully enhances asset management, streamlines transportation routes, and ensures compliance with regulatory requirements. This technology has a wide range of applications that benefit various industries, such as construction, food and beverage, transportation, and oil and gas, and there are several options available for organizations to choose from when it comes to tracking, including asset, active, and passive.
To determine the best fleet management system for your business, opt for a provider with transparent pricing, demos, and a mobile app for enhanced ease of use. Furthermore, you can use our comparison tool and read our blogs for more information on providers and the industry as a whole.