A vehicle tracking system gives you better control over your field operations.
Do you spend hours trying to identify the exact location of your vehicles?
Are you worried your drivers are engaging in bad driving behavior and do not follow the traffic rules?
Would it not help if you knew exactly where your vehicles and drivers are?
A vehicle GPS tracking system can do just that.
Table of Contents
What Is a Vehicle Tracking System?
GPS vehicle tracking system is a technology solution that monitors vehicle locations in real-time and records the data to help you ensure your drivers stay on schedule and show up on time.
Think of the vehicle tracking software as a virtual ride-along with your drivers. But, you don’t need to sit in the passenger seat physically and monitor the vehicle and driver. Instead, the vehicle tracking technology lets you keep an eye on all your drivers regardless of your location.
How Does a Vehicle Tracking System Operate?
In a vehicle GPS tracking system, the following four components make communication possible:
- GPS satellite
- Vehicle tracking device
- Wireless network
- GPS servers
The tracking system uses GPS satellites for asset tracking at all times. Using a wireless network, the vehicle’s location information is transmitted to the GPS server, which acts as a “cloud” that allows the users to access the information regardless of their location or mobile device.
The information gathered from the vehicle is even displayed on a map in real-time. So, users can access the data as breadcrumb trails of the vehicle’s journey. Users can also see how fast it traveled to the assigned destinations.
Since the complexities of gathering the data are done in the background, the users only have to log in to set up specific vehicle tracking system reports relevant to them.
Learn in detail about how GPS tracking works.
What Are the Benefits of a GPS Vehicle Tracking System?
The best GPS tracking systems can do a great deal more than just identify vehicle locations.
Here are some of their many benefits.
- Improves driver safety: When drivers know that they are being monitored, they are less likely to indulge in unsafe driving practices, such as speeding and tailgating. Also, if a driver is stuck on the road due to an unanticipated circumstance, such as a breakdown or medical emergency, you can send roadside assistance without delay.
- Reduces costs: Improved driving behavior means less fuel consumption and reduced fuel expense.
- Enhances customer service: With a vehicle tracking system in place, you will communicate the driver’s estimated arrival time to the customer. And, showing up at customers’ locations is one of the best ways to boost customer satisfaction.
- Increases operational efficiency: A GPS vehicle tracking system helps you learn when maintenance is pending and indicates the overall health of your vehicles to avoid potential breakdowns and reduce repair costs.
- Prevents vehicle thefts: A vehicle GPS tracking system helps you protect your vehicles from theft. For example, if any vehicle moves outside of work hours or notices any suspicious behavior, you can immediately share the data with the police to recover your vehicles.
The best GPS tracking systems for vehicles like Route4Me’s GPS tracker don’t just tell you where your vehicle is being driven but also show how it is being driven.
The benefits of vehicle trackers do not end here. Learn the top ten benefits of GPS tracking.
How Can You Choose the Right Vehicle Tracking System?
You need to consider eight things when adopting a vehicle GPS tracking system.
Speed Alert
Make sure that the vehicle tracking system you choose comes with a speed alert feature so that you immediately know when a driver crosses the speed limit.
Supports Mobile Devices
Not all vehicle tracking solutions support mobile devices. However, if you want to access your vehicles’ activities on the go, opt for vehicle tracking software with a mobile app.
Ease of Use
Choose a user-friendly vehicle GPS tracking system that doesn’t come with a steep learning curve. You can ask for a virtual demo from the vendor before committing.
Reliable Customer Support
Opt for a vendor that allows you to contact a customer service representative whenever you need help. This support can come in helpdesk tickets, emails, how-to videos, or FAQs.
Free Trial
Go for a vehicle tracking system that offers a free trial so that you can test the waters before spending a large amount of money.
Zero Contract
Make sure that the service provider doesn’t make you a hostage by binding you to a lengthy contract.
Long-Standing Company
Ensure that the provider you opt for has been in business for a long time and has a long list of happy customers. The last thing you would want is to be their experiment, right?
Good Return on Investment
Don’t select a GPS vehicle tracking system solely based on its price. Choosing the low-cost vehicle tracking system could mean you end up with a tracking system that neither performs well nor gives you enough ROI. So, instead, choose a commercial GPS tracker that will reduce costs and make your operations more efficient.
How to Get the Most out of a Vehicle GPS Tracking System?
Here are five tips to help you get the most out of your vehicle tracking software.
Go for a Route Planner with Vehicle Tracking Capabilities
Tracking vehicles using GPS is not enough. You also need to plan accurate routes to ensure that your drivers show up on time at each customer location.
A route planner will help you plan well-optimized routes free from traffic, roadblocks, and other hazards. This will help you save travel time, reduce fuel costs, improve customer satisfaction, and ultimately increase your profits.
You just need to upload the list of addresses into the software and set some parameters. The route optimizer will then come up with 100% accurate routes with last-mile driving directions in just a few seconds.
So, go for a multi-stop route planner that comes with GPS tracking functionality to get the best of both worlds.
Want To See For Yourself How Route4Me Can Boost Your Profits?
Use the Reporting and Analytics Feature
Use the reporting and analytics feature to get your vehicles’ historical information. This will help you identify areas of improvement, control fuel expenses, and make your operations more efficient.
Set Alerts
Set up custom alerts to learn immediately when a driver crosses the speed limit or drives off route. Alerts are the most convenient way to monitor vehicles and save time on administration.
Restrict Access
Top vehicle tracking systems offer an access restriction feature to enable you set access permissions for specific users. Once these restrictions are in place, only the authorized users can access the restricted details on routes. This will strengthen your data security and help you delegate responsibilities.
Learn in detail how to get the most out of GPS tracking systems.
How to Convince Your Employees to Adopt Vehicle Tracking?
Drivers and other employees are often apprehensive about a vehicle GPS tracker as they feel their employers are implementing such a system because of a lack of trust. While it may not always be possible to eliminate the resistance, it can be reduced. Below are some simple ways to help drivers accept vehicle tracking software.
Be Honest
Transparency is critical when implementing a vehicle GPS tracking system. So, be honest about your expectations from the vehicle tracking software by informing the drivers that you want to monitor vehicle movements to increase their safety, prevent incidences of vehicle theft, reduce fuel costs, and optimize the overall operations.
Explain the Benefits
Explain the different ways in which an automatic GPS vehicle tracker for businesses can benefit them. Tell them that GPS tracking is one of the most effective ways to strengthen company operations. And it will eventually help them get stability on the job, get growth opportunities, and earn more money.
Outline the Policies
Set rules as to how the tracking will be used in the vehicles. Once your drivers understand that there are rules and policies, there should be little resistance to the new technology.
Have an Open House
Addressing their concerns and answering their questions about a vehicle tracking system will make them more comfortable. The more understood they feel, the more they will trust the process and adapt quicker.
Learn in detail about strategies to let your drivers accept vehicle tracking systems.
Conclusion about Vehicle Tracking System
Regardless of the size of your field service business, you will benefit from tracking your drivers and vehicles. So, it is no surprise that GPS trackers have quickly become a mainstay in every field service business. The amount of time, money, and resources it saves makes it a must-have tool. Are you up for it?
Want To See For Yourself How Route4Me Can Boost Your Profits?
