What is a GPS vehicle locator? How does it work, and how do these devices help businesses?
These and the following questions are just some of the most frequently asked by businessmen looking for ways and tools to boost their business. Because we want to help you achieve your goals, here are answers that will help you choose the tool fit for your needs as a business owner.
What is a GPS vehicle locator, and what information will it provide?
A GPS vehicle locator is a tracking device that utilizes the GPS (global positioning system) to locate a vehicle or object and monitor its movement. Aside from location, the GPS vehicle locator can also provide other data such as the vehicle’s travel speed and routes. The GPS vehicle locator can be hardwired to the vehicle. This allows you to remotely monitor and even control vehicle operations such as locking and unlocking doors, disabling a vehicle’s starter, starting or stopping ignition, and monitoring downtime. You can also set parameters to activate alerts. For example, if you establish a virtual fence or speed limit and your parameters are disregarded, you will then receive a notification.
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How can I effectively use a GPS vehicle locator for my business?
If you are in a delivery business or if you use two or more vehicles for your business, you will probably need help to improve the efficiency and safety of your vehicles, as well as maximize your assets. Here’s what a GPS vehicle tracking system can do.
Enhance vehicle route planning
The use of a GPS vehicle locator will give you better route options for your drivers. This will reduce the time your driver has to spend on the road, resulting in faster delivery arrival and lesser fuel expenses.
Improve dispatching method
With a GPS vehicle locator, you will be able to accommodate late customer orders and requests by finding the closest available vehicle in the area of your client.
Improve driver productivity
Various studies show that when field employees are aware that their performance are being tracked, including their driving behavior, they are most likely to follow rules, therefore improving their productivity.
Keep employees safe
One of the simplest and most effective ways of keeping your workforce safe is through the use of a GPS vehicle locator. An app or tracker with an SOS button can send an alarm message to the administrator, informing them of emergencies.
Secure assets
The GPS vehicle locator will send out an alert the moment your vehicle is moved out of its position without your permission, ensuring quicker recovery in case of theft.
Track employee efficiency and work time
You will also be able to monitor your employees’ productivity—which of them are efficient and which are not. The tracking system can record the number and duration of each downtime, as well as unauthorized usage of company assets as proofs. All you have to do is either have a GPS tracking app installed on your employee’s mobile device or have your employees carry stand-alone GPS devices. Just geofence the building where your business is, and once an employee arrives at the building, the app or the GPS tracker will activate and start tracking their time.
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Set up areas of coverage
If you run any business that deals with fieldwork, you can easily set up areas of coverage for different teams and workers. Simply use your GPS map, divide your town, geofence each area, and assign teams and workers to each one. This way, your teams will be more efficient and there won’t be any mix ups. Each task will be allocated to an employee in a specific area of coverage, and all information can be easily checked and kept track of.
Coordinate with your workforce
GPS tracking guarantees the easier coordination of your workforce. All of your employees can be visible on a map, and by knowing where each of them is, you can create delivery routes or use their location to arrange for a better service. For example, if you own a plumbing business, track your workers and maximize their efficiency by sending them appointments nearest to their location.
Assign clients/tasks to specific employees
With a GPS vehicle locator, you can identify specific tasks or clients most suited to your employees. For instance, if you own a taxi company and notice that one of your employees has the greatest number of fares when assigned to a specific part of town, you can help keep certain drivers assigned to that specific part of town, helping them earn more while also increasing your profits.
Manage your fleet
GPS trackers are not only used to optimize routes but can be used to manage your whole fleet. See which employee is on the move or what driver is waiting for their next assignment at the base. With GPS tracking, you can check out all routes, see departure and arrival times, and assign new deliveries through its communication capabilities in order to optimize your fleets’ deliveries.
Set up customized shift hours
Some employees are more efficient in the morning, others at night. In order to maximize performance, you can suggest to certain employees that they can work in shifts in order to achieve the greatest level of productivity.
Simplify communication with employees
Get a GPS tracking app with a messaging feature. This way, all employees who have the app can communicate among themselves. Administrators can also look at the map and find agents who are closest to the next assignment and send them on this assignment, instead of calling out all drivers and waiting for someone to answer. In the event that someone needs help with their task, they can just open the app, select the coworker closest to their location, and message them in order to get the help required.
Optimize asset productivity
Your company’s assets include your employees, your equipment, and your money, and you have to make sure that all assets are used in the best way possible. If you own a shipping business, use GPS vehicle trackers to find out the most efficient way and day to ship goods. Through tracking your shipments, you may discover that Tuesdays are the slowest day of the week and that sacrificing one day by moving all Tuesday shipments to Wednesday may save you a lot of money.
If you own a chain of grocery stores, you can optimize resupplies by tracking supply routes and finding patterns. For instance, if some of your stores run out of cereals and water in a span of days, you can organize shipments that contain only those two products, keeping your customers happy and making sure each stockroom is filled with the needed goods. Maybe some other stores run out of coffee and oranges on the same day of the week? There’s an idea for your next optimized shipment route.
Are GPS vehicle locators difficult to install?
While there are GPS vehicle locators that are complicated and need additional configuration before using, there are some GPS vehicle locators like Trackimo that are out-of-the-box, ready-to-use tracking units. Just plug the device into your vehicle port, turn it on, and you can start tracking.
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If you need help installing it, we have posted a guide to help you out.
Do I have to maintain the software that is used by the GPS vehicle locator?
No, it’s not your responsibility anymore. Trackimo has the system that supports your GPS vehicle locator. There’s no need to download it. You can access it online anytime using your Internet-connected computer for free!
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