GPS Tracking: An Executive Summary-Who, What And Why
By: Ken Sink -
GPS vehicle tracking systems are a popular tool for business
owners; Original equipment manufacturers from General Motors to
Bobcat are including tracking systems in their vehicles. Heres some
background information to help you:
Who uses GPS tracking?
GPS tracking systems are used by businesses in the service,
transportation and manufacturing industries. Businesses of all
sizes, with fleets of 1 to thousands of vehicles, rely upon their
tracking systems to add to their profitability.
Types of businesses using GPS tracking:
* Contractors who provide HVAC, plumbing or electrical services
* Limousine and taxi companies
* Uniform / Linen Services
* Food and Beverage Distributors
* Street Sweepers
* Pest Management Services
* Snow Plow Services
* Car Carriers
* Landscaping and Irrigation contractors
* Cable Company Contractors
* Bulk and Route Delivery
* Fuel / Oil Haulers
* Hazmat and/or Chemical Haulers
* Produce / Perishable Delivery
* Utility companies
* City, county and state motor pool fleets
What is it?
GPS tracking systems consist of a device installed in the vehicle,
a central server and software for the owner to access the
information.
All GPS tracking devices use data from the U.S. Governments
constellation of Global Positioning System satellites to determine
a vehicles location, speed and direction of travel.
The tracking device transmits data from GPS satellites overhead to
a central computer server via either a communications satellite or,
more often, via the local cellular phone network. The vehicle data
is updated every 2 15 minutes, depending upon the owners
preferences and manufacturers settings.
The central server makes the tracking data available to the system
owner through the Internet. The owner logs onto the tracking
companys secure web server and sees their vehicle data on a map and
in text form. Some tracking companies make the data available for
download, so the owner could archive it on their own computer.
Why do they use it?
Users of GPS tracking systems have many reasons why theyve
installed them:
1. Tracking systems reduce vehicle costs by targeting speeding
employees, who waste fuel, cause excessive engine wear and
ultimately, drive up insurance rates.
2. Using the system's automatic mileage reminder reduces downtime
and enhances vehicle resale values by encouraging scheduled,
preventative maintenance. Your tracking system will remind you when
it's time to rotate tires, change oil or perform other scheduled
maintenance.
3. Many insurance companies offer discounts of up to 30% for
vehicles protected with tracking systems.
4. Productivity is improved by:
a. documenting long lunch hours,
b. exposing unauthorized breaks,
c. comparing driver overtime requests with system reports of driver
activity,
d. logging personal vehicle use after hours or on weekends.
5. GPS tracking systems improve customer service by showing you
which employee is closest to the client who just called. WOW your
customers--give them precise arrival or delivery estimates, based
upon the actual location of your vehicles at the moment they
call.
6. Your system can tell you the exact time and date each employee
reached each customer. If a customer questions when your employee
arrived or left --prove it to them.
7. Is one employee more productive than another? --Check the data.
Is it time to add a vehicle? --Use your system and there's no more
guessing.
8. Use your system to correlate overtime performed with your
employees' overtime requests. See who is putting in extra time.
9. Never make another phone call to find out where your employees
say they are.
10. Simplify asset management by displaying everything on one
computer screen. Make work easier for your dispatcher.
11. Tracking systems work without any input from the driver. No
driver logs needed.
Purchasers of GPS vehicle tracking systems say they recover their
investment in an average of six 12 months, by both reducing
expenses and improving productivity. While some users recoup their
entire investment at one time by recovering a stolen vehicle, most
users are repaid more gradually.
Ken Sink, owner of My Vehicle WatchDog, is a veteran with 20+ years of transportation experience, including fleet management of over 800 vehicles. Visit www.MyVehicleWatchDog.Info for more information about GPS vehicle tracking systems from Fleet Management Solutions, Networkfleet and Sprint/Nextel.
Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com