Vehicle Tracking Systems used to be exclusive to larger companies who could afford them. Now, however, thanks to technological advances and the subsequent drop in prices, Vehicle Tracking is a facility that is open to companies of any size, who use fleets of cars, lorries and other vehicles. Yet, for many, the idea of fleet tracking is a new one and its unfamiliarity could mean that they are losing out on the many benefits it can provide.
Information is the key to running any successful fleet of vehicles, from taxis to couriers and delivery vehicles. At any given time, an operator should be able to say exactly where vehicles from the fleet are and this information can also be relayed onto clients. In addition, an operator should be able to verify a vehicle’s mileage against its fuel consumption and have an idea of when a driver is taking a break, ensuring that they are getting the required rest on long-haul journeys. This information is the foundation of good fleet management.
Using Vehicle Tracking Systems, it is possible to monitor these factors – and a few more besides. In today’s economic climate, a crucial part of fleet management is to ascertain whether fuel is being wasted or not. With the recent escalation of fuel-prices, every drop is important; misuse of fuel can put a small firm out of business. Vehicle Tracking also allows operators to know that a driver is where he says he is and even puts them in the position of being able to alert that driver to potential road problems or to simply find a more direct route. Economy of mileage also means economy of fuel and, as well as having obvious financial benefits, it can also be a step in the right direction to reducing a company’s carbon footprint.
Vehicle Tracking systems can also reduce the amount of ‘hanging around’ that many drivers have to do. In the event that a vehicle has made its destination ahead of schedule, the operator may be able to put that vehicle to good use in its current vicinity, rather than have it waiting for the next job. Using the system this way can not only increase a company’s efficiency, but also its productivity; efficiency can increase a client’s trust in a company and has the potential to lead to greater sales.
The vehicles themselves are major capital investment for the company and, despite insurance, the damage or theft of a vehicle can cause serious problems for the fleet who have to work to compensate for the absence of that car, lorry or bike. Vehicle Tracking not only makes it easier to recover stolen vehicles, it also makes it possible to reconstruct accidents more accurately. Faulty vehicles can be reached more quickly and those that run out of supplies or parts can be replenished with greater effectiveness.
While Vehicle Tracking Systems may not be initially popular with all those who have them installed, they can only benefit the company which, in turn, can only benefit its employees. The preconceptions of it being a tool with which to spy on people are being replaced by a more perceptive attitude that views Vehicle Tracking Systems as impartial collators of information that can be useful to both employers and employees alike.
