Fleetr, a Jooycar company, is the leader in small fleet management and insurance solutions. We have built an AI-powered platform that provides actionable insights to fleet owners with our GPS tracker. We are proud to serve nearly 40,000 connected vehicles via our OBD II device with affordable and easy solutions across several countries. We believe in the power of telematics and big data to address the pressing needs of the small fleet owner and are working tirelessly to reduce costs, improve efficiency and increase safety.
Vehicle Tracking Devices: What Features to Look for in a Small Business Fleet GPS Tracking Device
In an ever-changing environment, competition is stiff, and each company wants its share of the pie. It would be hard for businesses to survive if they weren’t sure about what was happening.
Hence, companies devised innovative ways to track their property to maintain efficiency and improve customer service. One of these innovative methods includes using GPS systems to determine vehicle location.
In contrast, another means might include taking photographs every day or two so drivers can document how much time they’ve spent on the road. Service-based companies need GPS systems to communicate effectively without being interrupted by other business matters.
Moreover, companies require real-time information regarding delivering goods, whether that’s over 50 miles away or right next door. This new information could not only save money but increase profits at the end of the day because delivery drivers will be able to know what they’ll run into before they arrive at certain locations.
That said, let’s look at how GPS fleet tracking can help you maximize the use of your vehicle in your small business
What Is A GPS Tracker
A GPS tracker is an integrated system comprising hardware and software. A physical device plugs into a vehicle depending on the model, the type or kind of assets being tracked, and preferred features.
There are two ways in which these can be installed – either using wires to hardwire it into an asset or by plugging it into your car’s Integrated On-Board Diagnostic (IOD) port. Either way, they share the same technology – utilizing satellites from the Global Navigation Satellite Systems Network (GNSN). GNSN calculates where you are based on your latitude, longitude, and elevation.
GPS Tracking for Small Business
Tracking company vehicles have many benefits. Whether it’s simply checking who was near a specific customer at what time or if someone had driven over the allotted speed limit – this system provides reassurance while offering protection.
With GPS tracking, an owner can know that every truck goes where they say they did on their route while monitoring who is driving in real-time and how long they spend idling at each stop.
A small investment of 10 bucks/day lets employers keep tabs on employees’ miles traveled, idle time, destination status & all-important TPS (Time spent per stop). Plus, there are user-defined alerts for things such as hard braking events – because nobody wants to spend money unnecessarily!
To find out what you need from a fleet management system, try comparing features like automatic turn notifications, so supervisors don’t overlook anything, geo zones that sound alarms when trucks leave remote warehouses/locations, and more!
Keep in mind that GPS tracking is more than just a means of continually monitoring employees. It is also vital for fleet management, workforce efficiency, and forward-thinking.
Modern systems such as those available at Fleetr are both easy to set up and affordable – requiring no specialized technical know-how; all you need is an internet connection on your smartphone or tablet.
Business owners now don’t even have to be near their establishments to understand what is happening inside them. Every last inch can be meticulously looked over via remote control thousands of miles away!
The Importance of Fleet Management
Technology has changed the way small businesses run, and managing fleets of vehicles are no different. Not taking advantage of these options in your daily operations means you’re missing out on an opportunity to increase efficiency and save money.
The software allows you to keep tabs on your assets and helps with fuel management, delivery route optimization, communication between drivers and headquarters, and long-term logistical planning.
Information is power; by utilizing telematics software, you’re opening up a new door for data and other information about managing your fleet of cars or any other asset involved in this process.
GPS Fleet Tracking Hardware and Software enable one to monitor their company’s fleet of cars, which includes monitoring its location(s) as well as how it/they are being operated
What Does GPS Fleet Tracking Software Do?
GPS Fleet Tracking software monitors vehicles as they travel from one destination to another – providing relevant feedback on vehicle diagnostics, maintenance tracking, and safe driving behaviors.
Drivers who excessively brake or accelerate, turn too hard or accelerate too quickly will be recorded in the system, allowing you to monitor their driving habits. One of the most important features offered by this technology is the ability to report idling times, which helps improve fuel efficiency.
All these software features provide an easy way to keep up-to-date with your fleet and get insight into the driving habits of its drivers. They also come equipped with dispatching tools and scheduling functions which further streamline work processes.
Moreover, most vehicle tracking systems are preloaded with customer service benefits, such as accident tracking, roadside assistance, anti-theft service, time clocks, and attendance tracking – all tailored to increase customer satisfaction.
How to Choose a Fleet Tracking Software for Your Small Business
To choose the fleet management software that’s best for your small business, start by evaluating what features it offers. You want to ensure the system you select is compatible with your company’s needs. A standard offering should contain the following:
- Integration with fuel cards
- Driver safety tracking
- Dashboard-based metrics reporting
- Communication and navigation options
- Ongoing customer support
Some companies offer additional features as part of a standard package or at an added charge.
Other Key Features to Look For
Modern GPS tracking systems provide some of the safest driving conditions out there. These systems have transformed massively to fit today’s drivers and road safety needs, providing next-gen features that are revolutionary!
From SOS alarms to real-time fuel monitoring, these new cutting-edge options are unlike anything else on the market.
But what is the most important feature?
Real-Time Location Tracking
Real-time location tracking is the most fundamental and probably even the most crucial feature that each GPS solution should have. With this, fleet managers can stay up-to-date about their automobiles, drivers, and other assets at any given moment.
This makes it possible for them to quickly respond to emergencies and recover cars or merchandise fast in the event of theft. While not all tracking solutions offer real-time positioning, some providers provide periodic updates for their GPS monitoring devices.
You get reports two to three minutes after activities happen, so it’s critical to ensure your monitor has real-time reporting abilities.
Customizable Alerts
In addition to standard real-time location tracking, many fleet owners find that investing in a GPS with real-time alerts yields some of the best benefits. A reliable transport fleet GPS solution should be capable of sending out customizable alerts at least once every few hours; ideally, those messages would come through in near-real time to keep everyone up to date on everything happening throughout their day. Customizable options for these alerts include but are not limited to:
- Route deviation
- Long idle times
- Needless stoppage alerts
- Vehicle maintenance
- Over speeding alerts
That said, note that These alerts may play an integral role in streamlining operations, reducing operational costs, and fostering business growth. For instance, long-idle alerts could reduce fuel wastage, while route deviation alerts can help prevent theft.
Driver Behavior Monitoring
Monitoring driving behavior is one of the most important things an employer can do to ensure maximum efficiency and productivity. This includes enforcing safe driving habits, which reduces the number of car accidents.
However, your GPS fleet tracker must have a driver monitoring feature that gives you visibility into various driving behavior patterns, such as acceleration, harsh braking, idling time, etc. With this data, employers can advise their drivers or even enforce measures designed to promote safety on the road.
Historical Reports
A GPS tracker should give you all the data and reporting capabilities that your company needs. Historical Reports can help you identify where improvements are needed in your business. A good GPS tracker should offer a record of the past 90 days, including the following:
- Excessive idling time
- Speeding violations
- Summary of a vehicle starts and stops
- Total distance traveled
- Vehicle utilization and maintenance
Moreover, many modern GPS systems come equipped with dashboards for viewing graphical reports on this data; you can make data-driven decisions for your business by analyzing it.
Mobile Fleet Tracking
Today’s technology has made it possible for people to work remotely and on the go. Dispatch managers require tracking solutions that will enable them to monitor their fleet and drivers from a smartphone.
Finding solutions compatible with multiple devices is vital – giving you the same ease of use as if you were using a desktop. To simplify your search process, we recommend seeking out GPS trackers which offer mobile phone compatibility.
If you need assistance finding a suitable GPS tracker for your vehicle or any other transportation device, Fleetr can help.
Route Optimization and Scheduling
Today’s vehicle tracking system relieves companies from the headache of having to use pen and paper to plan out routes. Overlapping routes, long trips, or no closest car sent to the customer were all problems before implementing vehicle tracking technology.
Vehicle tracking automated dispatch makes it easy for drivers since they can receive their entire route information at the start of each day. The most efficient and cost-effective routes are arranged, which include details like customer requests or other unique considerations.
Vehicle tracking systems simplify communication by eliminating one key step of interaction – phone calls while simultaneously increasing productivity and maintaining a high level of customer service by improving arrival times (which is what most clients want). With improved efficiency comes increased revenue for the company.
Route optimization follows naturally after vehicle tracking systems. Route optimization takes traffic patterns, accidents, road work, bridge heights, and other factors that affect routes to determine how to best get from point A to point B.
As a result of this process, you can improve your response times, reduce mileage and fuel consumption, fit more jobs in during one shift, provide better customer service, plus much more.
By utilizing real-time data about current conditions, it becomes possible for an individual to make educated decisions that keep them efficient and meet customer expectations.
Vehicle Maintenance Scheduling
Vehicles are the cornerstone of your operation, so ensuring they stay up and running will always be a top priority. And One way to ensure their tiptop condition is using vehicle tracking systems that can monitor their health, providing real-time data on issues before they become emergencies.
With this capability, you’ll be able to spot new maintenance issues and address them immediately while ensuring all vehicles have had proper upkeep and scheduled regular inspections.
If one or multiple vehicles were out of commission for an extended period, your company would suffer greatly from its lack of productivity, making it crucial that each vehicle has received the necessary service when needed to prevent repeated repairs on neglected matters.
Measuring Vehicle Utilization
Utilization is becoming one of the most important metrics when it comes to vehicle usage. Tracking which vehicles are being used – especially those in shared service operations – can tell you if you have too many or too few cars available.
Fleet Tracking Systems will give you these stats, but trying to come up with them without the software would perpetuate inefficiencies, which can put more money towards unused cars and other resources instead.
Vehicle Tracking Systems offer complete visibility into your fleet, including data on what kind of efficiency each car needs improvement. This might mean choosing between getting rid of unused cars and finding ways to optimize them.
What to Consider When Choosing a GPS Device for Your Small Business
Here are some essential factors you should consider when choosing the best GPS device for your business.
- Real-time location tracking and Geofencing
- Operations
- Maintenance
- Driver management
- Sustainability
- Compliance
- Efficiency
- Insurance
Security Benefits of GPS Trackers for a Business Fleet
Installing GPS trackers on your company’s fleet of vehicles or assets allows you to monitor the whereabouts of each vehicle and driver, helping reduce risk from theft, accidents, and abuse.
Most GPS trackers come with a geofencing feature that lets you define an established perimeter for your fleet. If a tracked vehicle breaches this boundary line, you are notified about it.
Geofences allow managers to see if drivers stay within assigned areas without deviating from danger zones such as unapproved locations or unsafe territories. Trackers also generate reports detailing probable safe driving routes based on analyzed data from previous trips
Why Is Fleetr Considered One of the Best GPS Tracking Systems for Small Businesses
Fleetr systems are made to be personalized. If you need a GPS tracking system for your small business to meet your specific needs, then this is one of the best solutions.
No matter what type of information you need to be updated, whether delivered consistently or sporadically, these systems will let you make those decisions yourself.
It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for a real-time map of where deliveries are being made. This is an amazing way to keep track of all company activity while freeing up so much time in other areas of running said company!
Another way to get the most out of small businesses’ best GPS tracking system is by setting customized alert parameters. Set up your device so that you are notified once a driver goes off-course.
If they spend too much time idling at one spot or using the company vehicle for other activities than what was authorized by management. One such system is Smart fleet – the best GPS tracking system for small businesses because it maximizes profits and minimizes costs related to fuel consumption while still ensuring customer satisfaction through improving customer service levels.
So, if you’ve been in the market for the best and have been looking for a GPS tracking system for your small business, Fleetr should be your go-to option. With its easy integration with existing enterprise applications and unparalleled customization options, there’s no doubt that this GPS solution will give you an edge over your competition.
Contact Fleetr to Find the Best GPS Tracking Devices for Your Fleet
With the wide range of fleet trackers we offer and their many benefits, Fleetr is a reliable supplier for your tracking needs. We design our fleet trackers to be long-lasting and offer a steady stream of information to our linking software.
Our user-friendly software allows you to access historical data about your fleet, allowing you to make informed decisions based on what works best financially for you and your company. Browse through our selection of GPS Trackers today! If you are looking for help choosing or need more information about what product would work best for your company’s specific needs, feel free to request a quote from us today!
