Are System Trackers and Vehicle Trackers the Same?

In the ever increasingly technological world of asset tracking, things can get a tad confusing especially if you’re not the most familiar with some of the advanced industry terminology.

Fear not, at Fleetsmart we’re experts in vehicle and asset tracking solutions, ready to help you optimise the protection and management of the things most important to your business.

What Is A Vehicle tracker?

Vehicle tracking is a process of asset management via the means of Telematics. Telematics technology is the use of telecommunications and informatics to monitor an asset, eg. company vehicle’s location, safety metrics and engine diagnostics in real time.

How Do Telematics Work?

Telematics systems gather GPS tracking and vehicle specific data to transfer via means including- cellular network, satellite communication, mobile data, and GPRS to a central server. The data collated is then ready for clear and simple analyses via smartphone app or computer device.

Is This The Same As A System Tracker?

Essentially yes, a vehicle tracker is often referred to as a ‘system tracker’, however, a system tracker may also refer to the software or digital tracking of stationary or non-mobile inventory or assets, it depends on how the owner wants to implicate the method.

If a relevant system tracker is applied to a mobile asset such as a company car the process would be basically identical to that of Telematics deployment. Other ways in which a system tracker may be used for stationary assets can include-

• Keeping track of inventory or supply numbers
• Converting a filing system to electronic form and managing via specific software
• RFID (radio frequency identification) to recognise corresponding barcode attachments i.e, large quantities of books in a library

In the majority of cases though, a system tracker is a misnomer for people referring to a ‘vehicle tracking system’.

Is Using A Vehicle Tracker Beneficial?

Deploying our Fleetsmart Telematics software as part of mobile asset management can be hugely beneficial, not only for security purposes, but also in terms of efficiency and productivity boosting factors.

These can include-

• Accurate Tracking Paired With Geo-Fence Alerts - Our GPS tracking systems offer accurate, minute by minute mapping to within 5m of a vehicle at any given time. This gives business owners the confidence of knowing the location of expensive assets no matter what the situation. Geo-fences are a virtual perimeter that will let you be alerted any time a tracker enters or exits an area you choose. Location-aware notifications such as geo-fencing alerts are said to be ten times more effective than standard push notifications.

• Improved Safety - Telematics help improve general road safety by tracking hazardous driving habits such as illegal acts, low seat belt usage, harsh braking and speeding. This not only helps prevent future accidents but journey replay can also provide video evidence of any disputed incidents that do occur, cutting down investigation time and false claims. The ability to analyse these metrics will allow you to pre-identify any potentially problematic repeat behaviour, avoiding continued misuse of your assets. These valuable insights not only help improve safety and reduce accident costs, but also cut costs of any legal proceedings for your business.

• Proactive Preventative Maintenance - A Telematics system can also gauge potential maintenance needs and allow for repair time to be allocated in advance rather than cut into productivity hours. Early detection of issues can lead to preventative maintenance, saving time and money as well as meeting crucial third party vehicle safety compliance requirements.

• Reduces Fuel Costs - Telematics help optimise operational expenditure by improving efficiency of routing. Superior vehicle tracking leads to improved routing by avoiding congestion/accidents which in turn streamlines journey travel times, ultimately providing better fuel economy by reducing how much fuel is needed for any one journey.

By incorporating Telematics to your asset vehicles you may also reduce your insurance rates, as the usage of vehicle tracking systems is often seen as a proactive theft prevention measure, and is rewarded by discounted premiums.

Should I Use Telematics?

It’s proven that Telematics can help boost productivity, employee efficiency and vehicle operations as a whole; all the while reducing hazardous driver behaviour, fuel consumption and vehicle maintenance costs.

Fleetsmart offer a range of the latest Telematics technology at extremely cost effective prices with scalable options starting from just £6.95 per vehicle per month.

With a clear multitude of performance enhancing and money saving reasons to implement telematics to your vehicles, now might be the time to upgrade your vehicles.

Get in contact with us today!