Modern-day GPS van trackers are highly evolved from their original 1970s versions. What was once a military technology is now widely available to the public. When a device contains a GPS tracker, its speed, direction, and location can be identified in both real-time and historical ways.As GPS technology developed, it became a popular option to incorporate a GPS van tracker into commercial vehicle fleets. While some companies originally hesitated to invest in the up-front costs of installation, many companies saw the long-term benefits of having van trackers installed in their fleets.But what are the benefits to having a van tracker incorporated into your fleet?
How Your Company Benefits from GPS Fleet Trackers
GPS technology not only allows you to monitor employees’ driving habits but also enhances the security of its fleet by monitoring location. Installing GPS vehicle trackers into commercial fleets has proven results that demonstrate improvements in both fleet performance and employee accountability.As the roads become more crowded, it is important that employees practice safe driving habits. Installing trackers gives employers the ability to ensure that safety is a top priority. Safe driving not only ensures the safety of other drivers on the road, but it also protects the employees and company fleet.Monitoring a vehicle’s location can also help increase your company’s productivity. If fleet vehicles are used for delivery purposes, monitoring their location can improve efficiency. A company can identify which fleet vehicles are in a delivery cycle versus which are finished and returning to a hub. Van GPS trackers can also help identify traffic congestion and which routes to avoid. GPS trackers don’t just save companies time; they save them money.An excellent example of the benefits of GPS van tracking is ride-sharing services. Understanding which vehicles are in proximity to a customer allows the company to maximise their employee’s time and serve the most customers possible. Delivery-based companies can also benefit from installing trackers. With the trackers, these companies are able to maximise delivery routes and keep track of fleet vehicles throughout their route. The trackers can also identify the number of stops on a route.
How Does a GPS Tracker Work?
Developed in the 1970s for the military, GPS (or Global Positioning System) uses a series of satellite systems to monitor a tracker’s position. A constellation of over 30 GPS satellites is in orbit around the earth. These satellites constantly emit a radio signal to detect the position of the GPS trackers on Earth’s surface. As long as any tracker is able to receive the signal of at least four individual satellites, its location, speed, and direction of movement can be identified.Because GPS navigation relies on radio waves, it is relatively weak and can be affected by physical obstructions (such as mountains or buildings). However, most GPS trackers have technology built in that helps to magnify the signal and overcome this challenge.GPS trackers can track both historical and real-time data. Companies can examine long-term driving habits through historical data. They can also monitor current road and driving conditions using GPS fleet trackers. Many GPS trackers are now equipped with software that can deliver mobile and email-based updates.
Why are GPS Van Trackers So Useful?
GPS van trackers don’t just benefit the company, but the drivers too. Vehicles with any kind of GPS van tracking tool usually have a locking system that can be activated remotely in case of an emergency. If a van is stolen while the driver is busy elsewhere, they can report in and ask for the vehicle to be locked down, preventing the thief from leaving or being able to access the cargo. Combined with the tracking system, this also makes it much easier to alert the police to the theft, making it far easier to recover the vehicle even if the van is abandoned. While delivery efficiency is one benefit, so too is fuel efficiency. Knowing which direction a driver is heading makes it a lot easier to understand whether they are using up more fuel than necessary, this can make a big difference to small businesses that don’t have the time or resources to waste fuel they can’t afford.
Are GPS Van Tracking Systems Ethical?
There have been ethical concerns over whether or not the idea of a GPS system is appropriate, however it’s considered more ethical than many other tracking systems. Some companies may force employees to install search history loggers or have tracking apps on their phones, both which are types of software that can directly interfere with their personal life. Van trackers are installed on vehicles that the company owns, making them less of an invasion of privacy.The reason that this can be more ethical comes down to the fact that GPS only tracks position. The company can see where employees go during work hours to monitor and protect the company property, but outside of work hours, this information isn't as important. Since the system doesn't go with the employee when they leave the vehicle, it's focused on the van itself and acts as a security system instead of a spying tool.
Is It Worth Using a GPS Van Tracker on One Vehicle?
Whilst most van trackers are meant for a fleet of vehicles, that doesn't always have to be the case. If you only have a single delivery vehicle, a GPS tracker is still just as effective, with the only difference being that you don't have to coordinate multiple vehicles at the same time. It will still offer the same security and navigation benefits: in fact, having a good GPS system can be even more important if you only have one vehicle, since losing it can be a much more severe blow to your business.The same can be said for companies that only use a vehicle on certain occasions, rather than as part of their daily operations. Just because you don’t use a vehicle doesn’t mean that it’s any less important, having proper security and tracking measures in place still matters. Since most GPS van trackers are fairly inexpensive and don’t take long to install, it’s often a cheaper alternative to a more expensive security system.
Can GPS Van Trackers Work For My Own Car?
You can also use GPS van trackers on personal vehicles as a more extreme security measure if you’re worried about theft. This can be really useful for people who keep all of their important equipment in their vehicle, such as contractors, freelancers or office workers that constantly move between sites. If your personal vehicle is stolen and you don’t have a way of tracking it, recovering the van or car can take a long time, and you never know if you’ll get all of the contents back. With a GPS system, you can see exactly where the car is in real-time.
Are GPS Van Trackers Right for Your Company?
If you’re interested in enhancing the security and safety of your van fleet, then GPS van trackers are an affordable solution. Installing GPS trackers into your fleet not only allows you to monitor driving habits; it also allows you to improve efficiency and serve a greater number of customers. GPS fleet trackers have helped countless companies drive profitability through improved efficiency.For more information Contact us today
