Managing and maintaining a fleet of vehicles can be a challenge. Things like driver training can be planned for, while regular servicing and repairs are easily solved, but having complete control over your fleet when they’re out on the road is a different proposition altogether.
However, GPS fleet tracking aims to address these issues. Not only can this technological addition bring driver and vehicle benefits, it has the potential to increase the business’s overall success too.
1. Increase in driver productivity
Knowing whether your drivers are being as productive as they can be is a guessing game, but GPS fleet tracking eliminates the need to speculate or surmise.
If your employees know that they are being closely monitored, their performance will undoubtedly increase. You can pinpoint a driver’s exact location, see whether the quickest routes are being taken and make sure they’re not taking unnecessary breaks.
Your drivers may already be performing the job admirably, but you’ll know for certain with GPS fleet tracking.
2. Enhanced driver safety
Even if your drivers need to make an urgent delivery or get a job done quickly, going over the speed limit will increase the chances of having an accident. In the event of a collision, your driver could be injured and off work for a prolonged period of time.
But with GPS fleet tracking, you can audit driving habits and be alerted of speeding or erratic driving. Two-way communication and direct assistance between drivers and dispatchers can also be established. As a result, safety will improve.
This also includes the well-being of fellow road users and pedestrians too, as incidents involving innocent individuals could have damaging consequences for the business.
3. Be alerted to unauthorised private use
Again, you may implicitly trust your drivers, but there is every chance they’re using vehicles outside of normal working hours. This type of behaviour has a number of ramifications, none of which are beneficial to your business.
In addition to delivering unauthorised movement alerts, GPS fleet tracking can also analyse historical routes to see whether vehicles have deviated from their designated course. Therefore, drivers will be discouraged from running personal errands while using company vehicles.
4. Locate stolen vehicles
Although a lot will depend on the type of vehicles in your fleet and the nature of the business, theft is an ever-present issue. Modern vehicles have an abundance of security features, but these aren’t enough sometimes.
Thankfully, GPS fleet tracking can locate any stolen vehicle wherever it may be. This information can be passed on to the police, who will deal with the issue and hopefully return the vehicle.
This is a particularly valuable feature for fleet operators with expensive vehicles and interior assets.
5. Timecard validation
Are you suspicious of your drivers’ working hours? Or are you spending too much on wages every month? Both of these issues can be addressed with GPS fleet tracking.
By knowing the exact time each driver starts and ends work, you can be sure that employees are getting paid what they deserve. Drivers may work harder and you could save money on unnecessary expenditure as a result.
Another benefit of timecard validation is that you’ll know if drivers are on the road too much, similar to tachographs on HGVs.
6. Increased revenue
With the ability to oversee every aspect of daily operations, you can plan and prepare jobs thoroughly. That means more assignments can be added and revenues will increase.
Research suggests that companies can complete 25 per cent more work orders with GPS tracking. Even though you’ll need to kit out each vehicle with the appropriate systems, more revenue is bound to cover this expense.
7. Reduced labour costs
With GPS fleet tracking, you’ll have numerous tools at your disposal to analyse and examine the behaviour and movements of your drivers. By increasing the efficiency of vehicles and eliminating certain driver related problems, you can reduce labour costs too.
In fact, a study by Motorola found that companies save an average of $5,484 (just over £3,200) per employee, per year, by implementing GPS tracking. This is yet another reason why the initial outlay of installation and execution will be worth it in the long run.
8. Reduced fuel costs
In addition to workforce related expenditure, Motorola also found that significant amounts of money could be saved when it comes to filling up at the pumps too. In its research study, this was the biggest benefit for organisations currently using GPS technology.
As a consequence of reducing travel distances by optimising existing routes, companies in the report achieved an average of $51,582 (over £30,000) in annual fuel savings. This figure would certainly go a long way to paying for GPS implementation.
9. Reduced carbon footprint
There are various aspects of GPS tracking that contribute to a reduced carbon footprint, which are all existing benefits anyway.
Harmful emissions will come down from efficient routes, less vehicle idling and improved driving habits. On top of that, GPS tracking can also include maintenance reminders, which will let you know when vehicles need to be serviced.
Once GPS vehicle tracking company found that all customers saved about 7 million gallons of fuel a year thanks to its systems, which is the equivalent of 24 thousand tonnes of greenhouse gases.
10. Improved customer service
It is not only the business that benefits from GPS tracking; customers will appreciate this technology too.
Numerous couriers and carriers already have extensive systems in place to let recipients know when a package will be delivered, but GPS technology can be utilised by all manner of different businesses.
From letting customers know when a plumber will be round to fix the toilet to locating the nearest taxi driver, there are several potential applications.
11. Extended vehicle life
More often than not, vehicles will be one of the company’s most valuable and expensive assets. As such, you’ll want them to last as long as possible. With GPS tracking, you can extend the life of your vehicles and reduce downtime thanks to maintenance alerts and remote diagnostics.
Any potential mechanical problems can be identified quickly before they develop into bigger, more expensive issues. Furthermore, alerts or messages will notify you when certain vehicles require a service, which is crucial for extending the life of your fleet.
12. Reduced insurance premiums
Owing to the fact you can control driver behaviour, lower accident rates and locate stolen vehicles, substantial savings can be made with fleet insurance.
Even though this is an unwanted yet essential expense, GPS technology makes any outlay a little bit easier to handle. Let your insurance provider know that you’ve installed telematic devices and be willing to hand over evidence of improved driver safety.
One GPS tracking company says that you can save up to 15 per cent on premiums, but a lot will depend on the insurance company you work with.
13. Improved invoicing
Invoicing can be quite a tiresome process and it is easy to make simple yet significant mistakes. But GPS technology can make invoicing responsibilities much more streamlined and straightforward.
You can determine the frequency and duration of visits or record the date and time of deliveries. Although this is beneficial for invoicing, it may also come in handy if there are any disputes with customers.
14. Optimise financial management
While GPS fleet tracking enables you to save money in relation to vehicle running costs and employee expenditure, the financial benefits of this technology do not stop there.
From creating detailed profit and loss forecasts to improved accountability and better budget preparation, financial management can be optimised. If any department is worried about investing in GPS technology, this will dispel even the most sceptical or cynical fears.
In summary…
Whichever way you look at it, GPS fleet tracking will undoubtedly benefit the entire business. Even if it might cost a lot to install and implemented, it will soon start paying for itself.
Whether you want to improve driver behaviour, increase safety, reduce running costs or simply make more money, GPS tracking is the answer. Besides, several GPS advantages have additional rewards too, which any business would gladly welcome with open arms. Therefore, you should seriously consider putting this technology into action, as the undeniable benefits are seemingly endless.
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