When you come to choose a fleet tracking system that's right for your business, there's a lot you need to consider. After all, it's a significant investment and you need to make sure that you get solutions which are appropriate for your business. No doubt you have all manner of questions you want to ask so we've assembled this FAQ guide, to help address some of the most important.
What does a fleet tracking system offer my business?
In short, GPS fleet tracking technology makes it easier to manage a fleet of vehicles effectively. It provides managers with a diverse range of information from the location of individual vehicles (tracked in real time) to monitoring fuel usage and driver performance. It can also help to significantly cut fuel costs through more effective route planning, optimise vehicle use, increase business productivity, improve driver behaviour (which equates to fewer incidents), and potentially reduce insurance premiums.
How easy is it to introduce a fleet tracking system?
The technology has been adopted by fleet operators across a huge range of sectors, which is largely due to the simplicity of implementation. Installation is quick and the cost should be covered within subscription. Good software is user friendly, and after a short training session, it should be up and running. It is worth noting that businesses who fully disclose to their employees that tracking technology is being implemented see a stronger return on investment.
How do I go about choosing the right provider?
There's a number of fleet tracking and telematics providers for you to choose from, so it's important to give careful consideration to the question of which one is right. The first thing that should be done is to fully understand what the business objectives are, and what they may be in the future. Installing fleet tracking can have a positive impact on different stakeholders, and we advocate engaging with Operations, Finance and HR teams especially. Once a clear objective has been established within the company, choosing a system becomes easier.
How do I know if a fleet tracking system is right for my industry?
Suitable fleet tracking systems vary between different firms in different industries. Depending on the size, companies may want to focus attention on reducing fuel bills, or they may want to plan routes and keep in touch with drivers more frequently. Either way, a lot of thought should be put into why a business will adopt a fleet tracking system, and where it can offer the most value.
What happens when my requirements change?
It's inevitable that when a business expands requirements change. Choosing a fleet tracking provider that's flexible, tailored to specific requirements, and one with a good standard of customer support should be a priority. We suggest that a company looks for providers who are able to offer a wide range of product enhancements that integrate with industry leading partners and demonstrate experience working with other businesses in relative industries.
What are the must-have fleet tracking features?
Fleet tracking systems offer a wide variety of different features. With real-time monitoring, you can get instant access to vehicle location and status, which provides fleet managers with the ultimate control over fleet operations. With Geofencing, management can establish virtual barriers, which offer a notification when a vehicle enters or exits a selected geographical location. Safety analytics deliver the ability to understand the behaviour of drivers, thereby reducing on-road risk. However, it's up to you to determine which data and features are most relevant to your business.