Traditional business models have an increased likelihood of failure in today’s digital age. Regardless of their size, companies have to adapt or face losing their customer base to those that have already transitioned to make the most of modern technology.

Business survival rates don’t paint a good picture for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the UK – 80% of companies fail within their first year, and only 44% manage to keep their doors open for five years or longer. However, adopting a sophisticated management system could turn the tide for an establishment.

For businesses with vehicle fleets, constructive policies must be developed to ensure optimal resource management and sustainability.

By investing in an advanced fleet management system, SMEs with vehicle fleets can expect cost reductions, more efficient resource management, and improved productivity, all of which serve to drastically boost revenue.

Fleet management systems can enhance every aspect of fleet operations, which can really make a difference to productivity and growth.

• How Does GPS Work?
• How Can SMEs Benefit from GPS and Increase their Productivity?
• How can GPS Tracking Reduce Business Costs and Increase Productivity?
• How can Investing in GPS-Based Management Systems Reduce Business Costs and Increase Productivity?
• What are the Different Types of GPS Systems?
• 8 Reasons for GPS Fleet Management in your Business

How Does GPS Work?

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a network of 31 satellites that orbit the Earth twice a day to provide worldwide coverage. They continuously broadcast radio signals containing location and status data, which are picked up by GPS receivers on the ground.

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Tracking devices use the data transmitted from the satellites to calculate their distance from them. Once signals have been received from 4 or more satellites, the precise location of the device can be determined. 

Vehicle tracking systems can provide detailed coordinates as well as specific information about the tracked target, such as the speed and direction it’s traveling at.

Advanced management systems utilise GPS technology to provide real-time location and movement information about all the vehicles in a fleet, as well as temperature and fuel usage information.

Telematics and GPS data have reshaped the way SMEs operate and boosted their productivity, with improved dispatching and route management processes, and instant alerts when certain events or incidents occur.

How Can SMEs Benefit from GPS and Increase their Productivity?

Improved Dispatching

Scheduling and dispatching issues are universal problems in the fleet industry. Without the right set of tools, it’s next to impossible to keep track of where your mobile assets and vehicles are at any given time.

GPS tracking systems allow dispatchers and field managers to pinpoint the exact position of vehicles and employees. 

Real-time geolocation data enables drivers to be diverted to customers in need and steered away from road maintenance points and traffic jams. While this might seem like a simple process, it can have massive implications if your business manages a vehicle fleet.

Not only will your drivers arrive at their destinations faster and be able to respond to customers more efficiently, but you will also save on fuel and maintenance costs. Considering that fuel is one of the biggest expenses for a fleet company, you will significantly reduce operational expenses while keeping your fleet healthier with little to no downtime.

Route Management

For decades, fleet managers have had to rely on crude methods involving paper trails and considerable guesswork to get their drivers to their destinations on time. Even with a smaller fleet, it is still a logistical nightmare to devise optimal routes and coordinate them with delivery times or service engagements.

Altering current routes to make course corrections for vehicles en route to help them reach their destinations on time is only the first step in improving productivity and operational efficiency.

The second step is to optimise future routes using previous route history data to improve fuel usage and delivery times. Appropriate route management has a profound effect on labour costs and fleet expenses. Your drivers will spend less time on the roads, with lower fuel consumption throughout your fleet, and even reduced overtime payments.

When your vehicles begin to reach their targets on time every time, your productivity will soar, with more job completions and more available vehicles to take on additional or unexpected work orders.

Emergency Assistance and Event Alerts

Studies suggest that employees who feel safer in the workplace are more productive and more focused on the tasks assigned to them.

According to a report by Lockheed Martin, there is a direct connection between protective safety measures and work productivity; by developing a culture of safety within their plants, they were able to increase employee productivity by 24% while reducing costs by 20%.

GPS management systems can help field managers and dispatchers keep on top of security procedures, while emergency events and dangerous situations can be responded to quickly and safely.

Instant alerts are sent to immediately notify field managers about accidents or breakdowns, and real-time location data can be used to quickly locate the vehicle or employee in trouble. The appropriate medical help or roadside assistance can be promptly sent to tend to the situation.

Businesses tend to ignore safety risks to save money on security expenses and avoid affecting their delivery rates – but in the long run, these practices may have the opposite effect, with unexpected downtime and increased costs to fix inevitable issues.

Implementing ironclad safety policies and monitoring vehicles with vehicle tracking systems will greatly enhance the security of your work environment, letting your employees focus on their tasks instead of the dangers that await them, which will improve their output and efficiency.

How can GPS Tracking Reduce Business Costs and Increase Productivity?

GPS fleet tracking systems can increase the profitability and productivity of any company, especially those with mobile employees or vehicles. How would you like to increase your small business’ bottom line by over 7 percent while improving service and tightening your performance?

Whether you have a fleet of one or one thousand, GPS fleet tracking devices are a rock-solid investment. GPS fleet tracking requires only a small initial outlay that will increase the productivity of your business in a huge way.

Real-time GPS systems using industry-leading telematics technology can save businesses thousands of dollars per yer per vehicle. GPS fleet tracking lets you become the master controller, with dynamic updates on where your investment is going at any time.

GPS fleet tracking systems can increase profitability by:

• Reducing Operating Costs – By monitoring activities like speeding or excessive idling you can not only save fuel, but reduce the damage done to the engine, brakes, and tires. An added bonus is you can also reduce vehicle greenhouse gas emissions.
• Reducing Fuel and Maintenance Costs – The average operating cost per vehicle is about $1.50 per mile. A company can reduce at least 25 miles per week for each vehicle with a GPS fleet tracking system.
• Increasing Efficiency – On average, each vehicle could complete at least one extra stop, job, or delivery per day by using a web-based GPS fleet management system.
• Reducing Delays and Time Spent at Unauthorized Locations – Wouldn’t it be nice to not have for your employees to waste time and money sitting in traffic? With fleet tracking software you can not only track but easily establish a custom notification system for events like a driver going outside of a designated area. speeding or staying idle for too long.
• Reducing Insurance Rates by up to 35% – Many insurance companies offer discounted premiums for vehicles that have real-time GPS systems.

GPS fleet tracking systems can increase profitability by:

• Monitoring Routes and Stops – Idle time and stops at unauthorized locations can become costly for your business. With modern GPS systems, you can ensure that this does not become a problem. This will keep fuel costs low and drivers safe.
• Eliminating Paper Logs – The digital record is not subject to human error and makes the process of record-keeping more in-depth without any additional hassle. Electronic driver logs can also help with vehicle and fuel tax calculations, audits, and optimizing resources.
• Detecting Side Jobs – By tracking both real-time and historic data you can notice and eliminate suspicious uses of your vehicles by employees. Don’t risk being liable for unauthorized vehicle usage.
• Improving Response Time & Customer Service – By knowing where your vehicles at all times on a real-time map, dispatchers can easily send the nearest vehicle when a new job arises. This saves both money and time and makes customers happy.
• Monitoring Maintenance & Engine Alerts– Extending the life of your vehicles is important because replacing them is expensive. No more guessing or having to dig up information! GPS tracking systems report all vehicle activity and immediately alert fleet managers of things they should be aware of such as faulty engine alerts or the need for smog checks or oil-changes. Maintaining vehicles is made easy with a GPS tracking system because it automatically keeps you aware of this critical information.

How can Investing in GPS-Based Management Systems Reduce Business Costs and Increase Productivity?

GPS expertise has been on the forefront of technological developments for the previous decade. Following the improvements within the area, enterprise industries rapidly embraced the numerous advantages of GPS-based applied sciences akin to insurance-approved GPS trackers and fleet administration methods.

The concept of managing long-range logistics operations have utterly modified with the appearance of GPS expertise and its purposes. Fleet administration methods grant entry to mission-critical data akin to real-time location, pace, temperature, humidity, and different particulars associated with the sphere operations.

Coupled with a cutting-edge software program, this data paves the best way for complicated administration methods that may generate complete studies and carry out evaluations on workers, automobiles, and equipment to enhance the effectiveness of companies exponentially.

Enterprise operations that contain transportation of products have been a logistical nightmare for many years resulting from their longevity and lack of awareness, however it’s a factor of the previous now.

On-demand entry to location and operational information improves the decision-making course drastically and permits executives to make last-minute modifications on-the-go. These trendy methods could appear too good to be true for enterprise house owners and managers, however, it’s all potential due to the data that GPS expertise gives.

Let’s have a look at how GPS impacts the monitoring technique of enterprise operations and the benefits this revolutionary expertise provide for firms all around the world.

Productiveness

Growing income is all the time the highest precedence for companies, nevertheless, attaining it’s simpler stated than carried out. For a corporation to generate extra income, they should full extra job orders in a workday and use essentially the most environment friendly routes for his or her deliveries.

The identical precept applies to worldwide shipments as properly and giant enterprises have been among the many first companies to undertake trendy GPS methods as they’re important in creating insurance policies to extend their productiveness.

Having entry to real-time location and actionable correct information can be utilized to redirect automobiles and workers to prospects in want whereas utilizing the shortest path to their goal.

Not solely can companies create extra alternatives to generate extra earnings with GPS monitoring methods, however they will additionally decrease their operational prices as properly.

Useful resource optimization

Transporting giant quantities of products over lengthy distances require great quantities of sources. With out correct useful resource optimisation, transport operations may be much less worthwhile than they’re and even make an organization lose cash within the lengthy time period if the required measures aren’t taken.

Drivers, automobiles, gas, loading/unloading instances, and plenty of extra components come into impact when planning logistics operations, and GPS monitoring methods can enhance operational effectiveness to the highest degree with fixed information updates.

By cautious planning and the utilisation of GPS-based purposes, enterprises can decrease their useful resource consumption and use their manpower optimally to extend total productiveness and effectivity.

Worker monitoring

Car monitoring gadgets are designed to gather information in regards to the driving habits of drivers as properly because the actions of workers throughout their work hours. Issues like unauthorised automobile use, inefficient use of job hours and idling are well-known points for firms who conduct long-range transportation operations.

Just by integrating GPS-based administration methods to their infrastructure, companies acquire full management over their operations; managers can enter particular person driver behaviour studies and journey historical past that are each essential in figuring out any misuse of firm automobiles and waste of operational sources.

Worker monitoring solely made potential with the move of knowledge GPS monitoring gadgets present; firms can save important quantities of cash on gas, upkeep bills, and enhance their productiveness by monitoring the behaviour of their workers throughout work hours.

Buyer relations

There are totally different elements to transportation and logistics operations and never all freight is carried by vans; worldwide delivery firms use trains and ships to transport giant shipments and sustaining the data move is essential for any such operations.

Because of the technological age we reside in, prospects demand extra details about their shipments daily and so they wish to keep knowledgeable about each little change within the situation of their cargo to accommodate for any modifications within the situation of their cargo or the supply schedules.

Subject managers can monitor the situation of their shipments even in the midst of the ocean with superior GPS trackers akin to satellite tv for pc monitoring gadgets and maintain their enterprise companions up to date each step of the best way.

This may result in elevated buyer retention and generate further prospects because of the improved high quality of service.

Operating an enterprise no matter its measurement or business is expensive and sophisticated. Operational challenges of transport and logistics firms are extra demanding in comparison with different industries however that doesn’t imply they will be overcome.

With the assistance of superior methods like GPS monitoring methods, shipments may be tracked from 1000’s of miles away, workers may be directed round congested visitors factors or unruly drivers may be warned for his or her dangerous behaviour.

Fleet administration methods primarily reshape how companies function; for the transport and logistics business, GPS expertise has been a boon since its introduction with the highly effective instruments and superior options they bring about to the desk.

GPS-based fleet administration methods may also help decrease operational and administrative prices, present a major enhance to productiveness, and assist tremendously within the occasion of an emergency. These refined methods are truly worthwhile funding that gives a fast ROI and enhances operational effectiveness.

What are the Different Types of GPS Systems?

You’ll be dazzled once you begin to explore the many types of GPS systems and amazing features available in today’s market. There isn’t one of us who can’t benefit somehow from its multitude of applications.

1. Street navigation systems (sat-nav)

You’ll never get lost driving with this type of GPS, since it gives turn-by-turn directions, including mileage, speed and estimated time of arrival. Some are optional when you purchase the vehicle and are built into the car’s dashboard. Others are aftermarket purchases attached to the dashboard or windshield and can be removed for hand held use.

Most are preloaded with US maps and offer international maps as an upgrade. The maps provide information such as airports, police departments, hospitals, places of interest, and gas stations.

You can even program it to tell you where all your favorite latte stops can be found. Guess what? Most of these GPS systems can even interface with your cellular phone as a hands-free device!

2. Sports GPS systems and watches

Are you a sports buff? Well, there are types of GPS systems just for you. If you’re a sailor, then don’t worry about reading the stars on cloudy nights. There are systems specifically designed for marine conditions. If your sport keeps you on the move, there are GPS watches that can be perfect for you. A hiker?

Orienteering with a compass is cool, but old school when you have a GPS that knows the lay of the land and will point the way. GPS watches are actually like mini-computers strapped to your wrist with multitudes of features specific to your needs.

Of course, the downside is the small screen and the need to frequently change modes to accomplish a task, but I doubt that Dick Tracy would have had any gripes about that!

3. PDA based systems

Many of us are already slaves to our PDA’s. The added feature of GPS makes them even more appealing. Having it with you at all times means you’ll never be late for an appointment due to losing your way.

4. Phones with GPS

Many of today’s phones offer a GPS feature for an additional service charge. That’s a convenient feature since most people these days tote a phone no matter where they go. All phones also come with a government-mandated tracking capability that will help locate you in case of an emergency.

5. For kids too

Wherify GPS Child Locator Watch – This kid’s watch is a combination of GPS and wireless radio that helps you determine your child’s whereabouts via a Web- or phone-based service. Keeping track of your child, however, comes at a price. The watch will set you back about $400 and requires activation and monthly service fee for tracking.

8 Reasons for GPS Fleet Management in your Business

Even though about 20% of companies already have a fleet management system, we are still in the early stages of utilizing all the features and benefits provided by a GPS fleet management system. Most companies with fleet management only use it to place a dot on a map. That is just basic GPS tracking, but there are many more options in the software than that ….

Having a good GPS fleet management system in place can make all the difference for your business and will give you almost infinite benefits. Here are 8 advantages of using fleet management in your company: (Cred. to our Australian partner Ready Track)

1. Manage employees in the field

Whether you have drivers, who transport materials from one place to another or staff driving for their jobs, a GPS fleet management system can help your business become more efficient.

With a fleet management system, you can extract data with information about drivers, driving patterns and workflows. Data analysis gives you a solid basis for making the right decisions.

With location, vehicle speed and driving behavior – economically and safely – you can easily see how your employees are driving. It can often be a direct reflection of your business, so with proper driving behavior, your company will get a far better image – and greater customer satisfaction.

2. Security

With a GPS fleet management system, many business-specific events can be set up to alert you with a text message to you and / or direct message to the emergency center in situations important for your workflows.

3. Find your assets – and have status at all times

Things, assets – and even the vehicles can unfortunately be stolen. With GPS tracking, you can find your lost or stolen vehicles in no time, saving you both the time and effort. And in everyday life, if you deliver products to a customer, it may be crucial for your company to know when you deliver and status of the delivery at any time.

4. Time-saving

A GPS fleet management system is time-saving in many ways. It can be route optimization, planning of today’s tasks, and a quick response time.

Delays in regular traffic are estimated by Danish Industry to cost $ 20 billion each year only for this rather small country … By using GPS technology, your drivers and employees can minimize time sitting in traffic and instead find alternative routes, optimize workflows and respond faster, all of which helps them get the job done in less time.

When you save time, you increase your productivity. Instead of drivers spending time waiting for traffic to move, they can, for example, make multiple deliveries. Not only will your customers be happy with the fast service, but your drivers and employees will be able to get more work done, saving you both labor and transport time.

Ecofleet’s system has a task management module that optimizes workflows for many of our customers. Recurring tasks can be set to automate workflows, you can attach images and signature to the task for documentation on the go –  and much more.

5. Access to data

Data is today’s oil – it can be used for millions of things. Primarily in fleet management, they form the basis for optimization of operating procedures regarding driving. They can also be very useful in case of a liability issues, where it is important for you to get the correct information to validate your side of the case.

Fleet management technology has the data that tells you exactly where your vehicles were at certain times and at which speed they drove etc.

Data is an infinite source – and it all depends on how they are used, what benefits they deliver. This is the essence of taking advantage of the full potential of a fleet management system.

6. Better financial management

Because you have access to more data with fleet management, you also have a better overview of your financial data. And instead of your employees using a handwritten logbook to track their mileage, you have a system that does it for you.

Ecofleet has customers who have saved a total of 30% on the reimbursement payment by using driving registration from Ecofleet. The normal is, however, between 10-20%, but this is a significant saving for many companies. Fuel savings alone are on an average of 10-15%.

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Fleet management is a better financial management tool because you do not have to spend time collecting data from your drivers and employees. With the click of a button, you get the information in reports, so you can be more productive and focus on more important things in your business.

7. Easy to use = Easy way to success

With GPS Fleet Management, you receive the specific data and information, such as location, vehicle status and other information about your vehicles that are important to you. You can easily access this information via smartphones, tablets and laptops.

The system is easy to use and user-friendly in the sense, that there is easy access to all data and statistics that makes managing your fleet easier – and makes your job as a fleet administrator a success.

Ecofleet has a KPI module that makes it easy for you to set up business-specific indicators, you can measure and make decisions based upon.

8. Be a step ahead of the competition

With a GPS fleet management system, you are one step ahead. GPS fleet management reduces costs, gives an overview of your vehicles, increases safety, provides easily accessible data and keeps your customers happy …

There are many advantages of a GPS fleet management system. Whether you have hundreds of vehicles or just a few, your business can easily benefit from a good fleet management system.

Final Thoughts

With the fierce competition in today’s world, it has become imperative for businesses to adopt smart and efficient management systems.

UPS’s reports show just how effective a GPS-based fleet management system can be; in 2009, they fitted their delivery trucks with around 200 sensors to track telematics and GPS data, to determine how many deliveries they could complete in a single day. After 4 years of optimisation, UPS was able to handle 1.4 million extra packages per day, and with 1,000 fewer drivers.

Although not an SME, their results demonstrate the benefits of adopting a robust fleet management system – by reshaping business operations with GPS technology, SMEs can expect to cut costs and increase productivity by a large margin.

In a world where many SMEs barely survive their first year due to overwhelming operational expenses, GPS-based fleet management systems play a key role in increasing productivity through cost reductions and additional job orders. SMEs can sustain their fleet operations for longer, leaving them with surplus revenue to reinvest into their business.