Fleet Tracking: Everything You Need to Know
Fleet tracking is a complex domain, combining sophisticated technology and advanced positioning systems. The GPS tracking market alone is estimated to be worth more than $2.39 billion by 2023. The infrastructure around effective fleet tracking is expanding, with more network providers offering unique solutions to logistics firms.
As your fleet of vehicles traverses through various domains, it’s important to have a regular tracking and measuring system in place. High quality solutions allow for integrated communications systems and greater data dissemination and analysis, giving you complete control when tracking your vehicles. Read on for more details.
Finding the right hardware
The right hardware solution needs to be integrated into your existing ecosystem and driver management protocol. Here are the key parameters that go into selecting the right hardware provider:
Compact in size: The right fleet tracking solution, whether it’s through Bluetooth or an internet-of-things (IoT) cloud, should be compact. Latest advancements in Arduino, low-energy Bluetooth, and cloud processing technologies have made devices even smaller and powerful.
Durable solution: The solution should be resilient against weather changes, long-shifts, and any accidents that may occur. Durable solutions also last longer while requiring less maintenance overall. This adds to the cost savings received from opting for fleet tracking in the first place.
Acquisition time: The time it takes to acquire data, coordinates, and vital statistics should be competitive with market offerings. Getting comprehensive data about the drive length, stop-time, driver performance, and route changes is key to improving your bottom line.
Recording quality: The quality of the data, whether through video tracking or binary code, should be higher than market alternatives. The integrated solution should have the right infrastructure in place to give managers high quality insights about their fleet.
Ease of integration: Integration is an important part of any sophisticated fleet management tool. Systems need to be plug-and-play oriented in order for a wider spectrum of solutions to be added on. That’s where devices such as Geotab come in handy, as they’re easy to integrate and can be deployed anywhere.
Advanced analytics
Through the power of vehicle telematics, fleet software, and integrated dashboards, managers have access to a new world of data. Fleet tracking is made more refined when managers invest in the right analytics software tools.
Analytics can impact key domains such as vehicle health monitoring, waste reduction, fuel utilization, and enhancing efficiency. Managers can plan routes better while issuing drivers to drive to certain destinations during the proper time slots. Additionally, breaks can also be planned to save time and reduce dependencies on traditional behaviors.
Analytics also helps managers plan their fleet better. When demand rises, they can acquire new assets while managing existing ones seamlessly. They can also hire temporary trucks and shipment carriers while having complete control over their delivery timelines.
In-vehicle coaching
Premier tracking and fleet management software providers also deliver in-vehicle coaching for fleet optimization. These vehicles come with a pre-packaged system that’s designed to provide accurate feedback to drivers on the road. The system can measure key details such as swerving, sudden braking, or accelerating too quickly on turns. It can also correct behavior on the spot by providing insights into new routes and better outcomes.
Aggregated data is then sent to the cloud system, which collates that information into usable insights. These insights can be captured at the source and inferences can be deduced from the data shared. These inferences can help with hiring new drivers, buying extensive insurance coverage, and expanding the fleet of vehicles under management. In-vehicle coaching is one of the most impactful features that leading fleet tracking solutions provide.
