Small business entrepreneurs are constantly under pressure to make the most of every resource they have. Additionally, fleet managers have huge responsibilities to guarantee their drivers deliver their services on time to delighted clients. They are also responsible for enhancing fuel efficiency and optimizing route planning to eliminate safety hazards.
GPS tracking allows fleet managers to maximize their fleets in a reliable and informed manner. GPS tracking nowadays entails more than just monitoring positions. GPS data assist fleet managers in making informed operational decisions about improving driver behavior, limiting downtime, and increasing profitability.
This article will look at what GPS fleet tracking is and the benefits of GPS fleet tracking for small businesses. Read on.
What Is a GPS Fleet Management System?
A GPS fleet management system is fleet tracking software that monitors the movement of a fleet of vehicles using GPS technology. Satellite signals are used to power this geolocation. Using the best fleet management software, you can use a sensor box that is covertly installed in the passenger compartment to learn the precise geographic location of each car. Thanks to GPS geolocation systems, fleet managers can efficiently track and control the exact geographic location of each vehicle.
Benefits of GPS Fleet Tracking for Small Businesses
Improve Risk Management
Risk management is one of the most crucial aspects of managing small fleets. Fleet vehicles always carry a certain amount of risk, whether light-duty delivery trucks or powerful construction machinery. To mitigate this risk, fleet management must find ways to cut accidents and improve operator behavior. GPS fleet tracking systems like RAM tracking can assist fleets in achieving compliance by increasing awareness of potentially hazardous conduct, which decreases safety accidents.
Drivers are more cautious and responsible when they know they are being monitored. Because they are aware that the integrated software will catch their driving behavior and details, they will be less likely to speed. GPS tracking can also help improve potentially dangerous driving habits like suddenly swerving into and out of traffic and braking. Limiting these practices extends the vehicle’s life by reducing wear and tear, an important part of fleet compliance.
Control Fuel Costs
Finding clever and effective solutions to minimize gasoline expenditures is critical for small businesses to maintain a healthy bottom line. Fuel accounts for over 60% of the average fleet’s operating budget, making it one of the most significant expenses to track and manage.
GPS tracking is a sophisticated method for management to determine how drivers consume or waste gasoline. Managers calculated fuel consumption using recorded miles and fuel receipts before GPS tracking. Fleet managers can, however, employ GPS technology to find driving patterns and practices that directly lead to increased fuel use.
One of several elements that leads to higher fuel costs for fleet cars is unnecessary idling. Since GPS technology tracks real-time whereabouts, fleet management software tells managers how long vehicles are idle. Management can determine whether drivers need training on minimizing engine idling and increasing fuel efficiency by measuring idle time about key performance parameters.
Recover Vehicle Theft
Small business operators invest heavily in their fleets, obtaining the best vehicles to assist them in giving the best value to their consumers. Unfortunately, the longer a company operates, the more likely an asset may be involved in theft or vandalism.
According to the FBI, over 700,000 vehicles were stolen in the United States in 2019. A plan to reduce vehicle theft and recover stolen valuables is a defense against this menace. You must defend your fleet as you would protect your business from online banking fraud or burglary. Equipping your fleet with GPS tracking lets you immediately detect and prevent unlawful use. If one of your vehicles is stolen, having accurate coordinates to inform the authorities gives you a good chance of retrieving it quickly.
Fleet vehicles with GPS monitoring labels are also a significant deterrent to theft. Vehicle thieves are unlikely to steal marked fleet vehicles when they know that covert GPS tracking is installed.
Maximize Productivity
To maximize productivity, fleet managers must boost output while decreasing worker hours engaged in service delivery. Controlling labor costs is critical for small firms. You want to ensure that your minimal personnel works optimally and generates the most profit feasible.
GPS tracking for small fleets might assist your company in increasing efficiency while reducing payroll costs. You may dispatch each driver on the most effective route feasible while spotting unproductive employee behaviors via GPS tracking. GPS tracking and linked fleet management software enable you to identify which deliveries take longer than usual or which geographical areas are prone to off-route driving. These technologies give management a better understanding of individual driver habits or general patterns to rectify.
Managers can also better log employee workdays with precise GPS tracking. GPS-enabled fleet management software records precise timestamps and an electronic timesheet for accurate and automated payroll. GPS monitoring solutions help managers monitor how drivers spend their time and give you the tools you need to control labor expenditures effectively.
Increase Route Efficiency
The ability to plan the shortest routes to pickup or drop-off sites is one of the most important parts of properly managing a fleet. Route planning enables you to wisely distribute resources, such as which drivers to send, where and in which vehicles. This technique increases productivity, lowers fuel costs, extends vehicle service life, and improves customer happiness.
You must rely on precise GPS tracking data to correctly plan your drivers’ routes. GPS tracking allows you to see where your drivers are at all times. You can monitor driver behavior to see if they stick to the scheduled course and if any unexpected stops cause service times to be delayed. You can easily redirect a driver and dispatch the closest to the consumer if necessary.
You can also use GPS to direct a car away from construction, traffic, and other risks. Aside from route planning, integrated GPS tracking systems assist drivers in avoiding getting lost, helping firms to save time and fuel. Fleet managers can also evaluate the most effective routes and compare this data to future routes by documenting trip history.
Bottomline
GPS tracking software is one of the most popular technological solutions for firms that employ mobile workers. Every firm with at least one vehicle can benefit from GPS fleet tracking for small businesses. Using a fleet management solution allows small businesses to optimize operations while also providing visibility and insights into their firm that they did not previously have. It enables them to achieve more with less by increasing efficiency and limiting risk by increasing driver safety. In the competitive markets where small businesses operate, GPS tracking can provide them an advantage and strengthen their brand by providing more outstanding customer care.
