Author: Lauren George, Marketing Coordinator, ABAX
In this article you will discover why geolocation is a must have when it comes to improving efficiency and having full control over your fleet.
There are a number of definitions explaining what exactly geolocation is – most sources describing the term as location-based technology that enables you to identify geographical coordinates of a computer, networking device or equipment. Geolocation can be used in a number of different ways such as marketing purposes, performance management, online fraud detection, analysing driving routes, real-time tracking of location, worker timings, and so on.
“Geolocation technology is changing the way companies work, and is being used more and more by businesses. The technology enables companies to manage their fleet of vehicles more effectively with more savings on operating costs”, says Chris Miller, Country Manager at ABAX UK.
Management control system
“Geolocation with tracking in real time is invaluable support for fleet managers. Geolocation using GPS can be seen as a management control system since it provides useful information such as when the vehicles are being used, by who and where they are located. All this data is available using any device that is connected to the Internet”, says Chris Miller, Country Manager at ABAX UK.
This is a significant benefit of geolocation. For example, dispatchers in the logistics industry can keep a close eye on the transit, track the status of driver’s tasks, analyse the traffic conditions in real time and assign jobs and breaks accordingly.
Improving the customer experience
GPS systems using the geolocation feature are often used by the field service industry, and delivery companies.If service technicians require specific equipment, then the system using real time tracking is able to find the nearest located worker who have the required tools, and finish the job. Similarly, when delivering the goods, and in case of a broken down vehicle, the administrator has the possibility to identify the closest located vehicle in order to replace the driver, resulting in the order being delivered on time.
Geolocation makes the customer journey more pleasant, as the company has the possibility to inform the client about the specific location of their order, or service on the way. The fleet manager can check the geographical coordinates of the vehicles and send the accurate updates to the client.
Accurate reporting with telematic solutions
As a result of digitisation and the increased use of telematics and technology in vehicles, geolocation is becoming more and more popular. This in turn brings ‘big data’ with it. The amount of data surrounding vehicles that can be accessed is endless and the need for reports is of utmost importance in order to be able to manage the data accordingly. Depending upon the individual accessing the data and the depth of data that is wanted to be seen, having scheduled reports sent directly to your mailbox is an effective way of keeping up to date with your vehicles and their whereabouts, without the need to login to a system to find out yourself.
Geo-location brings many advantages to other industries, such as the construction industry. Not only does the technology help those with vehicles, but also those with equipment. The increase in equipment and tools being lost is affecting tradesmen and their businesses. With geolocation, tradesmen can monitor where their equipment is, and ensure that it remains in the location that it was left in.
