The was a time when looking for the best GPS fleet tracking system was a matter of choosing between a passive system and a real time GPS system. Now the options within GPS fleet tracking can be overwhelming for a fleet manager. This article will outline some of the major factors to consider and questions to ask when researching GPS fleet tracking software.
There are a couple different types of GPS systems available on the market today. This article will cover real-time fleet tracking software which is a web-based online software program that updates the location and status of a vehicle minute by minute. Real-time data is beneficial for all service and delivery businesses whose objective is to decrease fuel costs, reduce paperwork and increase service calls per day.
Manage Route Efficiency
Many companies are able to see an increase in one to two service calls per day by managing their fleet's route efficiency. The key feature to consider in software for route efficiency will be dispatching and bread crumb trail. If you frequently need to send a driver to a customer who has called in then you will need a system which offers a dispatching feature. The bread crumb trail ensures that your drivers are taking the most direct route to a customer.
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Monitoring Idling
If your goal is to monitor the idling time of your drivers and reduce fuel usage, then you will need a "true key--on key--off" wired into the starter of the vehicle. Without a true key--on key--off for idling time you could get a report that shows that a driver was idling when in truth, they were just listening to the radio. Many companies claim to monitor idling time; however, without the "true-key on key-off" a fleet manager will not see an accurate record.
User Friendly System
Consider how user friendly the system is for your dispatchers and other administration. Some systems will allow varying levels of administration rights, so that your maintenance crew will have access to the maintenance records, but not have access to other areas within the software.
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Software Updates
Is the company you are considering for GPS fleet tracking committed to the further technology advancements of their software? Will you be receiving software updates free of charge as system upgrades occur? The best GPS fleet tracking software provides software updates at no additional costs.
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Hidden Fees
Find out what additional or hidden fees there are. Service providers are not always upfront about the hidden fees associated with their airtime plans. Be sure to ask about whether there will be a second airtime bill, roaming charges or activation fees.
After narrowing down the list of GPS providers, ask for referrals and possibly consider installing a trial unit for 30 days. This will give fleet managers a hands--on, side by side comparison of the GPS software. If the system is user friendly it should be easy to learn within a few days. Sometimes, it is only through this hands--on experience that will you know if it is the best GPS system for your business.
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