It’s hard to imagine a technology that’s had a more profound effect on the business world in the last few decades than the Global Positioning System, or GPS. The GPS satellite system made its debut in 1978, when the first NAVSTAR satellite was launched into orbit with the intention of improving the navigational capacity of US military operations. A guidance system that could direct aircraft and land troops was considered a necessity after the mistakes made in World War II. Brad Parkinson, widely considered as the father of GPS, put it like this: “To take out a factory in Germany, we sacrificed so many aeroplanes and dropped a lot of bombs. We hit a lot of things that we didn’t want to hit.”
Despite its military beginnings, after Russians shot down a commercial airliner that accidentally strayed into Soviet air space (Korean Air Lines Flight 007), President Ronald Reagan signed an executive order to make GPS available for civilian use. This opened the door for tech companies to develop devices that could locate objects and monitor their movements using GPS satellites. These early GPS-enabled devices evolved over the years into the advanced GPS tracking systems we use today.
How Does GPS Tracking Work?
The basic function of a GPS tracker is to monitor the movements of an object and locate its position on demand. It may seem simple, but from a business perspective, these abilities open up a plethora of opportunities for companies that operate a vehicle fleet. From route optimization to remote temperature monitoring, fleet managers gain access to countless powerful tools that can be used to streamline operations. Transport and logistics operations are a logistical nightmare, but by installing an integrated GPS tracking system, companies can gain control over their operations, which can make their business more efficient and have a huge impact on the quality of service provided. Let’s take a look at some of the applications of GPS tracking for logistics companies and how this revolutionary technology transforms the way they operate.
Resource Optimization
Fleet businesses without the right tools to monitor driver behavior and vehicle health are prone to waste resources and suffer increased costs. Excess fuel consumption, repair costs, traffic tickets and similar avoidable expenses can rack up quite a bill. Fuel consumption and wear and tear on long-haul vehicles are both exacerbated by certain driving habits such as harsh acceleration, speeding, and idling. However, most of these issues can be completely eliminated with an integrated GPS tracking solution. GPS tracking software can flag and report vehicle use and maintenance issues and even generate individual driver performance reports. The fuel and driver performance reports can reveal the causes of excess fuel consumption and identify any drivers violating company or traffic rules. Fleet managers can then take the necessary precautions to minimize fuel waste and improve driver behavior and compliance. The information provided by on-board GPS tracking devices can assist logistics businesses in allocating their resources more optimally.
Driver and Vehicle Safety
Driving a commercial vehicle for long hours with a heavy payload has considerable risks. Accidents, theft, and malfunctions are only a few of the issues that await any logistics company. However, while they may seem like inevitable problems, GPS systems can alleviate these concerns. For example, they provide real-time access to the location of all vehicles, and send instant alerts in the event of accidents and emergencies. This allows field managers to promptly dispatch medical aid and road assistance in emergency situations. Injured drivers can be treated right away by paramedics, reducing the risk of serious injuries and hefty medical bills. Vehicles can be repaired or replaced with little downtime, averting potential problems with customers.
Another all-too-common issue for logistics businesses is the theft of vehicles and cargo. The National Vehicle Crime Intelligence (NaVCIS) reported that UK companies lost over £54 million from cargo theft in 2017 alone. GPS tracking devices can be equipped with advanced sensors that can identify and prevent tampering of the cargo hold or unauthorized movement of the vehicle, and instantly alert headquarters to such attempts. By promptly reporting suspicious movements to the police, there’s a high chance a stolen vehicle can be recovered quickly.
Route Planning
GPS tracking software has multiple solutions to help manage the logistics of a vehicle fleet. Fleet managers gain access to information about where every vehicle is and where it’s going, with detailed route history and real-time traffic data. This information can be used to optimize future routes and reroute drivers around road maintenance and congestion, resulting in shorter delivery times and preventing any delays. What’s more, delivery information data can be shared with customers to provide them with accurate ETAs and enhance customer satisfaction. If an immediate job order comes in, dispatchers can direct a driver in the vicinity to attend to the customer in need. The cloud-based tracking servers collect route history over extended periods of time. The patterns that form in this data after multiple deliveries to the same area make it easy to identify where improvements could be made to delivery routes. Information is the key to enhancing the routes of vehicles, which can reduce both delivery times and cost.
State-of-the-art fleet management systems with integrated GPS tracking devices are reliable, affordable, and customizable to the needs of logistics businesses, no matter the size. They offer a myriad of features to modernize fleet operations that can be adapted to any specialized requirements. GPS-based solutions help transport and logistics companies gain total control over their vehicles, assets, and drivers, which increases operational efficiency and drastically reduces costs. With unparalleled service quality and on-time deliveries, logistics companies can keep their customers happy and enjoy the increased revenue.
short url:
