Is Your GPS Tracking App Upto the Mark?

Many businesses across industries use tracking solutions. These solutions are composed of discrete hardware and software systems for various applications. Tracking systems are not based on a single technology but are a convergence of several technologies such as RFID, GIS, GPS, and mobile and communication providers.

RFID tags are used for tracking items, people, and animals in indoor or small areas. They are used for recording data such as attendance and tracking and identifying assets or animals such as livestock. GPS tracking technology, on the other hand, is used for covering large areas such as for tracking vehicles and individuals on the move.

Of all the tracking tools, GPS tracking technology is becoming popular with the increasing use of GPS-enabled smartphones. Businesses, in turn, are finding newer and creative uses of mobile-based tracking applications for mass consumption.

In this blog, we discuss about a GPS tracking system and its manifold features and use in business and the consumer industry.

What’s A GPS Tracking?

The Global Positioning System (GPS)  is a worldwide radio navigation system that is commonly used in tracking solutions – a way to know where something is located. It was initially used for defence purposes by the US government. Technological advancements have expedited and diversified its use. GPS-based tracking systems are now increasingly used for civil and commercial purposes. A GPS tracking solution can track the movement or the location of persons, vehicles, or animals over large areas in real-time.

The development of communications technology has popularized the use of the cell phone as a tracking device. GPS technology in smartphones means anyone carrying such a phone can now be easily and accurately tracked.

Active and Passive GPS Trackers

GPS tracking systems can be broadly categorised as passive and active – useful for different purposes.

A passive GPS tracking system monitors the location and stores the data related to location  usually in an internal memory, a device, for later use. For example, if you want to track just vehicle mileage on a monthly basis without immediate feedback, you could used a passive tracker.    

An active GPS tracking system is one where the system sends the information from the GPS system to a device in real-time. This is mainly suitable for security and commercial purposes. The active system has geofencing and instant alerts and notifications capabilities useful for, say, preventing theft.

Salient Features of a Vehicle GPS Tracking System

There are several features of a cloud- and mobile-based GPS tracking system. It is important to note that the quality of the equipment used matters for accuracy and swiftness of data transmission.

Real time tracking

• A GPS tracking system acts on real-time. The vehicle or the person can be located and monitored from anywhere, anytime.

Alerts & Notifications

• A GPS tracking system sends an alarm in case a vehicle is moved without authorization, stops en route, or does a u-turn. This is used as an anti-theft feature or to track high-value goods carrying vehicles.

Geofencing

• Geofencing is a customizable feature of a GPS tracking system that takes monitoring, security, and operational efficiencies to the next level. A geofence is a pre-defined geographical location with marked boundaries. A GPS tracking system sends real-time alerts to the user’s phone or email when a person or a vehicle leaves or enters a geofence.

Usage tracking

• The fuel monitoring and tracking feature helps track fuel consumption and billing. This is handy for fleet operators or companies that have to manage vehicles. Authorities can view fuel consumption and bills in real-time. Since, all details are recorded, the tracking solution eliminates all scope for pilferage or any tampering of bills and usage.    
• The system also monitors, tracks, and records average speed, kilometers travelled, or overspeeding. Again, there is no scope for misuse or malpractices since all details are recorded.

Trip history and reports summary

• The system provides trip and location history and real-time reports and analytics on all aspects of vehicle usage. You can see a graphical representation of all variables that matter to your business.

Ease of installation and maintenance

• This is an important element in any GPS tracking solution. The application should be mobile. Devices, if any, should be compact, lightweight, and ready to install without much effort on the part of the user.

Uses of GPS Tracking System

Traditionally, a vehicle GPS tracking system has been used by the logistics and transportation industry. But today, it has diverse uses across industries and among direct consumers.

Business

• Companies use GPS tracking to monitor and track the routes of vehicles carrying high-value assets, normal day-to-day deliveries, or staff.
• Asset tracking and management solutions are also based on GPS technology.
• Vehicle rental companies monitor their rental fleets using this tracking solution.
• Tour and travel agencies, cab services, food and courier delivery services give live updates on location and routes of deliverables.
• Corporate organisations are using tracking solutions to monitor the behavior of employees out for sales and on field trips as they carry out their work.

Consumers

• Individual navigation on smartphones is mainly a GPS-based service.
• School bus location and speed are tracked by parents. They receive notifications and alerts on school bus details.
• GPS tracking is used by consumers for monitoring of people such as children or the elderly, delivery boys, etc.
• Caregivers can remain updated on the whereabouts of their loved ones, especially, if they are out on a trip.

Customer Service

Many businesses are finding new and creative uses of tracking solutions. These solutions are now not limited to just tracking and monitoring fleets and streamlining internal processes, but also improving customer service.

• Hotels are providing shuttle service with pick-and-drop service-related details to the guests with driver location and accurate ETAs – without manual intervention.
• Monitoring a guest’s vehicle also serves to ensure the security of lone guests.
• Luxury hotels track the vehicles of their important guests and arrange for their welcome on time.  

No One-Size-Fits-All Tracking Solution

There is, of course, no one-size-fits-all solution for any tracking condition and application. Depending on the needs and requirements, a tracking solution combining the right hardware and software can be developed.

VersionX has developed its tracking solutions based on the specific needs expressed by its users. VersionX’s GPS-based vehicle and people tracking solutions are currently used in various industries across sectors. We further customize them depending on business needs.