Managing Efficiently With Fleet Tracking Software
Businesses that utilize fleet tracking software have quickly found that the benefits gained far outweigh whatever cost is required for the initial investment. Fleet software packages have many different levels of features, which would prove invaluable to the right business, or overwhelming to another company that may not require all those bells and whistles. Here is a quick look at some of the many benefits your company can count on from implementing the right fleet tracking software.
An efficiently run fleet will save time, gas and ultimately, a lot of money off of your bottom line. Drivers will be able to quickly access directions to stops that they are unfamiliar with, getting them through their route using less gas and putting less miles on each vehicle. More efficient drivers can handle more stops on their route and will be less stressed out in the long run, promoting better health for your workers. With drivers who can more easily locate where they are going your customers win too, with shipments more likely to arrive on time. In the event that a vehicle breaks down GPS fleet tracking software can alert the office of the location so that another truck can be sent out to continue with deliveries and a maintenance crew can go to complete any repairs that can be done on site. Another plus is the accountability route managers will have with their drivers because reports are automatically captured and either sent directly to the office or downloaded each evening so that it is easy to tell if an employee is wasting time on their route regularly.
While the benefits of fleet tracking software may be appealing, the actual process of determining the right software can be daunting. There is a lot of variation in features between different fleet software programs. While all of those features may help some businesses, a program that delivers many overly complicated features that your business does not find helpful can be a waste of money instead of a good investment. Here is a brief overview of several features that are included in fleet tracking software packages.
Fleet tracking systems use Global Positioning System (GPS) technology which makes use of satellite signals to track each vehicles exact location. Besides providing directions for drivers to locations that they are unfamiliar with, reports are also available to supply the home office with information about each driver’s route. Many systems allow real time tracking of each vehicles movement which can be especially helpful for tracking in case of thefts and for sending mechanics to help repair a broken down vehicle. Reports can also be downloaded at the end of the night for each vehicle so that historical information on routes can be accessed when needed. Look for reporting systems that allow flexibility to pull reports based on a wide variety of factors, such as by vehicle, route, driver, and project and time period.
Customization is just as important in user profile set-up as it is in pulling reports. Look for a program that supports multiple users who can log in separately so that different managers will only have access to projects or areas that they are directly responsible for. This is especially helpful for larger companies so that project managers are able to quickly pull up information that is pertinent to their crew or fleet without having to wade through data for other projects or routes. In order to access your fleet maintenance tracking software from many different computers without having to download the software separately onto each one, look into software that is web accessible.
Companies who are looking for an all in one package that will track not only routes and vehicles but also maintenance history and status will want to expand their search to look at fleet maintenance tracking software. Both unexpected maintenance because of vehicle break downs and routine maintenance can be scheduled and history tracked using fleet maintenance software. Maintenance tracking software can provide easy access to status updates on vehicles that are in the shop so that drivers and managers will know when they will be back for scheduling, especially important for construction companies who may have a set number of tractors, bulldozers or other special vehicles that may be needed for specific jobs.
When determining the best fleet tracking software for your business start by making a list of what you want the software to be able to track for you and features you consider to be non-negotiable. Depending on how frequently and quickly you will need to access data on your fleet a passive or real-time system may be a better fit for your company’s dollar. By choosing a software package with only features that your company will actually make use of, you will find that your investment will quickly translate into money for your company’s bottom line by streamlining scheduling, route directions and vehicle maintenance.
