How to choose a GPS fleet management system: what features are right for you?

• Author: Murphy, Shannon
• Position: Global positioning system

Operating an efficient business is a priority for every business. For electric utilities of all types, greater insight into their employee's working day and the location of their vehicles (and equipment inside the vehicles), can provide valuable clues as to the efficiency of their business. A global positioning system (GPS)-based fleet management system is a simple and effective way to gain this insight.

GPS was originally created to identify the precise location of any object on the Earth, anytime, anywhere. Today, one of the fastest growing markets for GPS technology is vehicle tracking and location. In 2004, about 1 million fleet vehicles in the U.S. were equipped with tracking devices (1). Companies of all sizes are taking advantage of this technology. Choosing a GPS vehicle tracking system can be difficult. There are many products on the market with a slew of bells and whistles. Which features do you really need? What should you look for when researching a GPS system for your business? Following are a few suggestions to make your decision easier.

1] DETERMINE HOW QUICKLY YOU NEED DATA UPDATES

There are two general categories of systems to choose from in terms of data update frequency: "Real-time" or "Passive". Both have the capability to provide you with vehicle speed data, vehicle stops data, length of stop data and route taken data.

"REAL-TIME" GPS VEHICLE TRACKING SYSTEMS

Generally, a real-time system utilizes a wireless network to allow you to receive your information and view the location of your vehicles in real-time. Real-time GPS tracking is becoming the standard for companies or individuals who wish to track fleet vehicles. Some features of real-time systems include real-time zone alerts, arrival at customer site alerts, speed alerts and the ability to locate the nearest vehicle to a particular address.

BENEFITS OF REAL-TIME TRACKING

The ability to track vehicles every minute can mean hundreds of dollars to your bottom line. Necessary costs, such as fuel and employee overtime, can be closely monitored and verified to ensure your company is operating at top efficiency. For example, excessive vehicle idling not only uses fuel, but also causes unnecessary vehicle wear and tear. With real-time tracking and by accessing the appropriate reports, fuel use can be drastically reduced--in some cases by as much as 20 percent. Some companies have even rewarded their employees for watching their fuel use; i.e. driving with the company's...