In the US alone, ground transportation represents a multi-billion dollar industry largely responsible for connecting consumers with the food, clothing, and goods Americans use every day. In an industry where efficiency can mean the difference between success and failure, transportation providers depend on GPS tracking systems for effective fleet management. Below, we’ve outlined some of the ways tracking devices and GPS tracking software help transportation providers remain on the move.
Safety First
Perhaps one of the most costly components of the transportation industry, accidents and increasing insurance costs can take a big bite out of profits for any provider. Fleet management with GPS tracking software allows dispatchers to monitor drivers for exhaustion and excessive speed. In addition to protecting drivers, GPS trackers help transportation providers minimize accidents and, as a result, unnecessary insurance claims.
Customer Satisfaction
In a digital world, customers expect on-demand updates in just about every area of their lives from work to play. With GPS tracking software, transportation providers are able to provide to- the-minute updates for their customers, including estimated arrival times, possible delays, and more.
Fuel Savings
For a transportation providers, rising fuel costs represent a serious threat to profitability, and minimizing fuel consumption is paramount to success. Tracking devices, and GPS tracking software give transportation providers the edge they need to get ahead of fuel costs, including monitoring driving habits and idle time, and establishing more efficient routes of travel.
Here are our favorite GPS tracking news stories for Friday, June 7, 2013:
GPS Inventor Says Self-Driving Cars to Come
Brad Parkinson, former United States Air Force colonel credited with the invention of GPS, says that the future of GPS tracking technology is self-driving cars. Due to the advancement of GPS tracking technology, Parkinson said self driving cars could be just a few years away–especially since companies like Google are already testing them. Parkinson is now a professor at Stanford.
Source: http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/07/tech/self-driving-cars-inventor-gps/
GPS Technology for Tsunami Warning Systems
The BBC recently reported that GPS tracking technology may soon be used to increase early warning time in the event of tsunamis caused by earthquakes. According to the report, GPS will be used to measure even the slightest changes in the geography of the coastlines in countries most likely to be affected by tsunamis to provide faster warnings than current tsunami warning systems which use seismic activity data.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-22572096
NASA Working On GPS for Navigating Space
Popular Science reports that NASA is developing an “intergalactic” GPS system aimed at facilitating space travel anywhere in the universe. Navigation for space travel currently relies on radio signals sent from Earth, but those signals weaken with distance. The GPS project is designed to rely on light beams produced by neutron stars known as pulsars which spin rapidly and emit steady beams of light.
Source: http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2013-06/nasa-working-intergalactic-gps
Unmanaged loss prevention can take a big bite out of your business profits. One of the most effective tools business owners are using today to prevent loss and deter thieves is GPS tracking systems. Along with GPS tracking software, these devices can help you get a grasp on the profits you could be missing out on.
Prevent Theft with a GPS Tracking System
GPS tracking systems provide a powerful deterrent for both theft and the misuse of company assets and time. When staff members are aware of GPS trackers deployed on your vehicles or heavy equipment it greatly reduces temptation. For example, an employee who knows that his routes of travel are being tracked is far less likely to use a company vehicle for personal travel.
Recover Stolen Assets
If you happen to be the victim of theft, GPS tracking devices installed on your corporate assets can assist authorities in recovering the stolen asset and avoiding a loss. With GPS tracking software, the location of the stolen item will be pinpointed, allowing authorities to reach it faster, and reducing the likelihood of damage.
Manage Payroll Costs
Payroll can be one of the most daunting costs for any business. If your business needs to trim the fat from overtime or other hourly wages, a GPS tracker and GPS tracking software may be just the tool you need. For example, staff members who are aware that there time and movements are tracked using GPS tracking software, are less likely to claim time that wasn’t actually worked. Plus, GPS tracking systems can reduce your overall payroll costs by helping you find more efficient ways of doing business, such as using less fuel, correcting inefficiencies in routes of travel and dispatching.
In a world where cutting business costs is necessary to remain afloat, the last thing any business needs is lost profits through inflated payroll costs, or the theft or misuse of company assets. Consider GPS tracking for business to manage loss prevention.
While almost everyone has heard of GPS tracking systems, some may be wondering how the units are actually used. Ranging from wilderness hiking to improved customer service, here are five of the most popular ways people are using GPS tracking systems today.
Outdoor Sports
GPS tracking devices are often utilized as an added measure of security for enjoying outdoor sports. Not only do the units allow family members to track excursions using GPS tracking software, they also provide invaluable location information in case of an emergency situation. Some GPS tracking devices feature panic buttons which activate a rapid series of location updates and automatically alert specified cell phone numbers.
Improved Customer Service
Ask anyone in the service industry, and they’ll tell you that today’s digital age consumers expect instant and reliable access to the information they want. From real time tracking of shipments and deliveries, to knowing if public transportation is running late, GPS tracking allows management to deliver in-demand information on a silver platter.
Teenager Tracking
Oh, the parental worries that seem to arrive hand-in-hand with every child’s teenage years! Any teen driving a car, dating, and having the freedom to come and go is enough to make any reasonable parent nervous. As a result, parents are now using tracking devices and GPS tracking software to monitor teens’ driving habits, including speed and idle time.
Asset Protection
Construction contractors, business owners and individuals use GPS tracking to protect valuable assets such as heavy equipment, tractors, lawn mowers, vehicles and central air conditioning units. In addition to allowing for speedy recovery of stolen items, GPS tracking may also qualify users for an insurance discount depending on the provider.
Employee Tracking
One of the most painful and hidden costs of doing business is waste caused by unscrupulous employees. Administrators are now using GPS trackers and software to determine if employees are effectively managing their time, obeying the rules of the road, or abusing the use of company vehicles. GPS tracking software quickly provides the answers employers need to operate their businesses as efficiently as possible.
From tracking teenage drivers to identifying sources of financial waste in business, the use of GPS trackers has increased exponentially over the last decade. And, as technology continues to advance, we can only expect that GPS tracking will be used in an ever-increasing number of ways. How could you use GPS in your business or home life?
One of the many ways GPS tracking devices are used for fleet tracking is city bus tracking. Over the last decade, communities have found that the utilization of GPS tracking systems not only improves efficiency in public transportation operations, but also encourages citizens to take advantage of the transportation resources available to them. Here are the top four reasons why GPS tracking improves public bus systems:
Location and Schedule Monitoring
Transportation dispatchers using GPS for fleet tracking are easily able to monitor the location of each bus in real time through the use of GPS tracking software. If a particular route or driver is causing delays within the transportation system, the problem is easily isolated and fixed in a manner that saves time, financial resources, and maintains satisfaction for the public.
Increased Ridership
Simply stated, every public transportation system wants more commuters. Some community bus systems have found that GPS tracking systems which allow patrons to monitor the location and estimated arrival time of their bus via a smartphone application actually increase the overall ridership within the system. For example, if rushed commuters can verify their bus is running on time, or know it is running late, they are much more likely to align their schedules with bus arrival times, resulting in more riders overall.
Fuel Dollars Saved
With fuel costs rising, bus system administrators are becoming increasingly aware of this threat to their bottom lines. As an industry dramatically affected by fuel costs, public bus systems possibly have the most to gain from the use of GPS tracking systems allowing them to identify and remap the most inefficient routes within the system.
Pleased Riders
GPS tracking provides an effective tool for maintaining a city-wide bus system that is hassle free and reliable for patrons, resulting in satisfied, returning public transportation customers.
