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Fleet Management Solutions And Your Business
Any business manager wants to run an operation that is efficient and profitable. This is especially true for those involved in fleet management; running a vehicle fleet can be extremely costly and at times wasteful, this is due to the fact that the manager rarely possesses direct control over operatives meaning that inefficiency runs rife. This however has been changing in recent years thanks to the introduction of GPS fleet management tools in many companies.
These systems allow the manager to track all of their assets while they are out on the road, giving them control over all operatives whilst having the information on any specific vehicle at their fingertips.
GPS fleet management solutions are the most effective and worthwhile way to track a fleet of company vehicles throughout the working day as well as out of hours. As a result the industry as a whole has been growing steadily over the last few years, as businesses realise the benefits of these systems. Companies of all sizes, from locally run operations to multi national corporations can benefit from the implementation of a fleet management system. Choosing which one however with such a wealth of choices on the market can be difficult, with numerous options and complicated jargon it is not surprising that so many are left discombobulated. Hopefully the following article will make this selection a little easer and straightforward.
The first consideration to be made concerns the speed and regularity that the data will be required. Depending upon this decision will mean that either a 'real time' or 'passive' fleet management system is employed. Both of these systems provide essential information on driver behaviour and will help increase efficiency by giving vehicle speeds, locations, directions and route. They do differ however in the methods of delivery.
Real time fleet management solutions give the manager up to the minute information on vehicles and operatives. This form of vehicle tracking has rapidly become the most poplar for this reason; especially as when it is combined with a cellular phone network it allows the manager to have intimate control over all workers no matter where they are.
An added bonus is that some systems incorporate a text message update medium that updates managers of any instances of unauthorised vehicle use or circumstances such as speeding or unwarranted detours. This form of fleet management can improve efficiency by reducing the time spent idling and by enacting the most fuel efficient routes. Some companies have even reported that after implementing this form of system, fuel usage can drop by as much a twenty percent.
Passive vehicle tracking has a fundamental difference to real time. It records all of the same information but instead of relaying this information immediately, the data is not transmitted to the central computer until the end of the working day when the vehicles return to the headquarters. This download can be performed wirelessly as soon as the vehicle enters the paddock although manual download systems do exist. These types of system are often cheaper than real time variants although a sacrifice is made in the relevancy of the information.
Hopefully this article has given those involved in fleet management an idea of the two predominant forms of vehicle tracking system out there. Both will have certain applications depending upon the situations they are being used in. For those buying a system remember that a careful and conscientious approach will yield the best results.
About the Author Business and technology expert Thomas Pretty looks at how GPS fleet management systems can improve the efficiency and profitability of companies. |
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