What is GPS? It's an abbreviation of Global Positioning system, a navigation and precise-positioning tool. The system includes 24 satellites orbiting around earth approximately 20,000 kilometers above the earth's surface. The satellites are spread out evenly that four satellites are accessible through direct line of sight from anywhere on the globe.
Each GPS satellite broadcasts a message that includes the satellite's current position, orbit, and exact time. A GPS receiver combines the broadcasts from multiple satellites to calculate its exact position using a process called triangulation.
Imagine you are standing somewhere on Earth with three satellites in the sky above you. If you know how far away you are from satellite A, then you know you must be located somewhere on the red circle. If you do the same for satellites B and C, you can work out your location by seeing where the three circles intersect. This is just what your GPS receiver does, although it uses overlapping spheres rather than circles.
In order for a GPS device to work correctly, it must first establish a connection to the required number of satellites. This process can take anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes, depending on the strength of the receiver. For example, a car's GPS unit will typically establish a GPS connection faster than the receiver in a watch or smartphone. Most GPS devices also use some type of location caching to speed up GPS detection. By memorizing its previous location, a GPS device can quickly determine what satellites will be available the next time it scans for a GPS signal.
NOTE: Since GPS receivers require a relatively unobstructed path to space, GPS technology is not ideal for indoor use. Therefore, smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices often use other means to determine location, such as nearby cell towers and public Wi-Fi signals. This technology, sometimes referred to as the local positioning system (LPS), is often used to supplement GPS when a consistent satellite connection is unavailable.
How is GPS Tracking Information Helpful?
• For parents, it takes some of the worry out of your kids driving long distances home from college. You know where they are and when to expect them home.
• For parents of teenagers, you never have to wonder if your son or daughter is where they say they are. No more late night phone calls asking – “Where are you?"
• For baby-boomers, the shoe is on the other foot - it helps to take some of the worry out of your elderly parents driving home from vacation or just driving around town. You know where they are and this allows them to be more independent.
• GPS tracking is customer service at it’s finest. You know instantly which of your drivers is closest to the customer needing help.
• Imagine how thrilled your customers will be when you can tell them exactly when to expect their delivery!
• For employers, using GPS tracking allows you to know how fast your employees are driving, how long a break they are taking (vehicle hasn’t moved), and if they are where they say they are!
• GPS tracking also allows you to monitor fuel usage based on how fast your employee is driving and the automatic mileage feature reminds you to schedule, regular preventative maintenance.
• GPS tracking is customer service at it’s finest! You know instantly which of your drivers is closest to the customer needing help. And Imagine how thrilled your customers will be when you can tell them exactly when to expect their delivery!
• GPS Tracking can eliminate the need for having your truckers fill out driving logs.
• Many insurance companies now offer discounts for vehicles protected with tracking systems.
Top 6 Benefits to Implementing GPS Vehicle Tracking for Companies
1. Real-time Information
With GPS trackers installed in your vehicles, you will have real-time data on the location of every vehicle in your company allowing you to send the ideal route for your vehicle to avoid delays due to construction, traffic jams or accidents. You will get information if one of the vehicle goes off route or if there are unscheduled stops, etc.
2. Improved Safety
Safety is important when it comes to on the road travel. When the company monitors the vehicles on a regular basis, drivers will be more responsible and careful while driving. During any emergency like vehicle breakdown or any medical emergency, quick and timely action can be carried out if we know exactly where the vehicle is located.
3. Reduced Fuel Cost
Fuel costs are one of the biggest expenses when it comes to vehicle tracking but GPS tracking devices can help cut these costs and save you valuable money. The company may not be able to control the price of gasoline but when they have GPS tracking for company vehicles, they can monitor the amount of fuel each vehicle consumes by using the monitoring software, they can study the fuel consumption and eventually find ways to lower gas bills.
4. Ability to Recover the Vehicle After Theft
If a company vehicle gets stolen, the GPS vehicle tracking system will provide you with Sms alerts and mapping data. You can submit these to the proper authorities to recover your stolen vehicle and protect company assets.
5. Better Customer Service
When your customers are having an outage, you need to respond quickly. Sending the closet vehicle during an outage will enhance customer service. With vehicle tracking, you can also quickly alert your customers to the estimated time of service restoration, improving customer satisfaction.
6. Increased Employee Productivity
One of the ways to ensure employees productivity is to monitor employees with GPS. Your employees will be motivated to work harder since they know they are being tracked. They will not be wasting time if there are accurate time records kept by the company.
There are so many awesome benefits of GPS to companies, but mostly, it is good for big businesses who need to manage a lot of employees. You can save time and money when your company vehicles and employees are working to their fullest potential. The benefits of GPS to companies would be smoother business management and an improvement in customer service delivery.