Instead of telling your customer that a service technician will arrive sometime within a four-hour window on another day, imagine if you could advise them the technician just finished another job in the neighborhood and will be right over. That’s the sort of efficiency GPS tracking technology can deliver for your small business.
The same technology that allows us to navigate roadways also allows businesses to direct mobile employees in real time and serve their customers more efficiently.
Companies like US Cellular offer vehicle monitoring so owners can view drivers' locations in real time, and make sure they are in tip-top shape. Alerts let you know if any car maintenance is needed, and access on your device helps you stay on top of who is where, and when they'll be on their way.
With a GPS system and online map technology, entrepreneurs can see where their service and sales staff members are at every moment. This innovative resource allows you to accomplish the following:
Deploy workers. By viewing employees’ locations on a map, you can easily see who is in the best position to respond to a new service request.
Update customers. With a real-time view of vehicles on a map, you can give customers more accurate estimates of when your workers will arrive at their locations.
Access nearby materials or expertise. The most common reason for field technicians not being able to resolve a customer issue on the first visit is not having the right part. Being able to quickly direct staff to where they can pick up a part from a nearby location or another technician increases customer satisfaction and saves you time, which saves you money.
Receive automatic, hands-free updates. GPS technology shows you your employee’s location straight away -- rather than you having to call or text message them, improving productivity and safety.
In addition, vehicle location tracking systems can allow you to:
Set limits. Designate virtual “fences” and speed limits, and receive alerts if vehicles travel outside of those areas or exceed the speed you choose.
Verify performance. Track trips by date and time and you have the data to review employee productivity and service levels. For example, you may be able to show that your technicians arrive on time 99 percent of the time and complete 80 percent of service calls within an hour.
Manage vehicles more efficiently. When you manage trips better, you save fuel costs by decreasing mileage, idling and speeding. Fleets using GPS location tracking systems have shown improvements of more than 20 percent in workforce productivity and decreased fuel costs, according to a study by the Aberdeen Group.
Location tracking systems can also monitor vehicle systems, such as whether a battery or oil is running low.
A business in Oregon was able to locate a stolen tractor-trailer through a GPS tracking system, and data from the system led police to products stolen from the trailer. The GPS tracker showed the truck had been parked at another location for a while before moving to the place where it was eventually found, and that led police to the stolen goods.
The laws governing electronic tracking are still evolving, so check with counsel about the laws in your area and any updates you should make to your company policies before you start tracking vehicles.