Look around your office. Every piece of equipment, every computer, desk, chair and plug socket is a business asset. While they’re all in one place, they’re easy to keep track of. You’d notice if a desk was missing or if a computer had been moved.

But what about outside the office? What are your assets doing and where are they doing it? We’re not just talking about cars and vehicles here, but your primary asset as well – your people. Keeping track of business assets, particularly if your operation depends on lone workers operating outside your main business site, can be difficult.

Why do I need to track?

If you’re running a fleet of vehicles, knowing that they’re moving from point A to point B in the most efficient manner can make a major difference to your operations. Vehicle Tracking doesn’t just let you see where everyone is at one time. It helps you to plan your logistics accurately, ensuring that the nearest driver is allocated to a collection point, for example, or dealing with a delivery query accurately. The more information you can give your customers, the better the relationship you can build with them. A fast, efficient service that utilises vehicle tracking technology can also save you a considerable amount in fuel costs by ensuring your fleet is working at maximum potential.

It also gives your lone workers an added element of safety, particularly if they are operating in remote parts of the country. Although 90% of the UK has mobile phone coverage, there are ‘black spots’ where mobile network signals are unobtainable. A vehicle tracking system allows you to monitor their position and if there is an emergency, can be a potential life saver. If a tracked vehicle has an accident in a remote location, a tracking system will allow you to direct the emergency services straight to the vehicle’s exact position.

Track and trace – not just plotting your fleet

Track and trace systems don’t just identify your fleet’s position. A comprehensive vehicle tracking system can also supply you with a wealth of technical data on fuel consumption, speed and mileage. It can also notify you if a vehicle is being used ‘out of hours’ either by the operator or if the vehicle has been stolen. Again, this gives you control of your fleet, letting you notify the Police if a vehicle has been taken and speeding up the chance of recovering the vehicle.

This can also have an unexpected financial benefit on fleet insurance. Insurers are very much in favour of tracking systems because they mean fewer insurance claims for theft or damage. If you’re operating a large fleet that can mean a considerable financial saving year on year – money that can be re-invested back into your business.

Vehicle Tracking also gives you the chance to plan your daily operations based on information fed back in real-time. Routes can be planned with meticulous accuracy, ensuring that every vehicle is operating at maximum efficiency. Cargo tracking refines the process still further, allowing you to position every piece of cargo your fleet is carrying. This can help to keep your customers better informed, tighten up on delivery and collection times and improve your service overall.

So tracking isn’t just about learning the location of a vehicle. Tracking offers a wealth of benefits, from logistics right through to cost savings and efficiency improvements. For a small initial outlay the savings in fuel costs alone can mean that a tracking system can pay for itself within months, giving you a great return on your initial investment. With software updates and maintenance provided by the supplier, tracking systems are proving to be an integral part of modern vehicle fleet management.

Author Bio: Chris Bourne Online Manager Intercity http://www.intercity-uk.com Chris Bourne-Intercity is a leading independent service provider in the business communications market. Intercity offer Vehicle Tracking Solutions and vehicle fleet management.

Category: Computers and Technology
Keywords: vehicle tracking,tracking system,vehicle tracking system,comprehensive vehicle tracking