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Tracking systems are offering higher-quality technology
The days of tracking systems just 'putting a dot on a map' are gone. With the right interfaces and software, you can monitor loads, provide reports on fleet performance, monitor driver safety, improve customer service and more
Vehicle tracking has been the mainstay of large fleets for some time, and is a pretty common fitment in even small fleets now. As the telematics market has matured, the software has evolved to offer so much more than just tracking an individual vehicle.
"Telematics is now a commodity." says Andy Kirk, sales and marketing director of tracking firm Quartix. "The telematics system is so cost-effective that it shouldn't cost you very much."
As a result, the emphasis has changed: whereas tracking providers used to stress the features of their hardware - size, ruggedness, ease of fitment, and so on - now their marketing is all about what their products offer in terms of reporting, benchmarking and integration with other systems/Tracking systems are expected to talk to routeing and scheduling software, tachograph monitoring services, electronic resource planning (ERP) systems and much more.
The emphasis has also changed from theft prevention and reporting the driver's activities to optimising fleet performance and strategic planning: whereas every tracking linn used to wheel out examples of drivers caught spending hours off their routes, now they justify their products in terms of carbon footprint and ROl (return on investment). Some don't even define themselves as tracking providers any more. Greville Coe. sales and marketing director of Isotrak. says: "We see ourselves more as a systems integrator in the telematics space."
So what exactly can tracking systems do. and how can you choose between them?
Hardware & software
Each vehicle to be tracked is fitted with a small powered tracking device, which typically contains a GPS receiver and a communications device operating on the GSM or 3G mobile phone network. This device is given various names - for example. Masternaut calls it an MCU. while Microlise calls its product the 'MTU3 in-vehicle computer".
The capabilities of these devices have changed: where they used to be single-function devices, now many can be connected to a vehicle's CANbus data network, transmitting information on vehicle condition, fuel usage and driver...