| With the tremendous growth seen in Industries | | | | a location tracked on a map |
| across the globe, demand for effective | | | | · All generic mapping features like Zoom |
| transportation is on the rise. I would like to stress | | | | In, Zoom Out, Pan, Full Extent |
| on the word effective because transportation is | | | | · Generation of MIS reports for location |
| not only looked upon as a mere mean of fetching | | | | tracking and speed analysis |
| and delivering good but also a mean to increase | | | | · Customization of frequency of message |
| your company's credibility and efficiency. | | | | passing |
| Imagine a truck load of goods missing the | | | | · Fully workable solution |
| deadline. Not only would you suffer in losses for | | | | This technology emerged as a Location Based |
| that particular delivery but also loose precious | | | | Service (LBS) in developed countries since it |
| credibility with your client. If the frequency of | | | | requires a fully indexed road network, however |
| delayed delivery increases, your credibility is going | | | | with economic boom in developing countries, |
| to suffer further. Most freight company's as well | | | | many private sector organisations like Navteq |
| as producers rely on mobile phone communication | | | | have indexed most of the heavy traffic and |
| and road maps to keep track of their vehicles. | | | | metropolitan road network. Many mobile phone |
| However, your driver, no matter the experience | | | | companies like Nokia and ASUS have already |
| can never predict the entire road network of a | | | | started offering GPS functionality in their high end |
| region. A map is helpful but can become outdated. | | | | products. As more and more companies start |
| Add to that the fact that you not able to track | | | | offering GPS based products to their consumers, |
| your fleet's progress yourself but are relying | | | | maintenance and operational costs of GPS based |
| solely on your driver with precious good. If you | | | | Fleet Management systems are guaranteed to |
| are operating on a fleet of anything more than 20 | | | | come down. |
| vehicles, you are definitely in high waters. | | | | Benefits of GPS Fleet Management: |
| This is where a visual management technology call | | | | · Increased Driver Productivity |
| GPS or Global Positioning System comes in. Using | | | | · Real-Time Dispatch Tool |
| highly efficient and reliable satellites, the receiver is | | | | · Decreased Overtime |
| able to not only show your driver the way but | | | | · Reduced Fuel Expenses |
| also relay back the position of the vehicle to the | | | | · Improved Customer Service |
| satellite and back to you. This all happens using a | | | | · More accurate Billing |
| very powerful microchip embedded into the | | | | · Decreased Driver Speeding |
| device which can do the maths in milliseconds and | | | | · Lower Insurance Costs 5-15% |
| keep a constant track of your vehicles. | | | | Curious to know the way this device works? |
| Not only do you have information about your | | | | These are the basics of the system: An umbrella |
| fleet movement within a few seconds but you no | | | | of 24 geostationary satellites constantly send and |
| longer have to guess your way while planning | | | | receive signals from the receiver which can be a |
| routes. True this might not prevent delays but | | | | hand-held computer, a laptop or a custom |
| you are now able to formulate backup plans as | | | | manufactured transceiver. |
| you have the right information at the right time. | | | | GPS systems have been used as a one way |
| Since GPS based Fleet Management Systems | | | | channel in the past. Primary objective was |
| provide you with live information and given the | | | | navigation. With more and more funds pouring for |
| fact that you can revisit this information at any | | | | research and further development of this |
| time you need, these high-tech Fleet Management | | | | technology, GPS is not able to function as a two |
| Systems can be categorised broadly into Active, | | | | way tracking system. A microchip installed on the |
| Passive and Hybrid Fleet Management Systems. | | | | device translates the signals and is able to locate |
| Features of a GPS system: | | | | its position on a map installed in the device. Using |
| · Real time tracking of the vehicle | | | | additional information like acceleration, the GPS |
| · Ability to store the data for convenient | | | | system shows the best possible route to reach |
| use | | | | the destination. This is done from the beginning to |
| · Query facility to identify information for | | | | the end of the journey. |