Geo-Fencing: Setting New Boundaries

One of the most insightful additions to a tracking system is geo fencing. This system is enabled by using GPS (Global Positioning System). The term ‘geo fence’ means putting a geographical fence around a location on a map. As soon as the vehicle or individual enters or exits the geo fence an alert is issued. This is commonly referred to as an ‘event’. The user can be notified of the ‘event’ by email or text message. The speed at which a vehicle’s location is identified has wide ranging implications for the efficient running of your business.

It is essential that the user has access to the internet for geo fencing to work. They also need to have a vehicle tracking system installed or to carry a phone with integral GPS technology. The vehicle’s position is determined by satellite transmissions. Data from a minimum of four satellites is required before the vehicle’s longitude and latitude can be accounted for on a map. The location of the ‘fence’ is determined by the user when the application is installed and activated. There are a number of ways in which these ‘fences’ can be marked on a map, it could be by street or within a particular square mile or even by using the exact coordinates of the location. The actual shape of the metaphorical fence is a polygon and a large number of ‘fences’ can be entered at any one time.

Now we have identified the way in which this technology works what reasons might people take into account when considering installing a vehicle tracking system?

In some companies the mobile workforce will account for a majority of employees. To operate at maximum efficiency, managers need to know that their fleet are where they say they are. The geo fencing technology can help you to be sure that performance issues are identified and that your fleet are working to return the best possible results for your business.

You can use geo fencing to ensure work is distributed evenly within your team. By plotting ‘fences’ around the locations of your clients, you can prevent time being wasted on trips that overlap and supervise your team to cover more clients in a shorter space of time. On the other hand, if your vehicle has been stolen, the data from your vehicle tracking system can help the police to locate your vehicle. You can even save money on your insurance premiums if you inform your insurer that your fleet has vehicle tracking.

Personal applications of this technology include the ability to track your loved ones, such as vulnerable individuals who may be in your care. By enabling the technology on their wireless phone, you can see if your elderly relative has strayed further from their home than is deemed safe, or to make sure that younger children don’t get lost on their journeys to and from school. It can even be used by parents for that extra piece of mind when their inexperienced drivers take their first long distance journey.