When I talk to customers about the advantages of vehicle tracking, the first things I tend to focus on are the long term benefits the system can offer to their business. This can be through monitoring drivers’ whereabouts, calculating the most economical routes, verifying delivery times, scheduling vehicle maintenance, and so on.

All of these are very important considerations and can make a big impact on a business, but one thing that I perhaps don’t get chance to highlight as often is the added security that vehicle tracking can offer.

Only recently one of our customers had a vehicle stolen, but as it was fitted with our tracking device, they were able to trace its exact whereabouts, which enabled the vehicle to be retrieved just a day later – saving them a lot of time and also the hassle and expense of having to replace the vehicle.

Luckily not many of our customers have been through this experience, but it is reassuring to know that should you be one of the unfortunate ones, knowing the vehicle is fitted with a tracking device should allow you to retrieve it in a short period of time and hopefully minimise any disruption to your business.

This week’s Labour party conference highlighted the growing concern over anti-social behaviour and crime – something most people can relate to. But in business it can cause its own range of problems, particularly for employers who have the security of their personnel to account for.

Many of us with a mobile workforce are all too aware of the safety issues that can be faced – from dangerous drivers to theft, it’s important for a business to take control of the security measures to help protect its staff.

But other than giving them a mobile phone, what else can be done? Plenty if you know where to look. Today’s vehicle tracking systems offer some of the most advanced technology available to help protect your workforce and your equipment. From incorporating panic alerts, to location tracking and anti-theft solutions, a good system can be tailored to your requirements so that specific security issues can be tackled.

If you want to find out more about safety for your workforce, why not get in touch?

Any company with a mobile workforce is able to increase its visibility through branded vehicles. These vehicles can get your company seen by thousands of people throughout the UK without you having to spend thousands on a marketing campaign.

However, as much as this exposure can benefit your company, you also need to consider the potential damage to your reputation should one of your drivers be seen driving dangerously. In a company vehicle, it’s easy for the public to report examples of dangerous driving, which also means that they’re unlikely to want to use your services for any future business requirements.

With a good vehicle tracking system, not only can you monitor all of your drivers’ whereabouts, but you can also monitor the style of their driving and make sure that they’re not breaking any speed limits.

Tracking can offer you peace of mind, plus any accusations of dangerous driving or speeding can be challenged and verified. To find out more please give us a call

A survey from the RAC this week highlighted the distractions being faced by motorists on our roads – 39% said they were distracted by things like changing CDs, warning lights on the dashboard, fiddling with sat navs and using mobile phones.

This is the latest in a number of surveys that have looked at the distractions drivers have before them.

For companies with a mobile workforce, drivers should be made aware of the dangers of such distractions, but things can be done to help minimise the dangers. Good vehicle tracking – rather than using a basic sat nav system is one way to stay safer. With much of the control coming from head office, together with automatic data collection and reporting, the need to ‘fiddle’ with the sat nav is largely removed.

Not only this, but V-SOL offers a full hands free solution (with total voice control) that can replace a mobile phone, with the benefit that its simple operation means there is no display to distract the driver. It can even answer for you while on the move and also be programmed to only allow outgoing calls when the vehicle is stationery.

Safety is just one of the benefits of effective vehicle tracking – why not find out about some of the others and how they could support your business?

The latest 2p per litre increase in fuel duty by the Government is adding to the burden of many businesses that have a mobile workforce. In addition to working in a challenging economic environment, they now have to cope with further increases in fuel prices – not good news.

But more efficient management of vehicle operations can off-set these rising costs – it’s all about getting the most out of your vehicle tracking.

The latest tracking systems allow companies to monitor fuel usage; control and re-direct vehicles in the field to minimise fuel wastage; plan collections to maximise operational efficiency; and with accurate reporting even challenge issues such as speeding fines – all things that can significantly help with cost control in the current market.

If you already have tracking technology now’s the time to find out how your system can help improve your expenditure. If you’re not tracking your vehicles, take a look at the systems available, but make sure you get the full picture of what control is available and the accuracy of reports delivered – read more about it here.

Intel and Microsoft are preparing for the launch of the latest Windows software – Windows 7, with one of the biggest new features being a touchscreen interface, which is aimed to improve efficiency, performance and usability.

V-SOL’s vehicle tracking system already incorporates a touchscreen interface and we have seen how its simplicity and ease of use has made a very positive impact on the functionality of the system.

With all the benefits that vehicle tracking can offer a company, it is important that the operating system is designed to be as simple as possible in order to make sure that all users feel happy and confident in using it to get the most out of the product.

Whether or not your business will be investing in the new Windows 7 software, the benefits of touchscreen technology are worth exploring, so if you’d like to discuss this in more detail, please get in touch.

Traditionally August is a quiet month – Politicians are on summer recess, schools are on holiday, and many of us in business take a well-earned break.

But in the current climate can we really afford to take our foot off the gas?  While everyone needs time to recharge their batteries, business cannot afford to stand still.

There is no doubt that things are quieter this month – decision makers are away, and it will be September before things start to really move again – but that shouldn’t stop you from planning for the coming months to help put your company in a stronger position.

For starters if you have a mobile workforce take a look at your tracking system and the reporting technology it offers.  This can provide an invaluable insight into the operational performance of your organisation, revealing where savings can be made, how to improve customer service, and details about your workforce.

Speak to your tracking provider for more details, but use any quiet time you have to do some digging into the data – you should be able to get easy to use reports anyway – and you may find new opportunities to improve your performance and save costs come the autumn.

Out of the recession that is.  The truth is nobody knows when the UK economy is going to bounce back, but we are hopeful of some early signs.

We’re getting more enquiries, particularly from businesses keen to take greater control over their operations and cost base.  One thing the recession has done is quickly show any business with a mobile workforce the importance of managing operations more efficiently – and effectively.

When every penny counts, being able to reduce elements such as fuel costs and ensure driver working hours are more productive can be the life blood of the business.

It’s easy for us to say – we know the benefits good vehicle tracking can bring to a business – we’ve delivered them for many businesses.  But, if you don’t know, why not take a little time to find out? It needn’t take long, and it could be the boost you need to keep afloat until the end of the recession is in site.

In the current economic climate every business is trying to cut costs and make savings where possible, but with the telematics industry now seeing vehicle tracking available for as little as £0.25 a day, we are in danger of de-valuing the service we offer.

Vehicle tracking can allow companies to make major improvements to their operations, generating substantial cost savings and boosting performance – yet still companies are being led to believe that they can pay less than £2 a week for the service.  At this level the real benefits of the technology won’t ever be seen – no company can get a comprehensive service that will improve their operational performance for this level of investment.

GPS tracking technology is constantly evolving and in order to keep our products up to date with these advancements and maintain the highest levels of service, we must make sure that businesses recognise the true value of what a quality vehicle tracking system can deliver.

These low-pricing structures may be helping companies manage costs in the short term, but they are not sustainable and in the long-term can only lead to a far weakened telematics industry.