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.

There’s a lot of choice in the vehicle tracking market at the moment, so how do you know where to begin?�
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When making any decision about a supplier we evaluate them to be sure they are right for us – and we’d always recommend you do the same.  In our opinion the best business is done when both the customer and the supplier have like-minded objectives and values.
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In terms of vehicle tracking, the technology in this area has come on in leaps and bounds over the last 10 years, and while you can opt for a low cost pay as you go solution the reality is that for most businesses this is never going to give access to the knowledge that comes from a supplier who will commit the time to help you get the most from the technology.

Without spending much more you can get a system that is tailored to your business operations, enabling you to improve performance across the board.  V-SOL, for example, offers a range of solutions, with expert advice from a team who work with you to create your ideal tracking system.
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The first step for any business is to look at the real needs of your operations – for example, what information would you need to help you save money now?  Do not be fooled by claims of savings of over £500 per week etc. If your business really was wasting that much per vehicle it would not be a vehicle tracking system that was required! 

Put simply, take the time to research and talk to suppliers to find out what they know and how they would work with you to find the best solution for your needs. This is almost certainly going to be one who has the time to help you, and your business will quickly reap the rewards.

In this day and age we all hear about the importance of being ‘greener’.  For businesses it is becoming a vital part of their market positioning, with consumers increasingly swayed by environmental credentials.

But being greener doesn’t necessarily mean being more expensive or less efficient.  For example, for distribution companies – often accused of excessive fuel usage – vehicle tracking technology can reduce the levels of fuel they use and improve operational efficiency, and that can only be a good thing in such a competitive market.

The latest tracking systems offer a fast, easy to use solution to plan the best routes and direct the most suitable vehicles to make collections.  The result means distribution companies can save money, improve performance and customer service.  But the benefits don’t just apply to distribution companies – consider sectors such as property, road or energy maintenance – in fact any organisation with a mobile workforce.

Going green needn’t cost the earth.  If you already have vehicle tracking look at how it can work to help you enhance your environmental performance, and if you aren’t yet being ‘tracked’ take a look at the growing business benefits the latest systems can offer.

In a difficult climate, there is little tolerance for shoddy customer service. Companies are constantly striving to achieve higher customer satisfaction levels and introducing new procedures to enhance service. However, as much as some of these new procedures may make things a little easier, the best way to maintain high levels of customer service is through good communication.

Vehicle tracking provides you with a great source of information to keep your customers up to date. The real time reporting allows you to know exactly where each vehicle is, enabling you to calculate a far more accurate time of arrival for each appointment – compared to a window of several hours.

But remember, knowing where your vehicles are is great, but let your customers share in the benefits that vehicle tracking brings too – keep them in the know. Regular and accurate updates will help to build a strong and prosperous relationship that will last for years to come.

Often when I first talk to businesses about implementing tracking, they can see the benefits of the system, but believe that they don’t need to install the technology because they are in regular communication with drivers via mobile phones.

Now, mobile phones are fantastic and have become such a huge part of our lives that it is hard to imagine how we coped before them, but when it comes to keeping track of your mobile workforce, there’s no replacement for tracking.

Firstly, while mobile phone coverage is much improved on what it was, it still has a way to go – compare this to GPS, which receives strong signal in both city and remote locations. Secondly, many vehicle tracking systems have voice communication built in, so you needn’t worry about drivers running up huge phone bills – you are in control of the calls.

Finally, while many companies will rely solely on mobile phones for communication, remember that just because someone tells you they are in a certain location, doesn’t necessarily mean that they are.  Vehicle tracking can tell you exactly where they are, when they arrived, and a lot more besides, helping manage your business more effectively.

Vehicle tracking offers you accurate, real-time reporting, with the ability, if required, to contact drivers at any time, knowing exactly where they are. So, if you’re fed up of patchy portable mobile phone coverage, vehicle tracking communications could be your best solution.

Throughout the UK businesses are being faced with a challenging market that is forcing them to make some tough decisions in order to survive the economic downturn. Cut backs are being made left, right and centre, but the question is, where do you draw the line?

Financial directors up and down the country are looking at all outgoings and seeing which are expendable and unfortunately, this is when vehicle tracking comes under threat. However, as much as it is true that there is a cost to a vehicle tracking service, when this service is used correctly, the savings made more than cover this.

The key is to make sure that all services that you do subscribe to are the best available option to you and also that you are using them to your best advantage. For example, with tracking, if you can see that drivers are taking a route that is twenty miles longer than an alternative road, then don’t just record this information – do something about it and save yourself the money on fuel.

We’ve recently received a £30k order from our longest standing client, which just goes to show how companies can use tracking as a central tool in their business development.

When integrated into a company’s business strategy, tracking can help you make considerable savings – and is certainly not an expendable outgoing.

The transport IT market doesn’t stand still for long, and at present it seems to be changing every week. News of Minorplanet Systems’ losses and GlobalLive’s rescue has been making press headlines, as the industry waits for the next round of consolidation.

But it’s not all bad news. Yes, the market is competitive but there is still growth potential out there. What we’re seeing is the market adjusting to economic conditions, and the result is that it is those companies that are the most innovative and customer focused that will survive and grow.

V-SOL actually started trading at about the same time as Minorplanet, but we’ve had a very different approach to growth and investment. This has paid off and we’re now looking to grow through acquisition – we want to expand our operations and utilise the expertise we have.

It’s going to be an exciting few months for us, and we’re well placed in the changing market, with funding already in place for our acquisition plans. Keep an eye on our website for further developments as they happen.

The benefits vehicle tracking can bring to your company are significant to say the least, but aside from the obvious uses, are you aware of some of the additional features of a live tracking system?

Voice communication, under strict control, is the perfect example of an extra feature on vehicle tracking that is often overlooked. This system allows fleet managers and drivers to communicate directly, without incurring the additional costs of a mobile phone contract.

Voice communication allows drivers to speak to their fleet managers at any time they are on the move. The office can control both the numbers called and the length of each call. Not only is this a convenient method of keeping in touch, but it also means that you don’t need to worry about a driver calling wrong or unauthorised numbers or the phone being off just when you need it, as tracking systems are always on.

So, if you would like to have the benefit of such a system and no more trouble getting through to your drivers, a vehicle tracking system with total voice control could just be the answer.