It is a general misconception amongst people that when we talk about GPS tracking, it is only in regards to a mobile workforce. It is believed that it is shipping and freightage companies only that have a need for vehicle tracking systems in their organisation. However, we want to debunk this myth. If you are a business that has a stationary set-up and stock-still assets, much like a construction company, you qualify to be an avid user of vehicle tracking services. With fleet tracking, you can ensure that your machines and vehicles stay where they are supposed to be, and are put to use as per the schedule. You will never be worried about your equipment going missing, or being misused.
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As industrialisation takes the world by storm, it is not surprising that the construction industry is rapidly moving forward with the tide. The equipment that is put to use in this sector is highly specific and application specialised. And since the machinery used is tremendously expensive, their appropriate maintenance, monitoring and operation is required. Such assets are also subject to theft due to their exorbitant prices.
Because of that, it is imperative that your business is investing in a GPS vehicle tracker immediately. If you are still unconvinced, then we will give you 5 reasons why your construction business must have a Vehicle Tracking System.
1. Go beyond location tracking
A fleet tracking system comes with many facilities that move far beyond the general functionalities it offers. Even if you do not require basic services like route optimisation, past trip data, etc, it is still important that you implement a vehicle tracking system. The value it drives comes from the fact that you can obtain analytics reports about the hours the equipment was used for, employee logs, usage history of various machinery, and more.
It can also come in handy when short distance shipping is to be done. In such cases, you can be assured that your vehicle is not being misused or utilised for personal benefits. Moreover, a GPS based vehicle tracking system also provides servicing alerts. With this alert system, you will be notified of all the equipment that has been serviced so far, or requires maintenance activities to be done. You can also set up a regular trigger system that updates you on upcoming maintenance services.
Thus, with a vehicle tracking system, if your machinery is located a job off-site, or you are away from it for longer periods, you can be convinced that your asset is suitably maintained and gets the servicing it needs.
2. Stay a step ahead from theft
In today’s world, nothing is immune to theft. And so your vehicles, or equipment, are prone to robbery at any given time. The best way to prevent that from happening is jumping on the GPS tracking bandwagon. A vehicle tracking system not only informs you about the current location, it also sends out notifications to you if anyone tries to break into the vehicle or machinery. It also gives you the reigns to remotely lock/unlock your vehicle, thus even if thieves try to pry open the doors, the secure lock can prevent them from doing so.
On the other hand, if your equipment does end up getting stolen, you can try to recover it by immediately looking at the current location. Or if the vehicle tracking system is somehow disabled by the robbers, you can still access the last-stored location, which can play a vital role in recovering your machinery.
Nobody is unaware about the amount of paperwork that comes with insurance claims. Along with that, the manpower and productivity that is lost in the process in invaluable. Replacing the equipment/vehicle is another hassle altogether. So it is best that you skip over such trials and tribulations and invest in a GPS tracker.
Also read: How Various Business Verticals Can Benefit from Telematics
3. Get updates even from remote areas
When you are in the construction business, you are no stranger to the fact that sometimes you may get assignments that are located in remote areas. In such places, it is difficult to get cellular data signals, let alone have access to internet. When cases like this arise, business managers find it hard to effectively communicate with their crew on the jobsite. Along with that, they would not be able to stay updated with the progress of the project, or if timely shipping and deliveries are being carried out.
Also, as an employer, it is your duty to ensure the safety of your employees. So when your staff is out at a remote location on the job, it is important that they are well looked after, and are tended to in case of any unwarranted emergency.
Moreover, as the manager, the maintenance and upkeep of your machinery falls under your domain. However, if the equipment and vehicles are deployed on the field, without your presence it may be difficult to identify malfunctions or manage equipment breakdowns.
Thus, in order to solve all the above, a fleet tracking system can come in handy. Even when the device is under no internet connectivity, you can still obtain periodic updates about the position. In case of any emergency, distress notifications and SOS calls can be made and the concerned personnel will be alerted and can take action accordingly.
4. Supervise driver behaviour
As a business, you most certainly cannot afford to invest in liabilities. And reckless drivers are the most problematic handicap to any organisation. A single accident can lead to heavy monetary losses, and more importantly, put your human resource at risk. Apart from that, if your drivers have a tendency of rash driving and irresponsible conduct, it also reflects poorly on your brand, and brings down the value of your organisation.
Any vehicle in your fleet that is tasked with transportation and shipping needs to be carefully watched to ensure that timely deliveries are being made. However, in order to make deliveries on time, drivers may be tempted to indulge in exceeding the speed limit, or be a distracted driver due to stress. In such cases also, driver behaviour needs to be monitored to ensure that they do not put themselves, and the cargo, at risk just to stick to the timeline.
For this purpose, construction companies must put in GPS trackers so that it does not impact your customer base, and maintains the safety of your drivers. If potential customers fall under the impression that you allow your crew to drive as they please and put others at risk, they may not want to take up your services. VTS allows you to keep a check on driver’s speed, idling, hard braking and overspeeding by obtaining continuous alerts on the same. You will also be notified if they take unauthorised routes, or make stops longer than necessary.
5. Get reliable data to settle disputes
The sad truth in the world of business is that you cannot satisfy every customer that comes to seek your company’s services. Sometimes, due to this dissatisfaction, there is certain name calling and blame game that ensues. In such cases, it is important that you have a vehicle tracking system embedded in your equipment and vehicles such that you can back your claim and not be held accountable for lack of work or time invested.
At the end of any project, a fleet tracker is useful in showcasing the entire project journey: the amount of time spent by your staff, the machinery used, and if any extra time was devoted to the project. In this way, the client can be assured that their money is not being taken under falsehood, and will be a testament to your company’s integrity and hard work. This will, no doubt, put your organisation in good stead with your customer base and you will be able to secure payments, and customers, easily and effectively.
LocoNav offers your business solutions for Vehicle Tracking, Fleet Monitoring and Telematics. LocoNav helps you in optimising your operations and business while you focus on the growth of your enterprise!
Also read: The Indian Commercial Vehicle Industry in Years to Come: A Forecast