Vehicle geolocation: an essential management tool for any company that seeks to optimize its performance and costs.
Before discussing the real cost of a vehicle tracking system, it is important to understand how this equipment works and, above all, what services can be expected from it. Concretely, it involves placing a GPS unit equipped with a SIM card (to return data) and any peripheral accessories such as an immobilizer or a driver identification system inside the vehicle.
The principle is simple: the GPS unit collects data relating to the vehicle and the driver and transmits them to a server. The data is then centralized, analyzed and sent back to the fleet manager on a management platform as well as on mobile applications. Note in passing that the management platform is, according to the supplier, itself connected to the company's ecosystem to centralize, analyze and manage all the parameters of the vehicle fleet on a single management tool.
Optimum has thus developed an exclusively rich data hub. It provides the fleet manager with all the information needed to make informed decisions.
The functionalities of a vehicle geolocation system
Features may vary from provider to provider. Therefore, it is not possible to define standard characteristics for all. Take for example the functionalities offered by Optimum, the European specialist in connected vehicles:
- Instant vehicle geolocation
- History of trips made
- Geo-fences and corridors: alerts when entry/leaving configurable areas
- Search for the proximity of vehicles or agents
- Management and display of POIs and address book
- MANAGEMENT OF VEHICLES AND DRIVERS: administrative files and group tree
- ALLOCATION OF VEHICLES TO DRIVERS
- CONFIDENTIALITY: management of private trips using several methods
- MANAGEMENT OF ACCESS RIGHTS: manager, supervisors, employees, etc.
- SENDING FREE, UNLIMITED AND HISTORICAL SMS messages from the platform
- ALERT CENTER: more than 20 configurable alerts
- REPORT CENTER: over 20 configurable periodic or instant reports
- VEHICLE PROTECTION: immobilizer (hardware option)
- DRIVER IDENTIFICATION (hardware option)
- PRIVACY AND/OR SOS BUTTONS in vehicles (hardware option)
- SEGMENT SPEED ANALYSIS (optional)
What are the expected benefits of a vehicle tracking system?
Each business has its own needs, of course! However, businesses and public administrations that have equipped their vehicle fleets with GPS units often see the same benefits:
SAVINGS:
Reduction of kilometers traveled, operating costs (fuel, maintenance, tires, etc.), reduction/elimination of non-work-related use, reduction of accidents, extension of vehicle life, etc.
PERFECT VISIBILITY OF FIELD ACTIVITY
Departure time, arrival time on site, time spent on site
INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY
Tools to do more in the same amount of time (route optimization, proximity search, alerts in case of delays and/or absences)
OPTIMIZING CUSTOMER SERVICE
Increased reactivity thanks to real-time alerts, traceability and a history of interventions.
VEHICLE AND EQUIPMENT SAFETY
Instant alerts to facilitate vehicle recovery (reduction in insurance premiums and downtime).
How much does it cost to locate a vehicle?
The answer may surprise you, but the important thing is not to know how much it costs. The important thing is to know what it brings! Because equipping vehicles with a geolocation system is above all a management act intended to optimize fleet management and its overall cost.
It can be said that it generally costs less than 20 euros per month per vehicle. However, the expected savings can vary considerably from provider to provider due to the features offered. Optimum customers, for example, see an average saving of €125* per month and per vehicle from the first month of operation. With this type of return on investment, vehicle geolocation is not a new cost, but a real new source of savings!
Beyond the expected savings, be sure to read between the lines to assess the real value of a prize. Behind a price are equipment, services and support. So be sure to analyze the services provided in detail before making your decision and selecting a provider. Analyze the warranties on parts and labor offered during the contract, the frequency of data downloads (full data), the possibility of roaming, the costs of disassembling/replacing in the event of a vehicle change.
To help you make your choice, some service providers, such as Optimum, offer an audit of your vehicle fleet. This makes it possible to understand the current cost of your fleet, to identify optimization levers and to estimate the amount of expected savings.
One last important point: the scalability of the services offered! Today, your need is focused on the geolocation of vehicles. But what about tomorrow? The growth of your business could create new needs. For example, with driving analysis, mission management, fleet management, car sharing and car sharing, etc.
The provider offering the broadest range of services will be in the best position to support you over the long term without requiring you to increase the number of management tools and suppliers.
In conclusion, equipping vehicles with a geolocation system is a real management tool designed to optimize the costs and productivity of mobile teams, as well as to secure vehicles and optimize/facilitate fleet management. While the cost may seem essential at the beginning, the important thing when choosing a provider is to focus on the services offered (a price necessarily corresponds to a given service), the expected savings and the supplier's ability to support you over the long term.
* Study conducted in 2020 with a representative sample of Optimum Automotive customers.
