48 Security Dealer & Integrator / www.SecurityInfoWatch.com February 2018
I
n today's world, it is common to hear that
a business should be making "data-driven
decisions." Technology is advancing at a
rapid pace, making it possible to harness
data and use it to find new efficiencies in a
vehicle fleet; however not every business has caught
on. Owners of smaller fleets in particular may feel
like they just do not have space in their budgets,
but companies of every size can benefit from fleet
management technology – which, in time, should
provide a significant ROI.
Fleet tracking systems can be deployed by deal-
ers to maximize their investment on service calls,
and they can be leveraged as a value-add for clients.
How Fleet Management
Technologies Work
Fleet management technologies encompass a wide
range of features, and while GPS tracking is the
most common, the best solutions go well beyond
Technology Transforms
Fleet Management
Even small security dealers can maximize their vehicular
investments with specialized systems By Shawn Welsh
Your Business
simple tracking. In addition to GPS, a compre-
hensive solution may include:
•
Automated alerts and notifications;
•
Cloud-based soware that is accessible from
mobile devices;
•
Reporting and access to historical data;
•
Driver behavior tracking that monitors speed-
ing and excessive idling;
•
Route optimization and turn-by-turn directions;
•
Maintenance tracking and scheduling; and
•
Driver scheduling capabilities.
Fleet management technology uses a combi-
nation of soware and hardware. e hardware is
the actual tracking device that is installed on the
vehicles – either openly via the OBD-II port or
covertly without the driver's knowledge.
e soware enables access to the data and
automates aspects of fleet management. It should
be intuitive and easy to use from any device for
on-the-go management.