It’s not easy running a small business – trying to walk the tightrope between offering the best products or services and controlling your costs. Like it or not, budget is a consideration for all businesses, but small businesses in particular need to pay careful attention to their bottom line to maintain profitability. Of course, it’s important not to dismiss products or services that will provide more value to your company than the cost you – lost profits are even worse to see on your accounts than overspending.
4 Benefits of GPS Fleet Tracking for Small Business
GPS fleet tracking for small business may seem like an extravagance, but when you consider all the benefits your company stands to gain, it really is a necessity. Using a GPS fleet management system to track where your fleet is, monitor if the temperature in heated or chilled delivery vehicles stays within an acceptable range and track fuel consumption are all abilities that can help curb spending and ensure profitability.
1. Track the Location of Your Fleet
One of the handier features you can gain with GPS fleet tracking for small business is the ability to create “geo fences” – virtual boundaries that can detect when your vehicles enter or leave designated areas and alert you to unauthorized activity. The boundaries can be large or small, and employ customizable schedules that let you dictate where vehicles should be at specific times. This tool can be used to prevent theft or unauthorized vehicle use, as well as for managing operational territory.
2. Monitor Temperatures for Heated or Cooled Delivery
Temperature sensitive goods are easy enough to monitor when they’re in a fixed location, but when in transit, they can be a source of anxiety for the individual responsible for ensuring freshness or safety. With GPS fleet tracking for your small business, you can monitor the temperature of your cargo in real time and send or receive alerts when temperatures exceed pre-determined thresholds. This feature means better service for your clients, and less chance of costly losses for you and your business.
3. Track Fuel Consumption and Spending
Traditional fuel cards can give you a picture of how much fuel is being purchased, but there is no context provided to let you know if the fuel budget is being used as intended. With a GPS integrated fuel card, you’ll know the location of the vehicle designated for fuel card use at the time of purchase, and be notified of any discrepancies that suggest fuel card misuse. This is just one more of the many ways the GPS fleet tracking helps small business owners control costs – you’ll save on fuel costs and never have to worry about lost or stolen fuel cards, or unscrupulous drivers purchasing company fuel for personal use.
4. API Integration
When you integrate APIs, you can simplify your workflow by consolidating multiple tasks – for example, invoicing, scheduling, vehicle tracking – into a single window. When you choose a GPS fleet tracking system, be sure to look for one that allows integration with other APIs. This will eliminate the need to run multiple programs to automate fleet operations and maximize efficiency. A provider who truly understand the value of GPS fleet tracking for small business will work with you to customize solutions – working with you as a partner, rather than a customer.
Leverage GPS Fleet Tracking for Your Small Business
There are many more benefits to implementing a GPS fleet tracking system – the items we’ve discussed here are only a few of the advantages your company stands to gain from the key features and services of our system. If you’d like to learn more about how GPS fleet tracking could meet your needs, or if you’re ready to get started tracking your fleet, our team is here to help. Contact Nero Global today and give your small business a competitive edge.