When people ask about my company, I say, “My company offers GPS vehicle tracking.” Their response lets me know if they are an employee or a business owner.
The first words out of an employee’s mouth are, “Sounds like ‘Big Brother’ to me.” Oh no, not ‘Big Brother!’ Visions of mind-controlled drones working like slaves come to mind and they quickly run away.
‘Big Brother?’ What’s wrong with a company that monitors their vehicles? Or make sure their employees do what they are paid to do? Whose vehicles are these anyway? Does the owner have the right to know how they are used?
Now don’t get me wrong. I think employees should be trusted and treated like adults. But if you’ve ever driven a rental car differently than the one you own, then you understand how an employee can mistreat a company car.
Take, for example, the speeding employee. Employees who drive too fast waste your gas, wear out your vehicle prematurely and sooner or later drive up your insurance rates.
A GPS vehicle tracking system can warn you when someone exceeds your preset speed limit. It’s your vehicle, your fuel and your insurance premium; a tracking system helps you regain control of them.
Who uses your vehicles outside office hours and on weekends? Does an employee use your vehicle by moonlight? Is he using your gas to move his brother-in-law to a new apartment? You will know if you install a GPS vehicle tracking system in your vehicles.
How do you verify overtime reports? You may be able to verify that the work is done, but when? A GPS tracking system allows you to compare a vehicle’s location to the time it was there.
Have you ever been tempted to take an extended lunch break? Do you think your employees might be tempted, especially if they are out of sight of the boss? A GPS tracking system records how long each vehicle stays at one location; use it to keep them honest.
Another advantage of GPS vehicle tracking systems: you never have to call to find out where your employees are – just look at the map displayed on your computer screen. Also, your GPS tracking system will remind you when it’s time to change tires, change oil or perform other scheduled maintenance. And many insurance companies offer discounts of up to 30% for vehicles secured with GPS tracking systems.
The employee also benefits when his company car is equipped with a GPS vehicle tracking system.
- Handwritten driver logs are replaced by data from the tracking system.
- Using information from the GPS tracking system, each employee’s productivity can be quantified and compared; an employee’s performance can be measured more objectively.
- Your dispatcher can look at a computer screen and locate all your vehicles instantly.
Customers also benefit from GPS vehicle tracking systems. Companies can provide accurate arrival or delivery estimates because the estimate is based on the actual location of the vehicle equipped with a tracking device at the time they call. If a customer is wondering when your employee arrived or left, prove it to them using data from your tracking system.
Do you still think GPS tracking systems are “Big Brother” tools? I think it depends on your point of view.
The concept of ‘Big Brother’ never comes up for entrepreneurs. The business owner will say, “How will tracking my vehicles help my business make more money?” They want to know what GPS vehicle tracking can do for them.
Are GPS vehicle tracking systems ‘Big Brother’? Tell me.
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