Fleet Tracking Solutions Technology to Support the Logistics and Transportation Sector

On-time and accurate delivery of products to the doorstep of customers is the prime revenue-generation activity of logistics companies. Besides the supply of bulk consignments from warehouses to points of sale, the rising trend of online shopping has significantly increased the workload of this sector. Today, a significant chunk of operations at logistics companies includes the fulfilment of orders for the customers of e-commerce stores.

While more work translates into more earnings, it has also brought new responsibilities for the logistics and transportation sector. As delivery partners of businesses, they are expected to ensure flawless and timely shipment of merchandise from the seller to the consumer. With the use of geospatial and IoT technology, they can fulfil this duty more efficiently. That is why global positioning systems, or GPS fleet tracking solutions, have become essential for the logistics & transportation industry.

A logistics service provider gets multiple benefits from fleet tracking systems, commonly known as telematics, which include:

Planning the quickest and safest route to the delivery location

Suppliers can please their customers when they deliver the purchased products on promised time, and they delight the customers if they complete the delivery before time. While expediting order fulfilment is important, transporters must also pick a safe route to avoid damaging the products or losing them to pilferage.

A fleet management company can create routes so that the least possible time is taken in transit. A telematics solution provider also gives a Route Replay option by which the owner can know from his office if the vehicle is moving in the prescribed route or deviating from it. The various stop points are also mapped. Basis these, he can coordinate with the driver and take immediate corrective action.

Tracking packages instantaneously

The possibility of knowing where the consignment is at a particular time can be a great relief for suppliers, especially while shipping high-value products. However, calling the driver every hour to know his exact location is not a practical solution and can also disturb him while on the road.

In contrast, with the GPS technology of a fleet tracker, they can know the exact whereabouts of their drivers whenever they want, non-intrusively. It helps them to monitor the progress of their shipments right from the warehouse to the final delivery location.

Streamlining fleet management with geofenced delivery operations

Geofencing is a virtual barrier that can be built through GPS tracking. A fleet management software with geofencing capabilities helps to have more control over the movement of vehicles carrying shipments. Whenever a logistics company’s truck enters or leaves the area within which it is supposed to navigate, its monitoring team gets a notification automatically. By telling when a driver arrives at or leaves a site, geofencing also helps to ensure that he is on schedule.

Reducing fuel usage costs with consumption alerts

Fuel cost becomes a significant component of the operating expenditure for logistics companies. They must ensure that fuel is not stolen from vehicles that transport goods for their customers. The advanced telematics systems that come with GPS tracking solutions offer alerts wherever there is a sudden drop in fuel level – this may indicate possible fuel pilferage or any unusual situation that the management should be aware of. Such fuel-consumption alerts help logistics companies to take timely remedial actions and reduce their fuel costs in the long run.

Maintaining an optimal environment for temperature-sensitive shipments

By using a GPS fleet tracking device with a temperature sensor, logistics service providers can ship perishable and temperature-sensitive products more efficiently. Certain medicines and dairy products like ice creams, butter and cheese need to be stored in cold environments to prevent their spoilage.

If there is a temperature-sensing tool installed in the truck, the associated fleet tracking software alerts the monitoring team whenever the temperature exceeds a certain threshold – it can happen if the truck’s door is opened frequently or is kept open for a long time. The team can notify the driver immediately and take remedial action to maintain the correct storage environment again.

Ensuring compliance with traffic rules

Transporters have to make sure that their drivers obey traffic rules at all times. This is critical not only for public safety and general compliance but also to avoid harming the shipments.

Fleet tracking software alerts the driver and the logistics team whenever he exceeds the legit speed limit in a zone. Accordingly, the driver can slow down or can be coached on repeated offences. An advanced fleet tracking system also sends alerts if there is unnecessary idling. This helps to prevent fuel wastage, too.

Storing data and analytics to improve fleet management

GPS tracking solutions enable logistics service providers to record and analyse data in terms of kilometres travelled by their trucks, total fuel consumption, work hours completed by drivers and delivery boys, and adherence to delivery timelines. They can also correlate these statistics to feedback received from customers.

Intuitive graphs and tables present all the details, making it easier to analyse data to improve logistics operations.

With such tailored benefits for monitoring of operations, fleet tracking tools have proved to be valuable solutions that transporters and logistics companies should invest in.

Leveraging its experience in IoT and geospatial technology, Tata Tele Business Services has devised bespoke GPS tracking solutions for seamless deployment and comprehensive service. With a low cost of ownership, it lets you monitor and manage your fleets in real time.

To know more about the tool, please call us at 1800-266-1515.