A global positioning system(GPS) uses satellites to determine the current physical location of a vehicle. Originally created by the U.S. Department of Defense to improve military navigation, GPS devices are now available for consumer use and have various applications. GPS tracking supported by satellites and GPA hardware makes tracking of any living and non-living being easy.
Today GPS has found popularity with employers and parents to monitor their employees and teenage children respectively, who are at the driver’s seat .
Statistics shows that the number of traffic accidents involving those driving company vehicles has gone down since they have installed GPS system in them. GPS tracker has really served as a helping hand in reducing the instances of accidents. This has saved many companies thousands of dollars in damages and raised insurance premiums. Use of car GPS tracker is essential to both individuals or a company. GPS system in short helps the drivers to navigate around any road and neighborhood, they are unfamiliar with, by giving automated instructions.
GPS system not only provides the current location at any time, it also gives statistical data on a number of other things along the distance travelled by a vehicle. i.e. how many stops the vehicle took, for how long it stopped at a particular place, the total mileage the drivers are putting on their work vehicle etc. This means there is less chance for your employee to cheat you and give you false data.
Being an owner of a goods delivery company, you can use GPS system to provide your customers with the exact location of the item being delivered to them, at any point during the process of shipping it.
Global GPS Market is expected to grow to US$83.353 billion by 2022 from US$34.888 billion in 2017, at a CAGR of 19.03% over the forecast period
As with any other technology, GPS vehicle tracking systems have their share of pros and cons which we are going to discuss below:
Pros of GPS Tracking System
Weather and Traffic Alerts
Your GPS may provide you weather and traffic alerts. They inform you about the adverse weather or traffic conditions, whether there are road delays or closures due to construction or traffic accidents. Typically, these alerts include an alternate route which can be longer than the original route sometimes.
Versatile networks
For GPS tracking, data transmission can happen either through wireless, cell-phone networks, or satellites or through both type of connections. Thus, data transmission is not halted, if either of the connections is down.
Real time tracking
An owner can track his vehicle in real-time through a GPS tracker where a central controller receives data about the vehicle in real time. The vehicle can also be controlled remotely, where the GPS can inform the driver where to go in case the vehicle deviates from the original path. It can calculate the fastest, most fuel-efficient route and suggest necessary adjustments.
Real time task assignment
The GPS system helps in task assignment in real time, once an order comes in. For this it keeps data about the whereabouts of the fleet’s vehicles, driver’s working hours and which routes can be taken for fuel and cost efficiency.
Labour law compliance
The GPS system notifies a driver when he exceeds the speed limit, thus ensuring better labor law compliance and safety.
Delivery time information
Customers will be notified about the expected delivery time, date and possible delays if something happens enroute, thanks to the GPS system. This greatly reduces the number of failed deliveries and improves customer satisfaction. In ride sharing apps, customers get to know what time a driver will reach them, once they book a cab. Or the approximate time they will reach a destination.
Cons of GPS Tracking System
Greater investment and running cost
Installation of a GPS system is expensive. They need data plans, server operations, advanced software, sometimes integration with other software, and complicated installation. This raises the cost significantly and may require the services of qualified personnel.
Network dependence
The GPS tracking system is network-dependent. If you try to forgo maps for GPS, it can be a big problem sometimes. For example, if you are in a remote area that doesn’t have access to the satellite, you must wait until you are within the satellite range, to get directions. Similarly, a smartphone navigation system will work only when you have a cellular network. Other potential problems are dead batteries, lost cables, and complete hardware failure.
Acceptance among users
Infiniti Tracking devices could easily be used for stalking purposes. Similarly, many people consider the act of tracking vehicles to be an invasion of their privacy.
The above situations will act as a real hindrance for the GPS to be accepted wholeheartedly, for many years to come. Laws of the land makes it compulsory for the business owners to notify their employees that he or she will be tracked, and in most cases, employees have a right to refuse. Privacy concerns often lead the employees to grow suspicious and reject the advice to monitor their vehicles through GPS.
The debate goes on
There is much debate about the use of GPS tracking in criminal cases. In one case, a man used a GPS device in his wife’s car to prove she was cheating on him. This resulted in the murder of his wife and her boyfriend. The family of one of the victims tried to sue the husband. In the lawsuit, the family claimed those who created the GPS technology were responsible for their loved one’s death. They lost their case eventually in the court of law. However, this incident opened up a worldwide debate on the usability of the GPS system.
