Love ‘em or hate ‘em, there’s no
denying that mobile phones give us the ability to connect real-time with
customers. They allow you to engage instantaneously to questions, problems and
orders.
The use of this technology has changed
how we do business. So when we are asked whether passive tracking is just as
effective as real-time tracking, well, in our opinion we just have to say ‘no.’
You wouldn’t let all your business
calls go into voicemail, would you? Why would you wait a day, week or even
months to check where your fleet vehicles have been, how long they were there
and other important information about the mobility of your assets?
But in case you’re on the fence, let’s
explore the pros and cons of both methods.
First, let’s start with the
definitions: Real-time tracking gives you live information about your fleet.
This means that you can sign on and see where any vehicle is at any given time.
Passive GPS tracking is just that: passive. In other words, you cannot go
online and get a live data point telling you where a vehicle is. All tracking
information is stored locally, i.e. in the vehicle itself, and can only be
accessed by downloading the device’s information directly.
Real-Time
Pros
With real-time tracking, information is
always up-to-date and instant, and for some businesses this is the whole point
of GPS tracking. It also means that you never need to remove the tracking
device from the vehicle to obtain the data you require. This is especially helpful—rather,
vital—when a vehicle is lost or stolen.
The ability to track a vehicle from a
desk allows businesses to correct problems quickly, maximizing efficiency. This
is especially handy for dispatching, something your customers will appreciate.
If, for example, a service call or an emergency comes in, a dispatcher can locate
and assign the closest vehicle to the site in question.
Passive
Pros
One benefit of passive tracking that
users often site is that it doesn’t require a monthly subscription fee. While true for real-time tracking, passive
systems are also useful for industries like long-haul trucking, where drivers have to
keep extensive, handwritten logs and timetables used to having to keep mileage
and delivery records.
Another benefit of passive tracking is
that your employees don’t feel as if ‘big brother’ is constantly watching over them.
In fact some suggest that employees drive better without the pressure of an
omniscient eye knowing where they are all the time.
Real-Time
Cons
Real-time
software carries a monthly data subscription charge. While these
costs can be offset by the increased productivity that results from using GPS
tracking, some businesses simply don’t need real-time tracking and can get what
they need from passive GPS systems without monthly subscription charges.
Passive
Cons
The biggest drawback for passive GPS systems
is that you must have the vehicle in your possession to extract the tracking
information – something that might get a little cumbersome and time-consuming. Moreover,
if the vehicle has gone missing there is no way to locate it with a passive
unit installed.
Even the word ‘passive’ has a slightly negative connotation. So when considering which route to choose, ask yourself this: is anything else in your business passive? Then why should your GPS tracking be passive?
FoxTrax GPS Fleet Tracking
Clever solutions for vehicle tracking
www.FoxTraxGPS.com
