Vehicle Tracking at Its Best 24/7 – The Complete Solution

Whether your vehicles are used in your business to transport materials, perform in-field services, or are mostly used for personal trips and daily commutes, you want to ensure they are always protected no matter what they are used for.

While all roads don't actually lead to Rome, all advanced safety and fleet management methods will lead you back to vehicle tracking. So, let's take a deep dive to see exactly how this essential technology works.

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In this article, you will:

• Discover the importance of advanced vehicle tracking for businesses and individuals

• Understand the technology behind vehicle tracking

• Learn why vehicle tracking services are essential for businesses

• Find out how Cartrack stands out in the vehicle tracking industry

• Read a case study of how Cartrack's technology benefited a business

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Advanced vehicle tracking: A must-have for businesses and individuals alike

Various industries use vehicle tracking tools to track their vehicles' locations while on the road. From hospitals monitoring their ambulances to security companies tracking their patrol vehicles, This tiny device plays a big part in ensuring schedules are followed, vehicles are safeguarded, tasks are completed, drivers' work hours are tracked and more.

Private vehicle owners will also be happy to know that GPS technology is not reserved just for businesses and their fleets but has some solid pros for them as well. 

While businesses use this technology more extensively to better their fleet and streamline operations, everyday drivers use vehicle tracking more to always know their vehicle's whereabouts, to keep their loved ones safe and to have peace of mind regarding their vehicle safety. 

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‍The technology behind vehicle tracking

Like many connectivity IoT gadgets we use, including smartphones and connected cars, vehicle tracking technology is powered by telematics technology, a global positioning system (GPS), a cellular network or radio frequency signals, and ground stations to work and track assets, vehicles and people in real time.

Use GPS’s network of satellites orbiting the earth to determine the positioning of receivers like tracking units and pinpoint the exact geolocation of your assets.

In conjunction with telematics technology, you can receive in-depth information such as:

• Distance travelled
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• Trip history
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• Travelling speed
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• Mileage
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• Vehicle status
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• Date and time
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This data is transmitted using a cellular or wireless network to a cloud-based platform, where the end-user (fleet manager, business owner or everyday driver) can access it on any communication device (mobile phone, tablet or laptop) by visiting a website or installing an app.

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Why your business needs vehicle tracking services in South Africa

Let’s face it: Losing one of your vehicles or machinery due to theft or asset downtime is a big blow to your operations and costs. As vehicle theft is a big concern in South Africa, business owners have to consider the safety of their mobile assets and invest in solutions that safeguard them before it’s too late.

A tracking service gives fleet managers the peace of mind they need to boost operations, streamline fleet management, enhance fleet management and more.
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Here are some reasons why your business needs vehicle tracking that you can’t ignore.
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1. Security and theft prevention

As vehicle theft is one of the top challenges for businesses in South Africa, vehicle tracking technology and stolen vehicle recovery services are features that might be very enticing for businesses. Vehicle tracking services provide an added security measure by allowing for quick recovery in case of theft. 
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Unfortunately, if you find your vehicles are not where you last parked them, the ability to track them might not be enough. Fleet owners need proactive steps like tracking and recovery services for their assets. 
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In the long run, a stolen vehicle might cost the business more than buying a new vehicle, with:

• Increased insurance premiums
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• Lost profits due to unavailable vehicles
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• Cost of purchasing a new vehicle
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• Cost of renting another vehicle to take over activities of stolen vehicle

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2. Fleet management

Vehicle tracking makes managing a fleet that much easier. By knowing the location of their mobile assets, managers can monitor vehicle usage, monitor driver behaviour, efficiently optimise routes and reduce travel time for better fuel efficiency.

This is a huge benefit for fleets that operate in logistics. With vehicle tracking, they can reroute deliveries based on traffic conditions or other obstructions and keep to the schedule, ensuring no lost time due to delays and upholding timely deliveries.

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3. Improved driver safety

Driver safety and well-being are also top concerns. Vehicle tracking systems can monitor driving patterns and behaviours, informing managers of issues that require monitoring, such as speeding, abrupt acceleration after a complete stop, sudden hard braking and harsh cornering.

Managers can focus their driver training on these areas of concern and reduce the risk of accidents, ensuring the safety of their drivers and other motorists on the road. This can be most useful for fleets that spend most of their time on the road, such as transportation companies, promoting a culture of safety within the fleet.

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4. Reduced insurance premiums

Besides the added safety these devices come with, insurance companies use them to offer motorists and businesses enticing incentives. 
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Insurance companies offer lower premiums to individual drivers and businesses who have vehicle tracking devices installed on their vehicles as it shows a proactive approach to risk management and a commitment to keeping their vehicle safe as they offer a higher chance of recovery if it is ever stolen, which is good news for them as they won't have to pay out.

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5. Increased productivity

Without checking on the whereabouts of your fleet, you have more time to focus on other aspects of fleet management, enhancing overall productivity. Real-time updates on fleet location allow for more precise scheduling and quicker response times to customers.

For a courier company to be able to give you ETAs on your scheduled deliveries, they need vehicle tracking technology showing vehicle location, travel speed and distance. This allows them to update delivery status to the T and efficiently manage customer expectations, ensuring satisfied service. 

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6. Increased visibility

No more overusing some vehicles while others are left being underused. Vehicle tracking enhances fleet visibility and provides better control and management over your fleet’s activities. This allows for informed decision-making, balanced vehicle usage across your fleet, and updated maintenance needs. 
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A company such as a rental business can use this feature to stay on track with their vehicle usage to prevent misuse and ensure timely returns and healthy vehicles to get leased out.

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7. Compliance

Being informed of vehicle usage, vehicle health, and driver working hours helps the business comply with South African transportation regulations and avoid penalties or fines. 
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One missed maintenance appointment can leave a vehicle vulnerable to potential breakdowns or accidents or even render it unroadworthy. Without keeping track of working hours, you could overwork your drivers for a few hours. Both of these would render you non-compliant with set rules and regulations. Vehicle tracking can save you from these scenarios and costly fines that can accumulate.
 

There is more to vehicle tracking than meets the eye. Incorporating vehicle tracking services into your operations can greatly streamline your fleet, enhance efficiency and provide cost savings, making them a jack-of-all-trades (and master of all) technology that is invaluable for any business with a fleet.

Discover the power of Cartrack’s versatile technology by learning more about our smart fleet management solutions

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Beyond vehicle tracking: What other features make this technology the complete solution for fleet management?

Simply being able to view the live status and location of your vehicles in real time is a huge win, but that’s not where it ends. The technology has evolved over the years to now offer business and fleet owners much more bang for their buck. 
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Now, fleet managers have the technology to see not only their vehicles' whereabouts but also their fuel consumption rates, maintenance needs, safety and overall vehicle health and performance. 

1. Fuel management

While vehicle tracking can inform you of how much fuel is being consumed per trip, Cartrack and its fleet management solutions can take it a bit further by providing real-time fuel readings with their fuel sensors and mileage with CANBus integration. 
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Combined with our MiFleet cost management tool, you can track your fleet’s fuel consumption rate, ensure early fuel fraud detection, and better manage how much your fleet spends on fuel by matching fuel slips with fill-up locations, timestamps, and fuel card transactions. 
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All this helps you get a clearer picture of your fleet’s fuel economy and budget.

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2. Route planning and optimisation

If your fleet is always swamped with orders or scheduled deliveries to multiple places around the city and they waste time and fuel struggling to get to every location on time, then Cartrack Delivery can assist. 
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This task management tool makes it easier to manage your field service or delivery operations accordingly. Plan your fleet’s routes and efficiently order jobs to streamline each driver’s shift.  Ensure your drivers follow protocol with a digital quality control checklist that includes a customer signature as proof of job completion. These tools combined help reduce travel time and fuel consumption while increasing customer satisfaction.

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3. Driver behaviour monitoring

Monitor your driver's actions and driving habits on the road and encourage safe, fuel-efficient driving habits. With vehicle tracking and Cartrack, fleet managers can use trip reports to see how often their drivers practise risky driving behaviour such as harsh cornering, braking, speeding or excessive RPMs and use the driver-specific data for more effective coaching. 

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4. Fleet maintenance scheduling

Running a fleet, you can easily lose track of which of your vehicles need service, which needs small repairs and which parts need to be replaced. Vehicle tracking can provide automated reminders for regular maintenance for all your vehicles. 
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For a more hands-on approach, you can use Cartrack’s preventive maintenance and start regularly performing maintenance checks to detect and stop issues early before they grow, become costly and cause breakdowns that lead to vehicle downtime.
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Every essential feature a manager needs to run their fleet, all in one Cartrack platform efficiently.

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Cartrack: The complete vehicle tracking solution in South Africa

There seem to be as many vehicle tracking companies as there are vehicles. Motorists are spoiled for choice when it comes to companies that can provide this service. How does Cartrack stand out?

Cartrack is a leading provider of vehicle tracking technology and fleet management solutions. We boast an impressive over 90% stolen vehicle recovery rate, one of the highest in South Africa, and we are voted the most trusted vehicle tracing company on HelloPeter. 

Cartrack provides more than just your vehicle's location. We have various fleet management solutions that use vehicle tracking data to assist in improving and optimising any fleet.

• Smart cameras
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• Alerts
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• Reports
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• MiFleet
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• Delivery
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• Preventative maintenance 

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Individual motorists are also catered to with premium vehicle safety features and service to ensure their four-wheeled prized possession is always safe whether parked in the garage or the side of the road:

• 24/7 control room assistance
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• Skilled on-the-ground and air recovery agents
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• CarWatch
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• GeoFence

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The Salt Block & Deli case use of Cartrack's vehicle tracking technology

The Salt Block & Deli and Baron’s Meat Co. specialise in transporting fresh meat and produce to their clients, for that to be possible, they need trusted vehicle tracking for their fleet.
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With Cartrack’s vehicle tracking and route optimisation solutions through Delivery, The Salt Block & Deli achieved on-time delivery and enhanced overall productivity 

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“[With Cartrack] we can plan our routes, and when we go back and look at the history, we can see exactly how long it took from one area to the next,” 

Leriche Beneke, CEO of The Salt Block & Deli and the Baron’s Meat Co.

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Take control with 24/7 vehicle tracking solutions

Experience premium vehicle tracking at an affordable price and enjoy peace of mind over the safety of your vehicle(s). We offer free vehicle tracking device installation, no matter the number of vehicles, and we come to you for your convenience.

‍Contact Cartrack and start today.