Using a GPS system to track company vehicles, employees, and equipment has become increasingly popular, specifically for fleets, in the past decade. With an emphasis on safety and productivity, using a location-based service to survey teams and tools can improve job costing, accelerate payroll, prevent downtime, and guarantee coverage on the work site. As the technology to track develops, features are born that take manageable monitoring to the next level. One of those telematics features is geofencing, but what is it and how does it help fleet owners get a better grasp on the status of their employees?
What is Geofencing?
The technical definition of “geofencing” is the process of creating virtual geographic boundaries around specific areas to trigger a specific alert or action within RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) or GPS software. For businesses with vehicle fleets, geofencing provides enhanced tracking of GPS-equipped vehicles as they move through a custom-created perimeter. Our system allows users to build “landmarks” (circular or polygonal) to outline the areas in which their team frequently passes through.
Users also have the ability to track entry/exit events around their business to make sure drivers hit the road and return home on time. Even specific roadways can be geofenced with a linear path and when paired with customer alerts, fleet managers or dispatchers can see when their vehicles are traveling through important areas. By also integrating Bluetooth beacons, users can effectively track non-powered assets within the range of a company vehicle equipped with GPS.
How Does Geofencing Work?
Using a virtual map (with overlays for Satellite, Terrain, PatchMaps, and Street View) users can easily type the address where they’d like to set a “landmark” or navigate to it manually. Then using the perimeter tools, fence in the area where they’d like to monitor entry/exit events. Geofenced areas can also be colour-coded (Red, Green, Blue, Black, Yellow, or Orange) and customized with icons to make the map easier to understand at a glance. With a similar look and feel to Google Maps, the dashboard provides familiar functionality for an enhanced customer experience.
Build virtual boundaries around slow-moving areas like hospitals or school zones to make sure drivers are maintaining safe driving techniques in sensitive areas. Setting landmark zones around work sites will do the same while preventing unauthorized use of assets by setting notifications for engine start/stop within the custom geographical location.
Geofencing can also help fleets to:
- Track arrival or departure times, instances of speeding, and PTO usage
- Monitor both on-and off-duty activity within geofenced areas in real-time
- Set multiple geofences around problematic areas where drivers tend to waste time
- Improve project hour tracking resulting in more precise timesheets
- Ensure compliance and safety by communicating by setting thresholds and alerts
Users can access our geofencing technology by logging into the FieldDocs app on their mobile phone/tablet (iOS or Android) or via the dashboard on their desktop computers. Users in the office or on the field will be able to see changes made by their coworkers as long as they have access to cellular data or Wi-Fi. Managers and owners can also set up alerts via text message or receive push notifications from the mobile app for threshold or boundary breaches directly to their home screen on their mobile devices.
The Benefits of Geofencing for the Security Sector
Commissionaires Security is the largest private sector employer and the only non-profit security company in Canada. After teaming up with Titan GPS, they were able to implement geofencing for enhanced monitoring of assets and employees. By setting up a virtual perimeter around the locations they’re protecting, both managers and coworkers can ensure that the assets they’re overseeing are under constant surveillance.
Limiting Location Data to a Specific Geographic Area with Geofencing
For businesses that need to monitor their vehicles, drivers, and equipment, implementing geofencing into location-based technology can make a world of difference. Not only are users able to set boundaries around worksites, warehouses, and roadways, but they can do it at will, in custom shapes and sizes. Looking for a geofencing solution to make managing fleet vehicles a breeze? Schedule a demo today to learn more about our Landmarks feature.
