WHAT IS ASSEST TRACKING?
Asset tracking, sometimes referred to as asset management, is a method of monitoring the location of an asset in the field by tagging it with a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) tracking device.
The tracking device communicates with several satellites in orbit, measuring the communication lag with each satellite to triangulate the GPS device’s current location. The more satellites the GPS tracker can communicate with, the more accurately it will be able to measure its actual coordinates.
Prime track has developed and released various ways in which you can get live up-to-date information on your tracking units deployed in the field.
The First is our Web based platform. This is a secure platform that you will be required to log in with your allocated username and password.
We have also released our IOS and Android applications that allow for the same monitoring and tracking of deployed trackers but from a handheld mobile device like your Phone or Tablet. The same login details will work on both the web portal and the mobile applications.
The portals will give you live up to date information on the following events:
-Live location of the tracking unit
-Information if the tracking unit is stationary or moving.
-Battery life of the tracking unit.
WHAT KIND OF ASSESTS CAN YOU TRACK?
GPS tracking is often used primarily for vehicles. However, you can track almost anything, such as:
-Long haul Cargo Transport
-Container transport and logistics.
-Courier vehicles and their packages.
-Bank deposit bags and Cash in Transit collection and Deliveries.
-Industrial Plant and Equipment.
-Household Appliances like TV’s Computers etc.
-Office Appliances like Computers, Copiers and other high value items.
-Cell Tower Batteries and other high value off site equipment.
-Laptops and other electronic devices; and
Much more!
Your business laptop, for example, could cost your business thousands of Rands if it is stolen with all the important documents and client contracts stored in its memory. Even with insurance, the loss could have far-reaching impacts beyond the cost of the laptop.
So, being able to track the lost laptop’s location and being able to report it to the authorities could help prevent a major loss.
BENEFITS OF ASSEST TRACKING:
Improving Customer Support:
GPS tracking devices and software help asset managers keep track of every GPS-tagged asset in their company. This way, customers can be given up-to-date arrival ETAs for important services and shipments, service techs can find specific assets in large lots more quickly, and any assets that are going “off the beaten path” can be found right away. All of this can help improve customer service and satisfaction.
Increasing Accuracy of Contract Enforcement:
Asset tracking GPS devices can help make contract enforcement much easier. With GPS trackers, asset managers can track equipment locations in real time, get activation notifications, and log how many hours a given piece of equipment is in operation for to more accurately assess if contract terms are being followed.
Improving Asset Recovery:
When a vehicle is stolen, businesses not only suffer from the loss of the asset itself, but also in the lost time associated with the theft. GPS asset tracking systems have proven successful in increasing the likelihood of recovery of stolen assets, and because of this, many insurance companies are now starting to see the benefits of Asset trackers and are considering offering reduced premiums to the companies that are using them.
Saving on Insurance:
Some insurance companies offer their customers discounts for using technologies that reduce risk for the items being insured.
Improving Theft Prevention:
Stopping theft and more reliably recovering stolen assets is a crucial challenge for asset managers. Thankfully, GPS asset tracking solutions can help with this challenge. How does GPS asset tracking prevent theft?
There are several ways that asset tracking software can prevent theft.
Increasing Accuracy of Contract Enforcement:
Asset tracking GPS devices can help make contract enforcement much easier. With GPS trackers, asset managers can track equipment locations in real time, get activation notifications, and log how many hours a given piece of equipment is in operation for to more accurately assess if contract terms are being followed.
Monitoring Driver Behaviour:
GPS tracking systems provide real-time data about every driver in a fleet. Their speeding behaviour can be monitored, as well as when they detour from their established route.
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WHO CAN USE ASSET TRACKING?
1. ASSET / LOGISTICS MANAGER:
An asset / logistics manager may have many responsibilities, including but not limited to:
- Tracking the location of each asset to ensure it is in the right place at the right time.
- Making sure assets aren’t lost by an employee.
- Reducing instances of asset theft and reporting them if they do occur.
- Ensuring contracts are carried out properly when renting out assets to other parties.
- Scheduling asset maintenance.
- Building routes to get assets from point A to point B.
Challenges for Asset Managers:
Since asset managers have numerous responsibilities, it can be difficult to monitor so many assets and keep track of so much data.
Some key asset management challenges include:
Preventing the theft of business assets is a major obstacle for nearly any asset manager. In these current times in South Africa the Goods Transportation industry is being hard hit by ruthless criminal syndicates. This includes but is not limited to Courier companies and Large volume truck transportation services moving LCL or FCL shipments around the country. If you move high value easy to redistribute products, then GPS Asset tracking is possible the best solution to give you the tools to fight back.
Even while maintaining strict control over assets in the field, asset managers need to ensure that customers of the company are enjoying a positive customer experience. When deliveries are late or assets go missing between the point of deployment and the customer, it creates a bad impression, frustration and possibly loss of contracts.
For asset managers in charge of rental equipment, contract enforcement is a major challenge. Unauthorized rental equipment usage that violates the terms agreed upon in the rental contract such as where the equipment can be used, what the approved hours of operation are, and how frequently the equipment should be maintained.
2. BANK / CASH TRANSPORTATION:
In this day and age especially in South Africa the transportation of goods has become high risk and none more so than the transportation of cash. We find almost daily occurrences of these CIT (Cash IN Transit) vans been targeted by well organised professional syndicates, either targeting the van itself or the money when being moved from shops to the van. (Cross Pavement Robbery).
Ideally, we would like to prevent the theft or robbery of the cash in the first place however this is not always possible so by deploying mobile GPS units within the locked cash bags one will be able to track and monitor the movement of the bags after they have been stolen. This could give the Police and response companies the valuable time they need to respond and also the exact GPS pinpoint of the money bags.
3. CELL TOWER INFRASTRUCTURE:
In South Africa the mobile cellular network has experienced some of the fasted growth worldwide. This has resulted in many towers being erected across the country often in rural areas to allow for greater network footprint. This coupled with our constant shortage of power has resulted in a lucrative black market for the backup Cell Tower batteries. They are being stolen and sold as power solutions by highly organised syndicates. The rural location of these towers means that by the time Reaction Companies respond to the towers the suspects are long gone with the batteries. These trackers could be placed within the batteries themselves and if stolen the movement and location of the batteries can be monitored. This could also lead back to the syndicate and yield greater successes.
4. PLANT AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGER:
In the construction and plant industry whether it be rental or site management, expensive equipment is used and deployed in the field often in a rural environment. By adding a Mobile GPS tracker to the equipment, one is able to track and monitor the exact location of the Plant equipment at all times. This could be Toolboxes, Generators, Water and Diesel trailers, mostly equipment that traditionally does not have its own power supply and therefore without a mobile tracker was previously not able to be tracked.
If you are in the rental business, you would be able to keep track of the Plant equipment while out on rental and ensure that the terms of the rental agreement are complied with.
5. PRIVATE BUSINESS AND HOUSEHOLDS:
As the crime rate in South Africa continues to increase the number or Burglaries and Robberies increases. This affects both businesses and private households and not taking anything away from the emotional implications the cost implications can be huge as well.
These organised syndicates are targeting businesses and household for high value Electronic appliances and computers. With companies often loosing all their desktop Computer and Audio-Visual Equipment such as TV’s etc. By placing a mobile tracker in one or more of your High value items it will allow you to track the items should they be taken in either a theft or robbery. Many people have lost their Laptops to these syndicates either being stolen from the office or the Sanctity of one’s locked vehicle. By placing a mobile GPS tracker in the bag, it allows you to know where that laptop is at any time.
6. PRIVATE PERSONS:
As a private person you may not believe there is an application for a mobile GPS tracker but there are a few and they are all valid applications.
- If you have children that walk to or from school, catch public transport or utilise e-hailing taxi services, giving them a mobile GPS tracker, you are able to know where they are at all times.
- If your children are fortunate to live in an area that allows them to play outside, on a farm, in the veld you will always know where they are.
- If you are a person whose job requires you to work in the field or you have employees that work in the field. Carrying a mobile GPS tracker allows your exact location to be known to anyone searching for you. This is two-fold as from the companies’ point of view they are able to see where their staff are at all times, and from a personal point of view if something happens to you while in the field people are able to locate you very quickly.
- If you are a Hunter or Farmer and spend a lot of time in the field, carrying a GPS tracker allows people to know where you are in the event of any emergency particularly medical.
WAYS ASSEST TRACKING CAN PREVENT THEFT:
Knowing Locations and Events:
Asset management software often is used in conjunction with GPS tracking devices that are installed on or inside the assets you wish to track. It allows you to monitor the last known locations of your assets, whether an asset is on or off, and if it is idling or actively moving. It may also provide documented data about many other metrics, including pressure, temperature, travel speed, acceleration, and deceleration.
Frequently, equipment that is located off-site has low levels of physical security when compared to on-site locations that are fenced in. Thefts occur with much greater frequency from work sites that have little to no security. As an operations manager, GPS asset tracking provides you with the means to have more control over your assets in the field. The device will send status updates when specific events are initiated and provide location updates at pre-specified intervals.
GPS asset tracking eliminates the delay in the reporting of equipment theft and can also track the location of the stolen item. The system enables you to know when assets are where you expect them to be or if they have been moved. It also provides you with documented data that law enforcement can use in the event of theft.
Geofencing Assets:
In a nutshell, geofencing is a virtual boundary that you can set for any geographic area. These boundaries can be as small as a single street, as large as an entire county, and are completely customizable.
When a vehicle or asset that is equipped with GPS tracking devices travels outside or enters into any set geofence perimeter, you can set alerts to automatically notify you about the movement via e-mail or text message.
This can allow you to do several different things, including:
• Track when employees arrive at or leave a job site,
• Receive confirmation when a shipment arrives at a delivery location, and
• Mark a specific area as a “no entry” zone for any given asset
WHAT CAN THEY TRACK ?
You can invest in specialize assest tracking devices of different kinds. These devices can be categorized depending on the work they do, including:
- Motion
- Asset location
- Asset activation or deactivation
A business manager or owner should be able to maintain control of business assets wherever they are in the field. Using highly sophisticated tracking software, you will be able to track the assets even when you are on the move or on vacation.
Standalone Software:
Prime Track offers monitoring software in the form of Wed Based Interface or in Mobile applications designed in both IOS and Android. The mobile applications are great for responding ground crews as it gives them the mobility and up to date locations while on the move. The web-based platform is more suited for the office/control room environment where overview of multiple assets is require
Standalone Software:
Prime Track offers monitoring software in the form of Wed Based Interface or in Mobile applications designed in both IOS and Android. The mobile applications are great for responding ground crews as it gives them the mobility and up to date locations while on the move. The web-based platform is more suited for the office/control room environment where overview of multiple assets is required.
