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The Important Role of Geofencing in Vehicle Fleet Management

PUBLISHED

January 5, 2020

READING TIME

Key Takeaways:

Create virtual zones on a map with geofencing and receive instant notifications whenever a vehicle enters or exits a designated area
Leverage geofencing to monitor route compliance, prevent route deviations, and detect unauthorised vehicle use
Combine geofencing with historical reports to analyse fleet movement patterns and optimise daily operations

Technological advancements allows you to better manage your vehicle fleet. The use of GPS tracking devices is no longer limited to real-time vehicle tracking; it also offers other features and functions, such as geofencing.

Imagine you are in the yard of a house with a fence around it. With a geofencing system, you can set automatic actions if someone enters or leaves the fence that surrounds your yard.

For example, you can set up an automatic notification if someone enters your yard. Conversely, you can also set up a notification if a family member leaves your yard.

What is Geofencing?

Geofencing is a “virtual fencing” system for delimiting areas on digital maps that represent specific geographic areas. Geofencing systems typically work with data from GPS, Wi-Fi, and so on to activate specific actions.

Imagine you are in the yard of a house with a fence around it. With a geofencing system, you can set automatic actions if someone enters or leaves the fence that surrounds your yard.

For example, you can set up an automatic notification if someone enters your yard. Conversely, you can also set up a notification if a family member leaves your yard.

Use of Geofence in Various Fields

Because it's a "virtual fence," a geofence can be connected to various systems to activate a variety of actions. Therefore, its functions and uses are very diverse, some of which include:

1. Promotion and Marketing

Have you ever entered a place like a mall or shopping centre and received a discount notification from a particular store? The geofencing system detects the GPS tracker on your smartphone when you enter the mall area, then automatically sends a promotional message.

2. Employee Absence in the Field

For companies with field-based employees, geofencing can be utilized to track attendance. Using a dedicated smartphone app, the system automatically records their presence upon arrival at the project site.

3. Emergency Alert

Geofencing can also be used to disseminate information regarding disasters or emergencies. One example is the Early Warning System (EWS) SMS notification automatically received by the mobile phones of everyone located in the affected area.

4. Smart Home Automation

In a smart home, geofencing can also be used to activate devices when the owner is within a meter radius of the house. For example, setting the system to turn on the lights and air conditioning when you enter the yard.

5. Access and Security

With geofencing, you can also detect when your vehicle or family members enter or leave a specific zone. This makes it easier to detect early if a vehicle is stolen or if a child strays from an authorised play area.

How Geofence Works and Its Uses

A geofence can be configured as either a custom-defined boundary or a radius around a specific location. Geofencing technology can utilise Global Positioning System (GPS), Wi-Fi, Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID), or cellular data to trigger specific actions when predefined conditions are met.

To perform geofencing, you must first register or subscribe to the platform or app that provides the subscription. Once you do, you'll receive an account and dashboard that allows you to configure geofence areas and their automated actions.

The steps for setting up a geofence are:

Determining the geofence zone: To perform geofencing, you must first register or subscribe to the platform or app that provides the subscription. Once you do, you'll receive an account and dashboard that allows you to configure geofence areas and their automated actions.
Location tracking with GPS: Next, you can install an app, a GPS tracker, or utilise the device's built-in GPS. This tracking device will then notify the object's location and trigger an action when the object enters or exits a geofence zone.
Action and notification settings You can set automatic actions if an object enters or exits a geofence zone. Starting from sending notifications, sending promotional SMS, or sending data to activate other systems such as deactivating the automatic starter.

Benefits of Geofencing in Fleet Management for a Business

While its functions can vary widely, geofencing is very common in fleet management, especially if you manage a fleet of dozens or hundreds, such as a car rental company or a transportation provider like a bus company.

For businesses related to transportation and delivery, here are the benefits of geofencing in your business fleet management.

1. Prevent vehicle theft

By setting up a geofence and setting up notifications, you can receive alerts when your fleet leaves a designated area. This way, you can investigate whether it indicates theft.

For example, you can contact the renter or driver and inquire about the reason for driving the vehicle on an unauthorised route. If theft does occur, you can take immediate action, such as reporting it to the authorities.

2. Organise the work area

Geofencing will also be very useful for those of you who use vehicles for business operations, such as deliveries. You can define work areas and set up notifications when your fleet enters or exits those areas.

This way, you can ensure driver or courier accountability and ensure their work meets established schedules. This can also serve as a record and evaluation tool if a driver is frequently late with deliveries.

3. Improve business efficiency and performance

Geofencing data will enrich information about fleet performance, especially when combined with other data from GPS devices. For example, you can find out vehicle operating hours and driving behaviour within a geofence.

You can use this information for operational evaluation and driver performance improvement. It can also inform policy making, efficiency, and business development.

Cartrack GPS Tracker with Geofencing Features

Cartrack's fleet management solution offers GPS trackers with geofencing features that enhance the protection and security of your vehicles. Access a dedicated dashboard where you can track your vehicles and receive notifications if they stray from designated zones.

In addition to the GPS Tracker which is equipped with a geofence feature, Cartrack also offers various other useful features, such as:

Fuel monitoring: Sensors to track fuel availability, reduce waste, and prevent theft.
Live Vision and Smart Cabin: AI dashcam and camera solutions to monitor driving behaviour and improve vehicle safely.
Start Inhibit Relay: Allows you to prevent theft by disabling the starter of a stolen vehicle.

Geofencing is a system that can activate automatic actions when an object enters or exits a predetermined zone. One use of geofencing is to utilise data from GPS trackers to optimise fleet management.

Geofencing for fleet management can be applied to a variety of businesses, from car rentals and expeditions to heavy equipment rentals. Theft prevention will be more effective if you can detect when your fleet leaves its operational zone.

Enhance your fleet's security now with Cartrack's GPS tracker, featuring geofencing capabilities! Click the link below and provide your details to receive the best GPS tracker offer for your business needs.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is geofencing used for?

Geofences are used to create a “virtual fence” or boundary within a geographic area. By creating this virtual boundary, the system can automatically respond when a person or device enters or exits the area. For example, sending automatic notifications when a customer or potential customer is near a specific store.

2. What does it mean to exit a geofence?

“Leaving a geofence” means a monitored person or device moves outside or leaves the boundaries of a predefined virtual area in the system. You can define actions to take if this happens, such as sending an automatic notification.

3. What is a geofence on a map?

A geofence on a map is a virtual area marked on a digital map, either in the form of a circle or a polygon. The function of this virtual area is to set location boundaries, either in the form of coordinate points, radius, and so on.

4. What is a geofence notification?

A geofence notification is an automatic notification sent to users when they enter or exit a specific geofence area. For example, when you receive a discount promo while near a certain store.

5. How do I use geofence?

In general, how to use geofence is as follows: