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Business Guide to Transportation Software

Companies that rely on drivers to transport their products can save a substantial amount of time and money by using transportation software, such as GPS fleet tracking software. Not only does it help prevent human error in record keeping, but it also alerts you to problems that could be affecting your bottom line and customers’ satisfaction. Depending on the size of your company, this type of software can be a significant investment. A thorough review of the benefits and potential drawbacks of transportation software will help you determine whether it is the best solution for tracking your shipments and vehicles.

Benefits

According to the Aberdeen Group, transportation software, also known as GPS fleet tracking software, can reduce vehicle maintenance costs by up to 23 percent. Also, companies that use this software can save $1,055 per vehicle in fuel costs each year. These are just two of the benefits that transportation software offers companies. There are many other ways that business owners can benefit from using GPS fleet tracking software.

Increased Worker Productivity

With transportation software, you’ll be able to keep track of each driver’s location at all times. You’ll also be able to track the amount of fuel your drivers use and the amount of time they take to make deliveries. Because your drivers will know that you are monitoring them, they are more likely to deliver packages on time and are less likely to idle during work hours or use your vehicles for personal use.

Data Storage

All of the information that transportation software tracks is stored in a secure database. If you ever need to verify a delivery or review a worker’s driving history, you can quickly access this information using the software’s search feature. Also, most companies that sell transportation software offer data backup services. Therefore, if you ever lose your data or if your computer malfunctions, you can contact the software manufacturer to request the information you need.

Vehicle Maintenance

Transportation software has a vehicle maintenance report feature. You can use this feature to keep track of the services that are performed on your vehicles, which may include oil changes, tire changes and tune-ups. With this feature, you can ensure that your vehicles are always safe to drive.

Driver and Vehicle Monitoring

Not only will you be able to keep track of your drivers’ activities, you’ll also be able to monitor their driving. You’ll know instantly if your drivers are speeding or driving recklessly. You will also know immediately if one of your vehicles is involved in an accident.

Pitfalls

System Outages

GPS fleet tracking software has significantly changed fleet management. When selecting a transportation software system for your company, careful assessment of your options can help you avoid pitfalls that may undermine the effectiveness of your investment. The primary concern about any system based on global positioning is the average uptime of the system that allows you to track your fleet. The transportation software you select must interact with the developer's tracking system. If the tracking system experiences frequent outages, the software will be unreliable for its primary purpose.

Poor Customer Service

Transportation software is not a standalone system. The GPS tracking capability requires your company to have an ongoing relationship with the developer to support this feature. Poor customer service can be frustrating and inefficient, and it can ultimately impact your company's profit margins. Customer service standards should be a key evaluative measure when selecting transportation software, so you can avoid this problem.

Inadequate Features

There are dozens of transportation software options for your business, each with different features that are tied to cost. This type of software can potentially track location, record speed, log ignition use, plot routes, and record idling time. If you pick a program based solely on cost, you may end up with a program that does not actually address your company's operational needs.

Poor Reporting Capabilities

The usefulness of GPS fleet tracking software is tied to the way a system presents the information it records. One of the less obvious issues with this type of program is inadequate reporting capabilities. Programs that have numerous options for creating reports allow you to analyze data more effectively. Transportation software that skimps on this feature can decrease the value of your investment.

Complicated Interface

You will have to train your staff to use the transportation software that you select. Selecting a program with a poorly constructed or complicated user interface makes it more likely that your staff will develop bad habits when using the system. It is also more likely that staff will forget how to use the more advanced features of the system, undermining the purpose of your investment.

Pricing

Transportation software, also called GPS fleet tracking software, allows business owners to electronically record every movement their vehicles make. This software has proven to be quite useful to business owners, particularly those in the trucking industry. According to gpsfortoday.com, GPS tracking devices can start from $100, not including the monthly subscription costs for the device. If your business requires the use of company vehicles or trucks, you should consider investing in transportation software.    

Transportation software typically costs between $500 and $2,000. The price you pay for your software will depend on the software’s functions. Basic software costs around $500 and can track miles, fuel and vehicle speeds. Advanced software costs at least $800 and has a host of features, including maintenance reporting, 2-way messaging, and landmark recognition.  

Conclusion

Although you may have some difficulty familiarizing yourself with the many functions of transportation software, you will likely benefit from having all the detailed records it can provide. Keeping track of your drivers, vehicles, and shipments helps you ensure that your company’s time and resources are used effectively. You may find that money spent on software and training greatly reduces costs over the long term, as both your employees and vehicles will be operating at maximum efficiency when you catch problems early on with routine monitoring. Researching the different types of software as well as the companies that offer it can help you avoid some of the potential pitfalls.