Do you have shipments that need to be tracked even after they leave a vehicle? If you have a shipping company which requires you to send items overseas or out of town using various methods of transportation, you might want to consider a different option than a regular vehicle tracking system.
With vehicle tracking systems you attach the device to the automobile. It will track the vehicle movements and when it stops. If you want to track assets you will need a slightly different device. Asset tracking allows you to put a device onto the shipping container whether it is a truck container or something the item is packaged in.
Asset tracking devices are usually small black boxes with a short antenna. The device will transmit a signal to a satellite in the area where it is located. The signal from the satellite will be shipped back to the depot where you are watching its progress. If something goes wrong you will be notified by alerts you can set up. For example, if the asset goes off course or does not arrive at its proper destination you can find out where the signal was last transmitting from and work to find the shipment.
Asset tracking can be used for numerous reasons. There is certainly the criminal aspect to consider. Criminals may try to hijack a shipment and remove it from the vehicle to confuse you about its location. By using asset tracking they may not even know they are being tracked.
Typically however, asset tracking is used more for accurate delivery times and to help the receiver keep track of their package. For example a company is waiting for a shipment and they call you to ask where it is. You can log into your asset tracking system and determine its progress. The customer will have accurate information and be extremely pleased when the asset arrives unharmed.
An asset does not have to refer to an inanimate object. Some companies consider their employees to be an asset. For asset tracking when it comes to your employees you have a few different options. Lone worker tracking is another way to discuss asset tracking when it refers to employees. Lone worker tracking will install a GPS device in a name badge, portable device like a radio, or mobile phone. If you communicate with two way radios the portable device is very helpful. In any of the three options the tracking device will be on the person.
You can determine when they leave a job, get to a job, or even when they are in harm’s way. The asset tracking for the lone worker adds to the safety of that person, while keeping track of a company vehicle. The device can show when the employee is moving or stopped. Any service person that must enter a house or other location has an SOS button they can hit if danger should arise. Therefore, safety is found for the employee and any asset you might want to track.
