You are running a delivery company with dozens of vehicles on the road. You rely on your drivers to follow the best routes, avoid traffic jams, and arrive on time at customers’ doorsteps. GPS tracking software enables businesses to know exactly where each vehicle is.
Without a way to track them in real-time, you’ll never know what’s happening out there. You won’t know what each driver is doing. This software also gives customers insight into when their parcel is close to be delivered.
GPS tracking software gives you the superpower to monitor your fleet.
Define GPS tracking software
It’s a platform that uses the Global Positioning System (GPS) to monitor and trace the locations of the vehicles. But it can also be used for much more, even assets or people in real-time.
By knowing exactly where your vehicle, asset or employees are, can give crucial information to managers and customers to improve delivery satisfaction.
The platforms have evolved over time, some of the basic features also now include security and data capturing.
Why do you need GPS tracking software?
It saves fuel costs, gives better visibility over driver behavior, and improves delivery times.
Saving time: When drivers make simple mistakes by driving straight into traffic, it wastes fuel, which is a massive expense. This is where a GPS tracking system comes to the rescue.
It helps drivers find the best routes, saving both time and fuel. The less time spent in traffic jams and congested roads, the less fuel trucks burn through.
Better visibility: Not knowing where your vehicles are can give you anxiety; not having any contact with the driver on the road is scary.
A GPS tracking device bridges this gap. It lets the business know whether the driver is speeding, taking long breaks, disobeying traffic laws, or veering off-route.
Not only does it give a fleet manager better oversight over all the dozens of vehicles and vans, but it can also send out urgent notifications. Let’s say your driver is speeding; it can alert a manager, who can call the driver to avoid arrest or heavy fines.
Imagine a driver falling asleep behind the steering wheel. In this life-threatening situation, a GPS tracking device can save the tired employee’s life.
On-time deliveries: The faster the delivery, the happier the customer. Having a GPS device installed in your vehicle allows a business to send accurate ETAs and let customers know when their order is on its way.
WATCH: How GPS tracking can work for your business
What types of GPS tracking software are there?
If you believe GPS tracking could scale your business and save you costs, you need to consider the types of devices on the market.
Most of these devices’ core functionalities are real-time location tracking, geofencing, route optimization, and driver performance. We’ll discuss these in more detail later in the article.
Here are four types of vehicle tracking apps to consider:
Personal GPS tracking software
This is used to track people. Personal GPS tracking can be used to monitor a person’s location to ensure their safety, especially when traveling to less secure areas or transporting expensive goods.
Example: Think of drivers transporting electronics in the middle of the night or cash.
GPS tracking for vehicles
Tracking vehicles is the most popular form; most companies track their vehicles, taxis, or vans when out on the road in real time.
Example: Let’s say you own a pizza restaurant or grocery store. You have a bunch of deliveries on the road from early in the morning till late in the evening.
- You need to know where your vehicles are all the time.Â
- You can’t call them for every delivery.Â
- Instead, the software connects to GPS satellites and shows you each vehicle’s location on the map.

Asset tracking GPS software
Many companies use GPS software to track expensive equipment or assets. It can be tools or construction machinery. The device makes sure you know exactly where your items are.
Example: Imagine a construction company that has bulldozers, cranes, and tools spread across multiple work sites. These tools are extremely expensive.
The company puts small GPS devices on each piece of equipment so they always know where it is. If a bulldozer is stolen or moved without permission, they can quickly find it.
Fleet GPS tracking software
If your business manages several vehicles, fleet tracking software can be a lifesaver. You’ll have a full overview of your fleet, tracking its fuel consumption, routes, and driver behavior.
Example: What if you deliver fresh meals to stores across a big city. You have a fleet of about 30 vehicles on the road for most of the day. Keeping track manually is nearly impossible. Making sure they don’t take the wrong route (thinking it’s a shortcut) or brake the car too hard.

5 Key features of GPS tracking
Knowing where your assets, fleet, or vehicles are helps you stay organized, and when you are organized, your performance automatically improves.
GPS tracking is designed to give fleet managers, operations managers, and business owners better control and visibility.
Here are five key features that make GPS tracking software so powerful.
1. Real-time tracking and location history
GPS tracking is like having a live map. It also keeps a record of past trips so companies can see where their vehicles have been. It’s great to keep on the record when a customer disputes a delivery.
2. Alerts for unusual activity
The system can send instant alerts if something’s off. This is ideal for when a vehicle leaves a specific area, also called geofencing.
If a driver is speeding or braking too hard, it’s easy to know in real-time and prevent any serious damage to the vehicle immediately. It could just prevent an accident.
3. Data analytics and reporting
GPS tracking collects data on things like fuel usage and driver behavior. Companies use this data to create reports and make smart decisions that can save money. When you know exactly which trips cost the company more than it should, you can easily make adjustments before it’s too late.

4. Integration with other systems
The software connects with other business tools, like payroll or delivery systems. This cuts down on paperwork and helps automate tasks. This means all the information flows seamlessly between systems.
It allows companies to automate tasks while also getting rid of paperwork.
5. Customizable reports and support
Businesses can adjust the reports to focus on the info that matters most to them. It might be the safety of the vehicle, the cost of fuel, or the delivery times to improve customer satisfaction.
Technical support is also an important feature to help set things up just right.
GPS tracking devices and hardware
To track your vehicles, assets, or equipment, you’ll need more than just the software. It requires hardware installed on the equipment or inside the vehicle.
You’ll find a variety of GPS trackers on the market. Some are plug-and-play, and others are hardwired. For some deliveries, a battery-powered GPS will do, while others are connected to the car’s battery.

GPS tracking devices are the physical components that collect and send real-time location data to the GPS server software. The device is needed to track the vehicle or equipment accurately.
You might require a rugged GPS device or even an ultra-rugged one.
Let’s look at the different types of devices and hardware:
Using a cell phone as a GPS tracking device is easy for contract workers.
OBD Port device is found in most vehicles. It’s easy to install in your vehicles.
Battery-operated devices are useful for tracking an asset. It has batteries and a SIM card on the back.

How GPS devices and trackers are installed
For vehicles, GPS tracking devices are installed under the dashboard or inside the vehicle’s cabin. This is to easily connect to the vehicle’s power supply. From here, it collects data easily.
This is how these devices are able to monitor not only the location but also performance metrics like speed, fuel consumption, and even engine health.
A rugged or ultra-rugged device is typically smaller and battery-operated. It’s designed to withstand tough environments. The device attaches to a smooth surface on the equipment to ensure it can easily be removed when notified that the battery needs to be changed.
GPS server software for monitoring GPS devices
The hardware wouldn’t be useful without the software to manage it. GPS server software brings all the location data together. It acts as the central hub where businesses can view and analyze the real-time data coming from their GPS tracking devices.
Through the software, companies can monitor everything from vehicle locations to asset conditions, all from one dashboard.
This software usually offers features like real-time tracking, route optimization, and geofencing.
For example, if a vehicle leaves a designated area, the software can send an alert to the manager. The software also provides historical data, allowing businesses to review previous trips and detect inefficiencies, such as drivers taking longer routes than necessary.
GPS tracking devices with long-lasting batteries
Are you curious about the device’s durability and battery life? Vehicle tracking devices are usually powered by the vehicle’s battery, so they don’t need frequent charging.
However, for equipment and assets that aren’t constantly powered, GPS devices need long-lasting batteries.
Many GPS trackers are built to withstand harsh conditions. They’re waterproof, dustproof, and can handle extreme temperatures. This makes them ideal for industries like construction or agriculture, where equipment is often exposed to rough environments.
GPS trackers with advanced features
These days, devices come with advanced features like driver behavior monitoring and engine diagnostic codes.
This data helps businesses improve safety and fuel efficiency by addressing risky driving habits.
Another advanced feature is the ability to track engine diagnostic codes. This provides real-time updates on the vehicle’s health.
These trackers can alert businesses if there’s a potential issue with the engine, allowing for preventive maintenance before a breakdown occurs.
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About the author
Mia is a multi-award-winning journalist. She has more than 14 years of experience in mainstream media. She's covered many historic moments that happened in Africa and internationally. She has a strong focus on human interest stories, to bring her readers and viewers closer to the topics at hand.