Thursday 16 September 2010

Advances in Vehicle Tracking

The vehicle tracking market has evolved considerably over the years and the days of customers simply wanting a dot on the map seem a distant memory. As consumers become more educated in the different ways the technology can help their business, the demands and expectations of systems is set to increase.

A number of the more advanced vehicle tracking systems already offer comprehensive reporting and alerting suites, giving users the ability to monitor exceptions based on criteria unique their business. Alongside this many providers also offer two way messaging and integrated navigation terminals, helping them drive efficiency throughout their business.

So where is the market going? One direction is engine diagnostics, being able to remotely monitor and report on driving performance is something many businesses would find beneficial, however this isn't always suitable, particularly when vehicles are being driven in different environments. Another direction is integration through an API interface. Again a number of the more reputable providers offer this functionality, enabling the data from the tracking system to be displayed and manipulated within any third party software package; opening vehicle tracking to many new markets.

Which direction will the technology go, only time will tell...

Thursday 19 August 2010

Vehicle Tracking Within The Petrochemical Industry

The petrochemical industry is a market which on the surface is ideally suited to vehicle tracking technology. The product being transported is of high value (tankers carry in the region of £50,000 worth of fuel) and because of its volatile nature vehicles carrying the product can present significant terrorism risks.

However vehicle tracking has until now only scratched the surface of this industry.

The reason the technology has not penetrated the market is down to the "potentially explosive environment" the vehicles themselves have to work within. It's only within the last 18 months that providers have been able to offer a solution that meets Category 3G of the ATEX directive, a fundamental requirement relating to the welfare of workers in explosive conditions.
With tracking companies now providing solutions that meet the directive vehicle tracking should, finally, start to penetrate into this market. So what will this mean for the businesses operating in the market?

In my opinion, the most significant impact this will have on the industry is the competitive advantage the technology will offer early adopters. With the features available on the more advanced vehicle tracking systems it could be a key ingredient for businesses to differentiate themselves in a very commoditised market.

Read more on Navman Wireless's vehicle tracking device within the petrochemical industry.

If you have any question please feel free to comment and i will respond ASAP.