Fleet managers face daily challenges when it comes to managing their respective fleets, including staying ahead of vehicle tracking and safety. Fortunately, using a range of telematics solutions, they can optimise fleet operations, enhance safety and driver behaviour, and improve customer service.
Geofencing is one of the most effective telematics solutions that has gained popularity in recent years. It uses a global positioning system (GPS) to track data and create a virtual boundary around a specific geographical location, helping fleet managers better manage the movement of their vehicles.
This article will discuss geofencing, what it entails, how it is used and how you can leverage this state-of-the-art technology to improve your business fleet operations.
Understanding Geofencing
Creating Virtual Boundaries
Though it may sound complicated, creating geofences is a very straightforward process. It involves defining predetermined areas in which a fleet vehicle can operate and creating a virtual boundary around these geographic locations. This can, for example, include customer sites, company premises, and restricted areas.
Fleet managers use a mapping interface (often accessible through easy-to-use mobile apps) to determine and draw precise boundaries of a predetermined geofenced area. These boundaries determine whether a vehicle can enter or exit a given area.
The technology uses GPS data (supplied by a vehicle tracking system) to create virtual fences or boundaries around a given location. These geofences trigger pre-programmed actions when a fleet vehicle enters or exits a specific geographic location.
Geofencing allows user flexibility; a fleet manager can adjust geofenced areas according to their needs and requirements, usually from a mobile device. They can also create a specific geofenced area for individual fleet vehicles.
How Geofencing Works
A geofence acts like an invisible fence and creates a location-based geographic boundary around a given location. It uses GPS or radio frequency identification (RFID) technology (transmitted via a cellular data network) to track a fleet vehicle’s real-time location and movement.
It helps fleet managers monitor the movement of trucks, cars, vans and motorcycles in and out of a geofenced area. As the vehicle enters or exits this designated area, it triggers predetermined actions. If, for example, a vehicle enters a prohibited area, the vehicle tracker sends an alert notification to the fleet manager that the vehicle has entered a restricted area.
Applications in Fleet Management
Geofencing can easily and successfully be applied to a range of fleet operations to help improve efficiency and business outcomes. Some of the key benefits of geofencing include:
Route Planning and Fuel Efficiency
Businesses can use geofencing data to:
- Optimise route planning
- Minimise fuel consumption
- Reduce travel times
By identifying and saving specific route data, obtained through the use of a vehicle tracking system, fleet managers can create more efficient routes and delivery schedules. This can help cut down on unnecessary idling, reduce fuel consumption and save drivers a lot of time.
Security and Asset Tracking
For businesses that operate in unsafe areas or transport valuable goods, the geofencing vehicle tracking system tracks vehicle location and movement. This helps ensure the safety and security of consignments, vehicles, and staff.
If, for example, a driver enters a restricted area, fleet managers can immediately be alerted, helping reduce vehicle theft and possible hijackings.
Fleet managers can also minimise unauthorised vehicle use for personal errands, and help identify and reprimand the drivers responsible.
If a vehicle is stolen, it can also be easily located and tracked, helping recover the vehicle faster.
Improved Customer Service
Because it uses location-based data, geofencing can help improve customer service by providing accurate delivery times. Customer care agents can then communicate these delivery times to customers.
When a vehicle enters or exits a geofenced zone, location data is sent to customers, informing them of the delivery vehicle’s location and expected delivery times. Continuously keeping customers updated – via messages and updates on their mobile devices – is an excellent way to improve customer experience.
Compliance with Local Regulations
Geofencing – because of its use of location-based technology – also ensures that fleet vehicles comply with local regulations.
In the UK, fleet vehicles need to adhere to the Low Emissions Zones (LEZ) and Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) requirements.
These “clean air zones” are specifically designated areas where vehicles that do not meet particular emissions standards are prohibited from operating. These LEZ and ULEZ zones aim to reduce air pollution and improve air quality in London and other major UK cities and reduce exhaust emissions.
Furthermore, heavy goods vehicles also have to adhere to the Direct Vision Standard (DVS) regulations of the area they operate in. The DVS regulations – applicable to HGVs with net weights of more than 12 tonnes – aim to make UK roads safer by reducing the number of road accidents that involve HGVs and vulnerable road users.
Using geofencing, fleet managers can ensure that vehicles that are not LEZ or ULEZ-compliant steer clear of LEZ and ULEZ zones, thus helping avoid LEZ fines and ULEZ penalty charges.
Vehicles not DVS-compliant can also be steered away from or around DVS zones to avoid the prescribed Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) of £550.
Real-World Case Studies
Using geofencing, Crystal Ball has been able to help many of its customers improve their business and fleet operations.
In one of our case studies, Home 2 Office Water Coolers wanted to improve the management of their remote workforce and maximise their staff and vehicle productivity. Using Crystal Ball’s cost-effective Fleet Vehicle Tracker, the company optimised its delivery routes and customer service through geofencing.
In addition, the company saw a 15% improvement in delivery times and more accurate delivery updates to customers.
Another of our case studies highlights the fuel-saving benefits Crystal Ball’s geofencing telematic solutions offer. DAB Civil Engineering wanted a more robust and reliable system to gauge how their employees use company vehicles, especially over weekends. Using Crystal Ball’s FleetTracker, the company was able to increase the visibility and monitoring of its fleet, leading to a reduction in its fuel, vehicle repair and service costs.
Conclusion
Geofencing technology has the potential to revolutionise any business’s fleet management. It offers a range of benefits, including improving route planning and fuel efficiency, keeping fleet vehicles compliant, and boosting asset security and tracking.
Contact Crystal Ball to learn how our range of top-notch vehicle trackers can help improve your fleet operations and efficiency, save costs, and improve your customer service experience.
Our tracking systems also offer automatic driver recognition functionality – to help prevent unauthorised vehicle use and theft – while our driver behaviour analysis tool and vehicle checklist app will ensure that your fleet is always up and running. Book a demo today and see how we can help you lead your fleet to success.