Why You Need Geofencing Fleet Management

If you manage or operate a commercial fleet of vehicles, you may want to learn about what we have to talk about here: Geofencing. What is geofencing? What is GPS tracking, and how does it work? Why is it key for fleet management? What are the specific benefits? Here, we will address all of these questions and more.

Geofencing: The Basics

As technology continues to improve, so do the ways we can manage and operate our fleets. Geofencing is a relatively new technology that is becoming more and more popular for fleet management due to its many benefits.

Essentially, geofencing is a digital border you create around a certain area on a map. This area can be as small or large as you want, and you can create multiple geofences for different areas if needed.

As a fleet manager, you may already be thinking of the benefits that you can leverage by creating a boundary for your fleet vehicles, including unique boundaries for specific types of vehicles. For example, you can geofence the area around your fleet's headquarters or depot, which would send you an alert if any vehicles left that area.

Read below to get a more comprehensive look into what geofencing is, how you can use it to manage your fleet and a number of benefits that this critical technology is bringing to fleet management best practices across the world.

What Is Geofencing?

Geofencing is a technology that uses GPS or radio frequency identification (RFID) to create a virtual boundary around a physical location. When a GPS-enabled device, such as a smartphone or vehicle, crosses the geofence boundary, an alert is sent to the designated party, such as the fleet manager. This allows fleet managers to have real-time visibility of their vehicles and drivers and receive alerts when something out of the ordinary occurs.

At its core, geofencing is a way to effectively manage your fleet using virtual boundaries set up on a map. This boundary can be created around any area of interest or concern, such as areas prone to traffic congestion, high crime rates, harsh weather conditions, etc. Depending on the application, geofencing can be used for things like advertising and marketing, location-specific app controls, and more. In terms of fleet management, geofencing can help by alerting you when a vehicle crosses the boundary that you have set up. This, in turn, allows you to take action if necessary.

How Does Geofencing Work?

Geofencing works by creating a virtual boundary around a physical location using GPS coordinates. Once the geofence is created, any GPS-enabled device that enters or leaves the geofenced area will trigger an alert. This could be a text message, email, or push notification, depending on the geofencing software being used. The geofence boundary can be as small as a few feet or as large as several miles, making it a versatile and powerful tool for fleet management.

Why Is Geofencing Important for Fleet Management?

There are many reasons why geofencing can be an important tool for fleet management. First and foremost, geofencing can help you keep track of your vehicles at all times. This is especially important if you have a large fleet or if your vehicles are often in different locations. Additionally, geofencing can help you improve the efficiency of your fleet by reducing fuel consumption and emissions. Finally, geofencing can also help you improve safety by reducing the risk of crashes and incidents.

What Are the Specific Benefits of Geofencing Your Commercial Fleet?

There are many benefits to geofencing a commercial fleet, but depending on your unique use case and needs, you may find that there are countless additional benefits you weren't aware of.

No More Manual Vehicle Tracking

One of the main benefits of geofencing is that it eliminates the need for manual vehicle tracking. With geofencing, you can be alerted in real-time any time a vehicle crosses a boundary area, and you won't need to worry about your fleet vehicles' locations otherwise. This can free up a considerable amount of time and resources that would otherwise be spent tracking vehicles manually.

Reduced Fuel Consumption and Emissions

By keeping track of your vehicles at all times, geofencing can help you identify areas where your drivers might be spending too much time idling or driving uneconomically. This can reduce fuel consumption and emissions across your fleet, saving you money in the long run and helping you meet your sustainability goals.

Improved Safety and Security

Geofencing can also help improve safety and security within your fleet by providing alerts if there is an incident or accident or your vehicle has left the determined boundaries without prior authorization. With geofencing, you guarantee that your fleet is safe and secure at all times.

Improved Efficiency

Geofencing can help you improve the efficiency of your fleet by reducing fuel consumption and emissions and identifying certain habits or behaviors that lead to longer deliveries or wasted time. Additionally, geofencing can help you optimize routes and identify areas where your drivers might be spending too much time idling or driving uneconomically.

Combatting Theft

Perhaps one of the most important benefits geofencing can offer fleet managers is its ability to help prevent vehicle theft. By setting up geofences around high-risk areas like parking lots, you can be alerted any time a vehicle enters or leaves that area, allowing you to take action quickly in case of a breach. With geofencing, you can rest assured knowing that your vehicles are always safe and secure within the predetermined boundaries and in their expected locations.

Verifying Timesheets

Whether you use your vehicles for delivery or transportation, geofencing can also help improve employee timesheet accuracy. With geofencing, you can easily verify that a given driver or vehicle was in a specific location at a particular time.

For example, geofencing software can be used to track the locations of individual vehicles, allowing you to see where they have been and when they were there. This can help you to ensure that employees are completing their assigned tasks on time and are in the right locations, while also maximizing overall fleet efficiency by helping you identify areas where vehicles may be underutilized.

Overall Improvements to Insights and Management

If you’re looking to gain more control and visibility over your fleet, geofencing may be the solution you need. Whether you're aiming to reduce fuel consumption and emissions, improve safety and security, or optimize routes and tracking trips —geofencing has many benefits for commercial fleet managers.

With geofencing software from a reliable provider like MiX by Powerfleet, you can rest assured knowing that your vehicles are always safe and secure within their geofences and in the right locations at the right times.

Ready to start improving your fleet with geofencing and other telematics solutions? Contact MiX by Powerfleet today and learn more about how our solutions can benefit your business.

How Can I Use Geofencing For My Fleet?

Now that you know all about geofencing and the benefits it can offer, you might be wondering how you can get started. Luckily, geofencing is easier to set up than you might think.

There are many different geofencing software solutions on the market today that can help you start geofencing your fleet quickly and easily. Some solutions even allow you to create geofences directly from a smartphone or tablet.

When choosing a geofencing solution for your fleet, it’s important to consider your specific needs and find a solution that offers the features and functionality you require.

Additionally, be sure to choose a solution that is compatible with the devices you already use, as well as any other software solutions you might already be using for your fleet. MiX by Powerfleet is an industry leader, providing geolocation and geofencing capabilities for fleets of all sizes.

Overall, geofencing can help you gain more insights and manage your fleet more effectively, so why not give it a try today? You might be surprised at just how much geofencing can improve your fleet operations.

Ready To Geofence Your Fleet? Contact MiX by Powerfleet Today

If you’re looking for a geofencing solution that can help you improve the efficiency and safety of your fleet, MiX by Powerfleet is here to help. Our geofencing software is easy to use and offers a wide range of features and functionality, making it the perfect choice for any fleet manager.

To learn more about geofencing and how it can benefit your fleet, Contact MiX by Powerfleet today. We would be happy to discuss our geofencing solutions with you and answer any questions you might have. We look forward to working with you!