Google announced that they will be providing free "turn-by-turn" navigation in their mobile operating system, Android 2.0. It will be a beta version, but Garmin, TomTom and others will be having some serious behind locked doors discussions on what their core customer value is if all Android mobile devices have free navigation.
This is also a direct competitive advantage over Apple and Microsoft's Windows Mobile OS that do not have this feature available for free. If the free turn-by-turn navigation proves successful for Google, you will see more handset manufacturers look to support it on more devices which will impact Microsoft, RIM, Nokia, Apple and others bottom line.
Email Contact: Info@L2DataCollection.com
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
American Sins, GPS, GIS and Mobile Software Applications that Show It All
This article details some very interesting uses for maps, data and GPS and GIS systems.
American Sins, GPS, GIS and Mobile Software Applications that Show It All
The practical result of these kind of map over lays is the ability to gain insight into your immediate surroundings in real time over your mobile device or Smart Phone. Everywhere you travel, you can request that your current GPS location be used to provide you with all kinds of useful information.
In a work environment, fleets can be uploading GPS data to show the central office where all the vehicles are, but in return the GPS coordinates can be providing the drivers with all kinds of useful information as well.
For a related articles that shows how GPS and LBS (location based services) can be all integrated together with ERPs and business applications read these articles:
Email Contact: Info@L2DataCollection.com
American Sins, GPS, GIS and Mobile Software Applications that Show It All
The practical result of these kind of map over lays is the ability to gain insight into your immediate surroundings in real time over your mobile device or Smart Phone. Everywhere you travel, you can request that your current GPS location be used to provide you with all kinds of useful information.
In a work environment, fleets can be uploading GPS data to show the central office where all the vehicles are, but in return the GPS coordinates can be providing the drivers with all kinds of useful information as well.
For a related articles that shows how GPS and LBS (location based services) can be all integrated together with ERPs and business applications read these articles:
- The Future of Mobile and Route Sales Applications for Smart Phones, Part 1
- The Future of Mobile and Route Sales Applications for Smart Phones, Part 2
Email Contact: Info@L2DataCollection.com
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Mobile Asset Management and Street Sweepers
We met recently with a company that owns street sweepers. The company provides street sweeping services for a fee and the biggest assets of the company are several $100,000 giant street sweepers. Here is the interesting point - the owner has no visibility into how the street sweepers are being operated, nor if they are actually providing the services in all the contracted areas.
As a business person, I can say that not knowing if you provided the services you were contracted to provide is a bad thing. You need proof that the services were provided. It eliminates invoice disputes and unhappy customers. One easy solution is to install fleet tracking GPS systems in each street sweeper so their street sweeping activities can be monitored and recorded. Trimble Fleet Tracking is one relatively inexpensive and easy to install system.
When the Trimble Fleet Tracking system is in place, the owner of the street sweepers, and the person accountable to the customers, can login to a browser based online application and see the exact areas covered by all street sweepers each day. These recorded "bread crumb" paths can also be provided to the customer.
Let's now consider the value of the mobile assets, the giant $100,000 street sweepers. Nearly all of the owner's business assets are mobile and not under his or her direct physical observation and supervision. It is like having $500,000 leave the garage each day without the owner being able to care and monitor it. Street sweepers are large motorized vehicles. Safety is a big concern as is damaging things. It is very important that safety processes and safety laws are observed and enforced to protect the business and others. It is also very important to have a good safety record when selling your services to government municipalities and private businesses. Fleet Tracking systems can monitor many different aspects of the vehicles' operation including speed and driving habits.
Another important consideration in running a business is managing expenses. Fuel and maintenance is a big factor when operating a business based upon large vehicles. Fleet tracking systems can help you monitor idling time, operational time, sweeping time, start-up and stop times, mileage and other important factors. Many maintenance procedures are based upon hours of operation, while others on mileage. These can all be monitored by the fleet tracking systems and alerts can be set-up to remind as each maintenance milepost is reached.
The bottom line, if you have hundreds of thousands and even millions of dollars worth of equipment running in remote locations and you have a personal responsibility for their maintenance, operation, safety and efficiency, then it would be a good thing to have visibility into how your mobile assets are being used.
If you would like to discuss this fleet tracking solutions in more detail please contact us at Info@L2DataCollection.com.
As a business person, I can say that not knowing if you provided the services you were contracted to provide is a bad thing. You need proof that the services were provided. It eliminates invoice disputes and unhappy customers. One easy solution is to install fleet tracking GPS systems in each street sweeper so their street sweeping activities can be monitored and recorded. Trimble Fleet Tracking is one relatively inexpensive and easy to install system.
When the Trimble Fleet Tracking system is in place, the owner of the street sweepers, and the person accountable to the customers, can login to a browser based online application and see the exact areas covered by all street sweepers each day. These recorded "bread crumb" paths can also be provided to the customer.
Let's now consider the value of the mobile assets, the giant $100,000 street sweepers. Nearly all of the owner's business assets are mobile and not under his or her direct physical observation and supervision. It is like having $500,000 leave the garage each day without the owner being able to care and monitor it. Street sweepers are large motorized vehicles. Safety is a big concern as is damaging things. It is very important that safety processes and safety laws are observed and enforced to protect the business and others. It is also very important to have a good safety record when selling your services to government municipalities and private businesses. Fleet Tracking systems can monitor many different aspects of the vehicles' operation including speed and driving habits.
Another important consideration in running a business is managing expenses. Fuel and maintenance is a big factor when operating a business based upon large vehicles. Fleet tracking systems can help you monitor idling time, operational time, sweeping time, start-up and stop times, mileage and other important factors. Many maintenance procedures are based upon hours of operation, while others on mileage. These can all be monitored by the fleet tracking systems and alerts can be set-up to remind as each maintenance milepost is reached.
The bottom line, if you have hundreds of thousands and even millions of dollars worth of equipment running in remote locations and you have a personal responsibility for their maintenance, operation, safety and efficiency, then it would be a good thing to have visibility into how your mobile assets are being used.
If you would like to discuss this fleet tracking solutions in more detail please contact us at Info@L2DataCollection.com.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Trimble Fleet Tracking's Basic ROI
In this article we want to discuss fleet tracking and why companies invest in it. I think a good place to start is by first defining fleet management so we can understand the role of fleet tracking.
Today, Wikipedia defines fleet management as follows: Fleet management is the management of a company's vehicle fleet. Fleet management includes commercial motor vehicles such as cars, vans and trucks. Fleet (vehicle) management can include a range of functions, such as vehicle financing, vehicle maintenance, vehicle telematics (tracking and diagnostics), driver management, fuel management and health & safety management.
Fleet tracking is the use of GPS tracking and most often web based technologies to monitor, in real time or near real time, a large number of different data points on your fleet. These data points can consist of the following:
Today, Wikipedia defines fleet management as follows: Fleet management is the management of a company's vehicle fleet. Fleet management includes commercial motor vehicles such as cars, vans and trucks. Fleet (vehicle) management can include a range of functions, such as vehicle financing, vehicle maintenance, vehicle telematics (tracking and diagnostics), driver management, fuel management and health & safety management.
Fleet tracking is the use of GPS tracking and most often web based technologies to monitor, in real time or near real time, a large number of different data points on your fleet. These data points can consist of the following:
- View real-time locations of your mobile workforce
- Track stop times and milage totals
- Receive alerts on speed, vehicle idle time and/or landmark proximity
- See traveled paths
- Connect to the RS 232 to receive vehicle diagnostics
All of these data points are synchronized back to a web-based map and reporting application. This web technology enables you to view the location of your entire fleet, with multiple views and reports.
Why do companies implement fleet tracking? Fleets are valuable assets and the way they are used and managed can significantly impact profitability. Aberdeen Group lists some of the top reasons companies want fleet tracking:- Reduce service response times (57%)
- Reduce fleet related operating costs (46%)
- Increase service related productivity (41%)
- Extend life of service vehicles (16%)
Improving customer service, reducing fuel and operating costs and increasing productivity are all very good things.
What kind of companies are using fleet tracking? Really any company that has a fleet and is interested in managing and reducing the costs associated with it. In this article you can read about other more sinister and dangerous reasons to get fleet tracking.
If you would like to discuss Trimble's fleet tracking in more detail please contact me.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
