4 Advantages of Using GPS for Roadside Assistance Services
February 7, 2019

Why Roadside Assistance Services Need GPS Tracking

Anyone who’s been on the road has most likely had some degree of a car-related emergency. That’s why roadside assistance companies like AAA, Allstate, and Safelite are in such high demand. The public frequently relies on their services.

Each of these companies specializes in roadside assistance for flat tires, fuel deficiency, towing, or even windshield replacement. So how do service companies like these provide incredible service so quickly and efficiently? Through the use of GPS telematics.

GPS tracking technology enables roadside assistance providers to operate to their utmost potential and provide services efficiently for their customers. Here are just a few benefits associated with the use of this technology:

1. Enhanced Safety Measures with Instant Vehicle Location

Unfortunately, drivers don’t get to choose where their vehicles break down. Best case scenario, they reach a relatively safe area and comfortably call an on-call mechanic or tow truck. Worst case, they’re left stranded on the side of the road, with nowhere safe to wait for help.

Either way, a breakdown is rarely a part of a great day. However, the response time and care of the roadside service vehicle can certainly turn things around.  

A speedy response to emergency calls such as these is crucial for establishing a positive customer-care reputation. This is why having access to a GPS tracking system is so beneficial for your business.

With GPS data, dispatchers can pinpoint exactly where each vehicle in the fleet is located, and direct the closest available driver to assist the stranded vehicle. This information saves time and increases productivity. 

5 Advantages of Using GPS for Roadside Assistance Services

2. Improved Customer Service with Estimated Time of Arrival Data

There is nothing worse than being stranded on a deserted highway, with no knowledge of if or when help will arrive. Or at least that’s what it feels like when you’re in that situation.

Waiting can be an excruciatingly long and stressful experience when unexpected car troubles occur. If your customer has real-time tracking data of their rescuer’s ETA removes just a bit of the anxiety that comes with mechanical failure. 

Providing an accurate ETA allows customers to feel more in control of their circumstances. There is even a benefit for those customers who don’t use the various apps and technologies available to track your trucks themselves. As long as the dispatchers have access to the GPS tracking data, these customers can call in and get real-time updates on the status of their assigned driver.

Rear quarter view of a nondescript tow truck traveling on a highway.

3. Increase Your Company’s Bottom Line by Monitoring Vehicle Use

Aside from providing telematic location tracking data, GPS units are also able to calculate the various ways in which vehicles are used by your fleet drivers.

Use each vehicle’s GPS system to monitor how your vehicles are being used. Gather information on whether they’re driven after hours, if the vehicle has been idling for too long, or are near to reaching their maximum number of stops.

By keeping track of these aspects of vehicle use, you can protect your employees from overwork. In doing so you also protect your vehicles from accidental damage outside of company time. This helps your fleet stay in good repair and assist more people with their car troubles, which in turn positively affects your bottom line.

4. Prepared for Roadside Assistance in Real-Time

Modern fleet management systems with GPS technology allows managers to send pertinent information directly to dispatched vehicles, addressing any changes or delays in real-time.

Roadside assistance companies enabled with this technology can give their drivers updates on what is specifically needed for any job. This can include towing needs, delivery of emergency fuel, new tires to replace a flat, a jumpstart for a worn out battery, winching, and even locksmith services.

With access to this information, drivers can plan ahead and prepare for any job given to them quickly and efficiently. Preparation is key when it comes to handling emergency situations in the most effective way. If given the right information your team will be empowered to provide the best service to your customers.

Use your GPS system to maximize your services, and work better than ever before. By going this extra mile for your customers, you can rest assured that your business will profit in the roadside assistance industry, giving your company a reputation that people trust.

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Joe KinneyBusiness
GPS tracking for food trucks
October 26, 2018

Why Your Food Truck Needs GPS Tracking

With the food truck industry’s rapid expansion, mobile restaurateurs have made creative use of several modern technologies, incorporating new devices and equipment into their business plans. One such device is the GPS unit. Here are 4 reasons why your food truck should include GPS technology in your business endeavors.

Security of Investments

As an expensive and necessary aspect of your business, your kitchen-on-wheels vehicle needs constant protection. GPS telematics technology allows you to monitor where your vehicle is at all times and make sure your vehicle stays where it is supposed to be. If you fall victim to car theft, vehicle tracking can alert the police to the location of the miscreants, increasing the chances of getting your truck back to you in one piece. Should your truck be involved in an accident, local authorities can access data collected by your GPS that may be used to correctly assign liability, securing your reputation and insurance rates.

Improved Customer Service

Incorrect information is frustrating and can be a showstopper, especially in relation to comestibles.That’s why having access to accurate information is so crucial in a customer-focused business. By knowing precisely where your vehicle is located and at exactly what time it will arrive at the designated destination, your customers can plan their visits accordingly. Through the use of social media and food truck location apps, you can maintain an excellent customer-oriented reputation for punctuality and accuracy.

The Oh-So-Fun Health Inspections

Working with, not against, the Department of Health is vital for maintaining a food-based business. In New York, health officials are working on plans to outfit every food truck and cart with a GPS tracking unit to make it easier to track them down for inspections, with the city footing the bill for equipment and installation. As food industry workers know, maintaining a good relationship with the Health Department is crucial, both for keeping your job and remaining in business. Be sure to clearly establish rules and regulations for data use to ensure that your information is secure and accurate.

Data Collection

There is so much GPS data can tell you about your business. Where your vehicles spend the most time, how far they travel on a given day, even how drivers use the vehicles. For your culinary business, GPS telematics can help you stay on a schedule, providing alternate routes to prearranged destinations so you arrive at prime mealtime. GPS units can also help fleet managers map out habitually profitable sites. Some telematics equipment can monitor the temperature of your vehicle, alerting staff to overheating or loss of refrigeration. With GPS, timetables become easier to establish, as data can tell you how much time you need to prep work areas, load the truck, and drive to your destination.

Human beings are notoriously clever when it comes to adapting new technology to suit their own needs. This list of methods outlines a small portion of what GPS technology can do to assist food trucks in their business practices, but every company is different. Experiment with what works best for your business and let your culinary creativity flow.

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Joe KinneyBusiness
Essential tech tools for microbreweries
October 19, 2018

5 Essential Tools for Growing Microbreweries

Starting your own brewing business is expensive, time consuming, and highly competitive, but—if you are following your passions—worth every effort. Even with all your metaphorical ducks in a row, microbrewing can be a difficult industry to break into, let alone nurture to its full growing potential. Here are five tools you can use to get your product and your name, into the lives of consumers across the country.

Social Media

Get involved in social media marketing so people know who you are and what makes your product special. Are you a local crafter? Do you use organic ingredients in your brews? Do you have creative and distinct flavors? Use your social media accounts to let your customers know how you are different from the generic brands. Be sure to provide information on where you sell your products, so your potential customers can sample your delectable brews.

A Solid Business Plan

You’ve set a reasonable budget, have your contingency plans in place, and your business is running along smoothly thanks to your initial business plan. Now it’s time to foster growth in your business. By now you have a clear understanding of your profit margins and can feel secure in purchasing enough products and materials to match your estimated projections. At this point you probably are familiar with the needs and wants of your region. Is there a craft drinking culture? Do you live in a college town? By examining your location and your profits, you can determine what aspects of your business work best for your location.

GPS Vehicle Tracking

Without GPS technology, many drivers would be lost, both literally and figuratively. By installing GPS tracking units into your delivery vehicles, you can track your shipments in real time and ensure timely deliveries. The more organized your deliveries, the more support you can give to your buyers and their business endeavors. Modern fleet telematics companies also frequently offer equipment that can monitor the temperature of your product, maintaining brew integrity in-transit. Consistency is key, so temperature control data equipment is vastly beneficial for keeping your brew flavors uniform. When GPS tech is paired with RFID technology, you can scan your kegs as they leave the distillery and monitor their location so you never lose a costly keg.

Strong Partnerships

Make sure to vet your suppliers carefully, and choose those that are reliable and share the same business goals as you. If your ingredient deliveries are late production can be delayed, costing your company both time and money. By checking the business reputation and quality of the supplier’s products before signing contracts, you ensure that your company will always receive the best ingredients in a timely manner.

Security

Protecting your goods and equipment is essential for running a streamlined brewery business. Two years ago in Atlanta, Georgia, more than 3,000 cases of beer went missing when two loaded trucks were stolen from a brewery’s warehouse. Fortunately, the police were able to track the missing trucks down via the installed GPS. Commercial dash cams can provide an extra level of security and act both as a deterrent and definitive proof of the nefarious actions of thieves. Videomatics also provides protection from misplaced liability if any of your vehicles is involved in an automobile accident. With forward-facing dash cams and in-cab cams, insurance companies have access to data that provides evidence of the circumstances surrounding any particular incident.

With these five tools at your disposal, your microbrewery can reach beyond its original business goals. By utilizing modern technology, you can share your passion for crafting delicious brews across the country and watch your as your business grows.

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Joe KinneyBusiness
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