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.