If you’re looking for a cost-efficient way to track your business’s most valuable assets, then asset-tracking GPS is just what you need!
This state-of-the-art technology provides companies with crucial benefits that aid them in saving money and resources and enables them to keep their essential items securely monitored at all times.
You’ll understand how asset tracking GPS works by reading this blog post today.
Table of Contents
- Types of Asset Tracking Devices
- How Does GPS Asset Tracking Work?
- The Benefits of GPS Asset Tracking
- What Equipment Is Involved In A GPS Asset Tracking System?
- The Best GPS Asset Tracking Solutions and How to Find Them
- GPS Asset Trackers: Powered vs. Non-Powered
- Will Invest in Asset Management and Tracking Save Money?
- The Future Of GPS Asset Tracking
- Summary
Types of Asset Tracking Devices
GPS Asset Tracking
GPS asset tracking is a cost-effective and reliable way to monitor your high-value assets in real time. It offers long-range tracking, low power consumption, and medium accuracy. GPS trackers are limited to outdoor environments and can be expensive, but they offer considerable advantages for tracking vehicles or other outdoor assets.
Bluetooth Asset Tracking / Beacons
Bluetooth asset tracking allows for easy management of items through beacons that attach to them. These beacons are relatively low power consuming and highly accurate. However, they have a short range. So it requires an initial investment in the hardware before being able to track these physical assets.
Passive RFID Asset Tracking
Passive RFID asset tracking is a great low-cost option as it doesn’t require batteries on the tags. However, you should purchase more expensive readers to scan these asset tags, making the overall cost higher than some alternatives. There is also a risk of interference with other frequencies when using this technology.
AR-Based Asset Tracking
AR-based asset tracking offers an easy way to implement tracking without needing extra hardware beyond a mobile device and AR software. Therefore, it is a great economical solution compared to some other options. However, it does not provide real-time tracking capabilities.
Shipping containers with real-time GPS tracking
How Does GPS Asset Tracking Work?
GPS asset tracking uses the Global Positioning System (GPS), composed of three components – satellites, receivers, and software.
The satellites exist in space and transmit signals containing the assets’ location. The receivers lie on Earth and pick up those signals.
The software interprets the signal data for various purposes, such as locating an address or pinpointing a person’s asset location.
A satellite in space
The Benefits of GPS Asset Tracking
GPS remote asset tracking can be beneficial for businesses in many ways. It helps them increase utilization by ensuring all assets are used efficiently and not left idle unnecessarily.
It also helps reduce asset losses by alerting companies when their assets move without permission or have gone missing altogether.
Lastly, it provides visibility into where assets are at all times, allowing better management and control over them from anywhere in the world.
The most commonly tracked items include:
- RTIs or containers
- Heavy equipment tracking
- Fleet tracking
- Marine vessels
- Electronic devices
- Light equipment
A stack of containers
What Equipment Is Involved In A GPS Asset Tracking System?
An equipment asset tracking system typically consists of a physical tracker housed in a container like a box or a case that sends signals via satellite connection.
These signals then show on some computers (desktop or mobile) using specific software or a web-based application provided by the company offering the service.
Depending on the type of service chosen by the user, it may also include additional features like geofencing or access control, according to their needs.
Monitoring the tracked target on a computer
The Best GPS Asset Tracking Solutions and How to Find Them
First, consider the size of your operation and the type of assets you need to track.
Depending on your needs, different systems may be more suitable than others. For example, if you have many assets spread across multiple locations, a more advanced system may be better suited than having only a few items in one location.
Additionally, consider budget constraints – there are many options available, but they can vary significantly in price depending on features and capabilities. Finally, consider where to track your assets – certain environmental conditions require specialized equipment, so choose one designed for your particular environment.
Modern Asset tracking system
GPS Asset Trackers: Powered vs. Non-Powered
Powered GPS Asset Tracker
- Five to six-month battery life
- Daily adjustment (when stopped)
- Real-time updates every 15 minutes (when in motion)
- Electricity connection wires
- The device enters sleep mode to save power when it is not plugged into a wall outlet.
- Keeping tabs on used versus unused time
- Provides no details about the battery’s lifespan
- Automatically charges when connected to a power source
Non-Powered Assets Tracker
- Heavy-duty battery backup
- The lifespan of the battery is between five and seven years
- Battery-only operation
- Keeping tabs on your battery’s life in real-time
- Incapable of being recharged but readily replaced
- Daily refresh when stationary
- updated every 15 minutes (when in motion)
- Durable in every climate, being waterproof ensures continued use
- There is no ping/locate-now function
- Puts itself to sleep if it isn’t being used
- Useful if you have assets that won’t be relocated for at least six months
Will Invest in Asset Management and Tracking Save Money?
Fleet management system
Investing in an intelligent way to track assets will save your business time and money.
By having access to real-time information about where your assets are, you can reduce costs associated with theft or loss and improve efficiency by quickly locating items when searching for them.
It also provides schedule maintenance so that you can avoid any potential downtimes.
The Future Of GPS Asset Tracking
The future looks bright for GPS asset tracking!
With advances in technology like cellular-connected IoT asset tracking systems powered by Bluetooth, NFC, and RFID technology, businesses will be able to monitor their larger assets in real time more accurately than ever!
Additionally, these technologies enable automated processes that further reduce labor costs associated with manual processes.
Illustration of IoT
Summary
Investing in an effective GPS asset tracking system will save businesses money in multiple ways. And this includes reduced losses as well as increased efficiency when it comes to inventory management and delivery scheduling processes.
However, like with any other technology, businesses must research before committing. This way, you find the best solution suited to your individual needs.
With all this being said, we hope you found this article helpful, and don’t hesitate to get in touch for further questions.
