GPS tracker for employees is a great assistant for teams that work in the field. Besides its primary feature — location tracking — it also helps keep up with the specialists’ performance and makes reporting so much easier. In this article, we will discuss two ways of employee location tracking: via a hardware GPS tracker and a mobile app.
Staff location tracking with a smartphone or a tablet
It’s easy to manage field employees with a mobile app, since any smartphone or tablet today comes with a built-in geolocation system that works both outdoors and indoors.
In B2Field app, the GPS tracking feature is one of the key ones and thus has been meticulously elaborated. It enables supervisors and dispatchers to track the current location of field employees both in real time and after the fact thanks to the travel history feature.
Unlike services where positioning relies solely on cellular base station signals, the app employs a whole set of methods available, including GPS. This ensures maximum accuracy literally up to 1-2 meters, both in the city and beyond.
Another unique feature provided by B2Field is continuous GPS tracking, which makes it possible to track the trips with maximum detail and know the exact mileage of a given vehicle. By the way, it also rules out geolocation data manipulation using Fake GPS by some negligent employees: with B2Field app this will simply be impossible.
Advantages of a GPS tracking app
- The use of regular smartphones or tablets. There is no need to purchase separate GPS trackers: the mobile app can be installed both on corporate and employees’ personal devices.
- It’s more than just staff location tracking. On the map you can view the travel history, pick the closest employee for an urgent order or show the customers the exact location of the courier delivering their order.
- Proactive communication in the fields. The mobile app can be of great assistance to a field employee. With its help they can easily plan tasks, build optimal routes, take orders online when in the fields, confirm task completion with photo reports and much more.
Cases when it’s best to opt for the GPS tracking app
Mobile app-based location tracking via a smartphone will definitely be a better alternative when the work of the field specialists already involves the use of a phone or a tablet. In this case, all you have to do is install our easy-to-use mobile app and you are all set.
During trips, the app is discreetly running in the background to track location, time and mileage in real time. Upon arrival at the destination, the employee can pull up the app on the screen to tick off a task, forward data via a mobile form or make a photo report.
The mobile app is also well-suited for tracking temporary staff or those hired for one-off jobs, such as deliveries or promotional events. With the app you can easily monitor the quality of work and the time it took the contractor to perform.
Hardware GPS trackers as a possible alternative to the app-based ones
GPS trackers are devices that are designed specifically for GPS tracking. There are models for tracking vehicles as well as self-powered portable options for employees. To learn more about the most popular GPS tracker models, visit Navixy Talks, GPS and IoT devices portal.
This GPS tracker FMP100 by Teltonika powered via cigarette lighter is an example of a portable device you can use to monitor full-time and temporary staff on cars and trucks.
A portable GPS tracker ADM50 by Neomatica is also suitable for employees getting around on foot and by public transport or bicycle. They can carry it in a bag or a pocket, since it’s powered by a built-in rechargeable battery.
Advantages of hardware GPS trackers
- High usability. In comparison with smartphones, GPS trackers are more affordable, straightforward and reliable devices. Basically, once you turn them on, you can forget all about them. That’s why they can be used in any working environment (for instance, construction sites) and for managing employees engaged in physical labor.
- Monitoring the use of vehicles. The trackers designed specifically for automobiles provide more data about their operation. Apart from mileage, these may include precise measurement of fuel consumption or driving style assessment.
- Monitoring cargo transportation parameters. In some cases, it’s vital not only to track location of the driver and the vehicle but also the conditions for the carriage of goods (mostly the temperature of the frozen food and medicine) and ensure their integrity and preservation. GPS trackers are better equipped for these purposes since they have special sensors.
When it’s best to opt for hardware GPS trackers
It seems more reasonable to go for a hardware tracker rather than a mobile app (or use them simultaneously) when managing a vehicle fleet or freight traffic. With the additional features the tracker provides, your vehicles and cargo will be well-protected.
Moreover, a hardware tracker is a good way to track field employees engaged in construction, site security or maintenance. A portable tracker can be easily attached to the uniform and holds a charge for a long time.
Staff location tracking: which path will you take?
A mobile app with a location tracking feature and a hardware GPS tracker are two equally efficient ways to monitor your employees’ movements.
App-based trackers help to better interact with field specialists: set tasks, exchange documents, track their productivity. Additionally, the built-in chat and mobile forms grant immediate access to the office and help send data from the fields.
Hardware GPS trackers are a better fit when it comes to comprehensive monitoring of vehicles and cargo as well as managing blue-collar specialists. Such devices are easy to use and are less demanding in terms of operating conditions.
