The benefits of using van tracking for your business

The latest van theft statistics paint an alarming picture - a study has highlighted that van-related crime is increasing across the UK and the result is a hefty cost of over £61.9 million to businesses in lost tools and other items since 2016. With rising inflation costs and concerning economic situation, no business can afford to deal with van theft. Fleets of all sizes are investing in van tracking systems to secure their assets and have peace of mind.

What is van tracking?

Van tracking devices use GPS technology to monitor and track the movements of your company's vehicles. By installing these devices, you can receive real-time data about their location and insights about your drivers’ behaviours. This data can easily be accessed through a web-based portal or mobile app, both of which ABAX offer, allowing you to monitor your fleet from anywhere. These systems also provide valuable data that can enable you to optimise your entire business operations, reduce costs, improve customer service, increase safety, and even prevent theft. 

Here are some of the ways van tracking can benefit your business

Increase Efficiency in Your Business

Vehicle tracking technology enables you to monitor the movements and location of your vehicles in real-time, giving you a clear overview of where your fleet drivers and assets are and whether they are in use or idle. This information can help you identify inefficiencies in your operations, ensure you are billing accurately, such as drivers taking unnecessarily long routes or making excessive stops. By using this data, you can easily find shortcomings in your business operations to increase your fleet's efficiency and reduce your operational costs or increase margins.

With this technology, businesses can optimise resource allocation and utilisation by using real-time data on van location, availability, and proximity to specific job sites or customer locations. By optimising your resource allocation, your businesses can enhance their service delivery, respond swiftly to customer demands, and gain a competitive edge in the market. 

Improve Customer Service and Satisfaction

Your business is only as successful as your happiest customers and van tracking solutions can help you provide better customer service. Nobody likes to wait for a delivery service or job to be done indefinitely. These telematic devices give you the necessary insights to provide accurate delivery estimates and real-time updates to your customers that are waiting for your services.  

Below is a great example of how implanting a tracking solution has helped a business to improve customer experience:

Family-run roofing company expressed its satisfaction after implementing tracking devices on their vehicles. A client of ABAX, Wrights Roofing explained that they could easily log onto the computer app and know exactly where their staff are, when they will arrive at their next destination and when they will be back at the yard. They don’t use the tool to micromanage their staff but rather to help them with customer service – they can let the customer know when their staff will be at the job. Being able to communicate clearly and accurately with your customers will help you build a stronger relationship and increase their satisfaction with your service. Van tracking devices can effectively help you improve customer relationships and your brand’s reputation.

Enhance Driver Safety

Driver monitoring shouldn’t be viewed as a negative activity among employees in a business. Some employees might feel some resistance at the knowledge of being monitored but it can be a beneficial situation for both employer and employee. 

When using tracking technology to monitor the driving behaviour of your employees, you can gain insights into their speed, braking and acceleration habits which can help you identify unsafe driving practices and provide targeted training to improve driver safety. When safer driving practices are encouraged, you can reduce the risk of accidents and lower insurance premiums, as well as proactively protect your brand image.

Lower Fuel Costs

By using van tracking you can reduce your fuel costs by identifying inefficient driving practices, such as idling and excessive speeding. These devices provide detailed reports on each vehicle's movement, including start and stop times, route deviations, and unauthorised detours. 

Midtech Building Services Ltd, a customer of ABAX, were able to identify multiple cases of employees not being where they said they are and using vehicles for their personal use. The company was able to save thousands of pounds since using ABAX’s tracking solution as this encouraged drastic changes in their driver’s behaviours. By identifying and addressing unauthorised usage or non-work-related activities, companies can reduce fuel wastage and ensure that the vehicles are used solely for business purposes – reducing fuel consumption and saving money.

Enhanced Security

These devices can give you added peace of mind. You can always have insight into the location of your vehicles to protect from theft and unauthorised use. With van theft on the rise, companies have to take extra measures to ensure the safety of their assists and increase the chances of recovery, if they were to get stolen. 

Barford Van Hire and Sales, a Norfolk based rental company, recently discovered the importance of tracking when they suffered from the theft of one of their hire vehicles. Fortunately, they had a GPS installed by ABAX and were able to recover it rapidly, 150 miles away. They were able to track the vehicle in real time and relay the position to the Police control room over the phone helping recover the vehicle as quickly as possible.

By monitoring the movements of your vehicles, you can identify any unauthorised activity and take immediate action to prevent theft or misuse. The enhanced security is not only for your vehicle but also to protect your employees in situations where they might experience breakdowns or accidents or even hijacking – you’re always able to provide immediate assistance because you know where they are.

Optimised Route Planning and Time Savings

Another significant benefit is the ability to optimise route planning. By analysing real-time data and historical patterns, businesses can identify the most efficient routes for their drivers to use. This enhanced planning not only reduces mileage and fuel consumption but also saves valuable time and resources that could be allocated to other aspects of the business. 

These devices accurately track mileage on your vehicles to ensure your business is compliant with HMRC requirements when it comes to claiming any miles travelled back. Through route optimisation, businesses can enhance productivity, improve on-time deliveries, and maximise the number of jobs or services completed within a given timeframe.

Are you considering a van tracking solution?

Businesses looking for a reliable and effective van tracking solution should consider ABAX. As a leading provider of vehicle tracking and fleet management solutions, ABAX’s solutions offers a range of features and benefits that can help businesses manage their vehicles, machinery, and tools with a one-stop high-quality smart mobility platform.

The tracking solution provides real-time information about the location and status of your vehicles, as well as driver behaviour data, which can help you identify inefficiencies and promote safe driving practices among your employees. The platform is easy to use, with a user-friendly interface and intuitive mobile app that allows you to monitor your fleet from anywhere.

The team of experts at ABAX is available to provide support and assistance whenever you need it, ensuring that you get the most out of your tracking solution. With a focus on innovation, reliability, and customer satisfaction, ABAX is an excellent choice for businesses looking for a comprehensive and reliable vehicle tracker.

By using van tracking, you can make more informed decisions and better manage your fleet. If you are interested in learning more about how van tracking can benefit your business, contact our team to take a look at our van tracking solutions.

Let’s work smarter together.

Frequently asked questions about van tracking

Q: How does van tracking work?
A: Van tracking works by installing GPS devices in your vehicles that transmit data about the vehicle's location, speed, and other information to a central monitoring system. This data can be accessed through a web-based portal or mobile app from anywhere.

Q: Is it legal?
A: Yes, van tracking is legal in the UK if you comply with data protection laws and obtain the consent of your employees. They need to be aware that they are being monitored and know what the data is being used for.

Q: Can the tracking data be used to monitor employee behaviour?
A: Yes, van tracking can be used to monitor the driving behaviour of your employees, including their speed, braking, and acceleration. This information can help you identify unsafe driving practices and provide targeted training to improve driver safety.

Q: Can van tracking be used to reduce insurance premiums?
A: Yes, some insurance companies offer reduced premiums for businesses that use van tracking to monitor and improve driver behaviour, reduce the risk of accidents, and improve overall fleet efficiency.

Q: How much does van tracking cost?
A: The cost of van tracking varies depending on the provider and the features included. Some providers offer monthly subscription plans, while others may charge an upfront fee for the hardware and installation. Find out more about ABAX’s pricing here.