The Vital Role of Vehicle Tracking in Successful Delivery Operations
Timely and efficient delivery operations have become essential for suppliers, manufacturers, and other intermediaries across global supply chains. Transparency, flexibility and unwavering commitments to service quality are all admirable traits to exhibit, but they all come to nothing if they cannot fulfil deliveries and orders to the stipulated time frames of their buyer-supplier agreements.
Granted, many obstacles exist that cause bottlenecks and hold-ups which fall outside of a supplier’s control, but with such widespread connectivity and real-time visibility at their fingertips, any ambiguity whatsoever can and should be avoided. Real-time asset and vehicle tracking has become synonymous with giving facilities fleet, and logistics managers more control and offering a prompt delivery service that satisfies the shifting expectations and needs of modern buyers.
A comprehensive, integrated, and well-managed tracking solution can give businesses the vital tools they need to effectively manage and optimise their deliveries, routes, personnel, and services. The premise, advantages and challenges of real-time asset tracking may not be as apparent to scaling businesses trying to expand to new markets or embrace digitisation, so let’s take a closer look at how vehicle tracking can make a profound difference to your delivery operations.
Understanding Real-Time Tracking
Real-time tracking is a tech-driven approach that involves monitoring the status, location, movement, and history of a vehicle or other asset. Real-time asset monitoring encompasses a broad range of applications and technologies, the most common of which for vehicles is GPS (global positioning system) tracking. By using satellites, this navigation technology allows for accurate location data worldwide, enabling the precise identification of coordinates and route history of all vehicles.
However, real-time tracking is not exclusively confined to the realm of vehicles. Facilities, yard and warehouse managers often deploy fully managed, enterprise-level asset management solutions incorporating various Real-Time Location Systems (RTLS). In a nutshell, this involves using one or more technologies (often alongside GPS) to manage the whereabouts and movement of assets and even people moving inside and outside of a facility.
Such technologies include (but are not limited to):
- RFID (radio frequency identification) tags: Passive or Active RFID works through radio frequency transfers from RFID readers to tags.
- WiFi connectivity: WiFi network signals are used to communicate with tags or affixed devices connected to the same network, often through a WiFi-enabled mobile device.
- Bluetooth or Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) receivers: Battery-powered BLE tags are assigned to various assets and are detected when within range of a receiver.
- Ultra-wideband (UWB) technology: This technology calculates the travelling distance of an asset by measuring the time it takes for radio waves to transmit between devices.
These various RTLS technologies have benefits and drawbacks for specific applications, but as far as tracking vehicle movement is concerned, none is perhaps more suitable than GPS. However, for accurate targeting inside a facility one or more of the above solutions can be deployed to help maintain complete visibility, as certain GPS solutions often cannot detect precise locations indoors, particularly when tall buildings or trees intercept the satellite transmission.
By integrating these technologies, vehicle and asset tracking systems offer granular, detailed data on the whereabouts of commodities, shipments, and vehicles, allowing buyers and suppliers to get a better idea of arrival times and make adjustments accordingly.
However, it’s not always as black-and-white a process as it may appear on the surface.
Overcoming Delivery Challenges with Vehicle Tracking
Amongst all the millions of daily deliveries that take place from suppliers and manufacturers, there are likely to be plenty of unexpected, unpredictable and lengthy obstacles. From road accidents and poor traffic management to unforeseen import tariffs and complex legal challenges, numerous problems can hold up the timely delivery of goods.
While many of these may be completely out of a supplier’s remit, vehicle tracking systems can offer much-needed insight and clarity when things go awry.
Real-time traffic data and route optimisation software can be integrated with GPS vehicle tracking systems, allowing drivers to dynamically adjust routes and take alternative measures to avoid lengthy delays. By integrating vehicle tracking solutions with other incumbent software, operations managers can get a clearer idea of what is causing the holdup remotely, and strategically alter their plans. Supply chain management systems, for example, aim to provide end-to-end visibility and enable proactive decision-making to minimise potential disruptions, however large and far-reaching.
Unfortunately, older and less agile vehicles are more popular post-pandemic, but this leaves them more prone to unexpected events like breakdowns or accidents, which can quickly spiral if preventative measures are not taken. Vehicle tracking systems integrated with lone worker alarms can quickly alert the appropriate personnel, enabling swift response and minimising vehicle downtime.
While these challenges may not be fixed immediately, the transparency offered by vehicle tracking systems provides much-needed reassurance when timescales are tight.
Benefits of Vehicle Tracking in Delivery Operations
Implementing a robust vehicle tracking solution can yield numerous benefits for businesses, ultimately contributing to a more efficient and successful delivery operation.
- Improved customer satisfaction: Real-time vehicle tracking allows suppliers to keep buyers updated about deliveries with more accurate locations and arrival times, thus leading to greater trust and loyalty between both parties.
- Optimised routes: Businesses can reduce wear and tear on their fleet, optimise their emissions, minimise fuel consumption and more, by proactively assigning and defining optimum delivery routes.
- Reduced delays: Potential delays and bottlenecks can be identified ahead of time, with vehicles rerouted and schedules adjusted, ensuring that operations don’t take a huge hit.
- Enhanced driver performance: Monitoring speed, idling, and other vehicle metrics can allow businesses to identify problems and improvement areas among their driving personnel.
- Reduced costs: Despite the upfront costs of vehicle tracking systems, the long-term cost savings can quickly add up, from reduced fuel usage to fewer late delivery payments or customs charges. All are aided with the help of enterprise vehicle tracking.
- Theft prevention: Unauthorised vehicle movements, diversions, or strange routes can be spotted remotely, thus allowing businesses to initiate proper responses and recovery processes, while also alerting local law enforcement if necessary.
- Complete asset visibility: Integrating vehicle GPS tracking with other RTLS asset management solutions empowers facilities and warehouses to maintain complete oversight and visibility over all of their assets, however intricate.
How to Implement Vehicle Tracking into Your Delivery Setup
Integrating vehicle tracking into your delivery operations requires careful planning and execution. It’s important to assess your current delivery processes, fleet size, and specific requirements to determine the right vehicle tracking solution and scale of optimisation you need. Select the most suitable combination of RTLS technologies based on your needs, budget, and existing infrastructure, consulting a third-party asset management software provider if needed.
Once your system has been set up for testing, provide comprehensive training and upskilling to all personnel who will need to use the system. Educate them fully on its benefits and purpose, highlighting any immediate problem areas before full deployment. Ensure that the tracking system seamlessly and reliably integrates with your existing infrastructure before entrusting it to your fleet. Make sure that you can accurately and immediately capture data and make informed decisions based on the data flow.
Fundamentally, continually monitor and optimise your system, making necessary adjustments where applicable to determine the best way to take your delivery operations to the next level.
A successful logistics function is vital to any supply chain. With skilled, knowledgeable employees, you can modernise your logistics services, meet and exceed customer demand, and add value to your business operations. Call 0800 1422 522 to speak with a member of our Expert Course Advisory Team or Corporate Team to find out how we can help you.