Over the last decade, GPS tracking system has gained immense popularity among fleet business. The use of GPS tracking system can be seen in everything from phones and tablets to cars to fleet management. However, despite its popularity, very few understand how GPS works. To have an idea on the workings of a GPS tracking system, we first need to know some GPS basics.

What is GPS?

The acronym GPS stands for Global Positioning System. Some of the satellites orbiting the Earth are working in tandem with each other to keep the GPS system running. Back in the 1970's, the D.O.D launched a group of 24 satellites used for navigation. This technology was initially developed to serve military purposes. But, at some later point in time, it was made available to the general populace. The GPS receivers in cell phones and vehicles receive signals from the satellites. The time difference between the transmission of a signal by the satellite and its subsequent reception is used to calculate the reception’s coordinates. A concept known as trilateration is used to calculate the exact location with the help of a few more satellites.

Real-Time Fleet Monitoring

We know that GPS can be used for real-time fleet monitoring and management. We also know that real-time fleet monitoring is accomplished with the help of a vehicle tracking system. But do you know how said vehicle tracking system works?

Understanding the concept of AVL (Automatic Vehicle Location) is crucial. The AVL system installed in a vehicle automatically figures out the location of that vehicle and transmits the data through a cellular or satellite network to a data center. This data can be interpreted to monitor the whereabouts of a vehicle in real time. To make sure there is no delay in the transmission, the channel or the network must have a good data rate.

However, we have just considered GPS applications for a single vehicle so far. What about a fleet of vehicles? How do we interpret the location data obtained from each of these vehicles? To make that happen, a fleet tracking software is necessary. The software will combine the date obtained from these vehicles and display it on a screen for real-time fleet monitoring. These days, fleet monitoring extends to more than GPS tracking. Various measurements, such as fuel levels and engine temperature, can be determined as well.

Cloud-Based Tracking

Cloud-based vehicle tracking systems leverage the power of cloud computing to step up the traditional fleet management process. With cloud-based tracking systems, fleet managers won’t have to spend long hours staring at computer screens for an update. Cloud-based tracking solutions enable you to monitor your fleet from anywhere and at any time. Cloud-based tracking systems can help reduce the operational costs and thus improve the productivity of the business.

You can monitor your fleet right from your phone or tablet. GPS Trackit’s cloud-based software works on both the Android and iOS platforms. Moreover, you can also tailor the solution based on your specific needs, so you don’t pay for redundant features that you’ll never use. This solution from GPS Trackit is a step ahead of traditional fleet tracking systems. You will be able to save a lot of money and hassle while enjoying the tailor-made benefits of your personalized plan.