At first glance, GPS tracking solutions appear expensive. And depending on the solution you choose, it can be, but it is important to recognize that affordable solutions are available. GPS tracking solutions are an important part of logistics operations, so don’t let what seems like a high cost deter you from investing in a solution that will transform your business operations. By choosing an affordable solution and using it properly, you can get more out of your system than you invest. From optimizing delivery routes to enhancing fleet productivity, the impact is widespread. Understanding this transformative power is crucial for enterprises looking to gain a competitive edge. Let’s dive into what costs you can expect to pay when investing in a GPS tracking solution and the money you’ll save through investment.
Increase Your ROI by Investing in AirFinder Everywhere
- Loss Prevention. Reduce the amount of loss that occurs during the supply chain process
- Location Coverage. AirFinder Everywhere uses a combination of GPS, Cellular, and WiFi to determine location everywhere
- Security Alerts. Know when a delay in shipment has occurred so the problem
can be addressed immediately.
The Cost of GPS Tracking
There are various costs associated with GPS tracking. All of these are important to be aware of so that you can prepare your budget accordingly. Depending on which solution you choose, you may be spending more in one area than another. Regardless, research is the key to ensuring you’re getting your money’s worth.
Time Spent Searching for Solution
The time you spend searching for a GPS tracker costs money. It involves the hours, manpower, and resources dedicated to researching, evaluating, and selecting the right asset tracking system. When you are spending time out of your workday to search for this new solution, you are losing out on time that could be spent completing other important tasks.
Cost of Hardware
Once you choose the solution that’s right for you, you’ll have many different components that you’ll have to pay for. Some companies keep everything separate, meaning you have to pay for the hardware and the software individually. Also, different solutions require different types and amounts of hardware. For example, one company may have separate access points and tags, but our tag includes the access point which reduces the amount of hardware you need.
Cost of Software
Since the hardware costs are at times separate from the software, it makes the whole solution feel a little more expensive than it might actually be. The cost of the software can be different depending what features are included in the software solution you choose, especially if you’re looking to monitor condition as well as location.
Installation Cost
Depending on the solution you choose, you may have to pay a separate fee to get the solution installed. This is one more cost you have to consider when searching for a solution. Some companies also increase the installation cost depending on how much hardware they are installing instead of having a base price. It’s important to understand the balance between the cost and the service that you are paying for; while it might cost more money to install a larger system, it saves you and your workers from having to take time out of your day to do it yourself.
Maintenance Cost
Every technology solution will require some maintenance during your time of ownership. Some of this maintenance will be as simple as a battery replacement, but even that is still a cost that you should consider. As frustrating as ongoing costs are, they serve an important purpose by ensuring that your solution continues to work properly. Any neglect in this area will only end up costing you more to fix a bigger problem.
Why Use GPS Tracking
With the high cost of a GPS tracking system, you may be wondering if it’s even worth it to invest in one. But once you consider all of the benefits you gain from one, you’ll soon discover that a properly priced system will deliver returns that far surpass their costs.
Pallet Tracking
Tracking pallets is an important part of logistics. Pallets carry the cargo being transported from point A to point B, and not knowing where they are can lead to significant errors and disruptions. Pallets might get left behind or sent to the wrong location. Any error in the distribution causes delays in the supply chain as a whole. For example, one company we work with was struggling to retrieve their reusable pallets after use. They were accidentally being sent to a recycling facility instead of being returned, meaning that they were constantly purchasing new pallets after a single use. To help address this challenge, they invested in a GPS tracker to make sure they always had eyes on their pallets. The system provided alerts if a pallet was headed to the incorrect destination, allowing workers to retrieve it. No longer did they need to spend so much money on the replacement of lost or disposed of pallets.
Trailer Tracking
Non-powered assets are the most difficult to keep track of. Since trucks are powered assets and are required to have telematics installed, these assets and their connected trailers can quickly have their status and location confirmed. But when a disconnected trailer is sitting in a lot, there’s no way to obtain any information about it. Luckily, a supplementary GPS trailer tracker can solve this problem. The most important information you can gain from tracking your trailers is tracking their usage. More often than not, companies have trailers that go underutilized, which means that others are going overutilized. This reduces the lifetime of trailers that are being used more and creates an illusion that maintenance on these trailers is being neglected, when in reality, they’re just being used more than anticipated and being worn down accordingly. Information on trailer usage also helps managers make smarter, data-informed decisions about scheduling and purchasing.
Cold Chain Monitoring
Depending on what industry your business operates in, you may be responsible for transporting sensitive items that need to remain at a specific temperature. Without taking proper precautions, these items risk spoilage, leading to lost product and waste. To help these products hold the proper temperature, they are transported on a reefer trailer. Even with the proper temperature set, however, the worst can still happen. The refrigeration system can fail, or the temperature inside the trailer might rise unexpectedly due to improper loading. Most of the time, there is no way of knowing this until the driver arrives at their destination. At this point, it’s too late to address the problem since the items have already spoiled. With the help of GPS tags, however, companies can determine what the temperature is inside the trailer at all times down to package level. If the temperature falls out of range, management will be notified immediately so action can be taken before spoilage occurs.
How To Maximize Your Investment
No matter how affordable the solution you choose is, an effective system will still be an investment. To make sure you receive the most possible ROI on your investment, there are some steps you can follow to make sure you are saving more than you are spending.
Evaluate Solution Options
With so many GPS tracking solutions available, it can be overwhelming to choose the best one. Before you start your research on solutions, you should put together criteria for what attributes and features you want or need your system to have. How long of battery life do you need? What sensors should the tags include? Once you have your list, you can begin your research. Book demos to get a better understanding of the solutions that stick out to you.
Run a Pilot
After you narrow down your list to the top solution or solutions, you should then run a test pilot. This is to ensure that the solution actually runs as you need it to. You can use this time to truly evaluate how the GPS tracking device will work for your needs and assess the benefits of even this small-scale deployment. You can also use this time to identify any issues you may have with the solution. If you pilot with us, we’ll be able to work with you to fix these issues so by the time you deploy in full scale, you’ll have the solution working properly and in accordance with your needs.
Purchase the Solution
Once you run a successful pilot, you can deploy the solution full scale. Now you’ll be able to see the benefits of a GPS tracker across your entire operations. Continuous monitoring post-deployment ensures system optimization and alignment with organizational needs.
The Affordability of AirFinder
When you choose a GPS asset tracking system, you’ll want to choose one that finds the balance between affordability and quality. Finding something in your budget is important. After all, the whole point of investing in this solution is to save money, you don’t want to have to pay money that you don’t have to accomplish that. At the same time, however, you don’t want to sacrifice quality in a solution to be able to afford it. That’s where our solution comes in.
AirFinder Everywhere has the balance between affordability and quality that you’re looking for. Our customizable asset tracking solution helps you deploy our system to your needs at your scale, ensuring that you only pay for what you need while delivering a high-quality solution. With AirFinder Everywhere, you gain visibility of every important asset at all times, no matter where they are. No longer will you have to spend thousands on replacements of assets. Companies we’ve worked with have reported getting their money’s worth in less than three months of using our solution. We don’t nickel and dime you, either, providing a clear-cut pricing model that accounts for both hardware and software. Everything is included so you can have everything you need without worrying about hidden costs.
Is GPS Tracking Worth the Investment?
At the end of the day, the question you ask yourself shouldn’t be “How much will I spend on a GPS tracking solution?” but “How much will I save because of a GPS tracking solution?” Is a GPS tracking solution an investment? Yes. But it’s an investment worth making. With all the money it helps you save, there is no reason not to invest, especially since you’ll be making the initial money spent back sooner rather than later. To learn more about our solution and how you can save money by using it, book a demo with our team.
