construction tracking, gps, gofleet, construction, equipment

Have A Construction Site? Here’s Why You Need Asset Tracking

Employing asset tracking solutions for your construction business allows you to access and assess critical performance data of your assets in real-time, whether you’re on-site or not. When you can collect and access data, you’re able to maximize the utilization of assets that are essential for the daily operations across your sites and operations

 

With so many asset tracking and management options available to the construction industry, it’s difficult to know which one is the best option for you. In this post, we’ll help guide you towards the best choice for your assets and your business. Below, we’ve listed some of the most important things that asset trackers can provide to your construction business.

 

Modular Construction Tracking

 

Building something offsite? Modular projects require many of the same protocols as on-site builds. “There’s definitely a benefit, especially depending on how they’re putting these modules together,” says William Hudson one of GoFleet’s Sales Consultant’s. “I’ve had a use case with a construction company that wanted different asset tracking for different pieces of pipe. So they had a lay down yard, then put an asset tracker on everything to differentiate which piece was which, as well as where they were located at any given point in time.” 

 

Asset trackers have a number of similar applications, allowing project managers to access critical data, such as equipment details and materials used. “So now, instead of walking through a massive field of all these different parts, you can actually know exactly where they’re located by the name of the device, instead of wasting time and productivity looking for each individual piece,” says Hudson.

 

Reduced Theft

 

One of the biggest challenges facing the construction industry is theft. People will often target small assets because they can be hidden and removed easily. But even larger assets are at risk for theft. Asset trackers come in a variety of shapes and sizes, helping improve the security of your construction assets and reduce the risk of theft and loss by tracking and tagging your tools, machinery, vehicles, equipment and building materials. 

 

As an example, GoFleet’s BeWired asset tracker is an end-to-end asset tracking solution for non-vehicle assets of all sizes, including trailers, dry containers and heavy equipment. BeWired can be integrated by third-party software to provide data such as movement alerts, detailed location and movement history, triggering updates and much more.

 

More Safety For Your Construction Workers

 

Recent reports claim that accidents on a construction site are among the most frequent causes of injury or accidental death. Faulty equipment represents significant safety hazards to workers on your site; by effectively tracking, managing and maintaining construction machinery and other assets, you can help prevent accidents. 

 

Schedule Repairs And Maintenance

 

Your site’s assets are critical for your business operation. One of the most important factors in managing construction equipment and tools involves knowing exactly what you have and how much they cost to operate. It’s also important to know when your assets require maintenance, repair or replacement. 

 

Use asset tracking to record an asset’s lifecycle and determine its peak performance, as well as when it needs to be repaired. “When an asset is actually plugged into a vehicle, you’re getting a lot more data coming in, like engine health, how the vehicle is being treated, how is this vehicle being driven?” says Hudson. 

 

Construction vehicles are no exception. “If you think in terms of construction, for example an excavator, a spreader, backhoe, trackers can plug into those as well,” Hudson continues. “There’s a lot more data coming in once you plug a tracker into a vehicle, because that vehicle has its own computer.”

 

Collected data can generate an asset profile that enables you to plan a preventative maintenance schedule and avoid unplanned downtime. By assessing your asset’s overall “health”, you can determine which ones are profitable, and which ones have a greater cost of ownership than your budget allows.

 

What To Consider Before You Purchase An Asset Tracker For Your Construction Business

 

Asset trackers can be used in the construction industry in a number of different ways, and most solutions are scalable, meaning they can apply to small and medium construction businesses, as well as larger construction enterprises with multiple sites and plants. 

 

As part of a comprehensive, end-to-end solution service, GoFleet can help you choose the right asset tracker for your construction operation. Here are some of the key pieces we would help you determine before making a purchase decision:

 

What Data Can Your Asset Trackers Provide?

 

In construction, the asset lifecycle starts with the decision to acquire or rent an asset, which can then be identified and tracked from acquisition to removal. 

 

The right asset tracker can gauge the entire cycle process of your assets, allowing contractors and project managers to determine the operational lifespan of an asset. By tracking your equipment, tools, plants, and vehicles, construction companies can begin to understand the need for certain assets and help avoid costly outcomes such as unplanned downtime. It also enables you to figure out the remaining service life of all assets, so you can plan ahead and invest in new equipment when needed. From these data sets, you could ostensibly create reports such as maintenance schedules to help your assets operate at maximum efficiency. 

 

Is Data Tracked In Real-Time?

 

Real-time tracking produces specific data around asset usage and location. An effective asset tracker can help you register and account for all of your construction assets; knowing their exact location helps increase productivity and reduce job lead times. For example, GoFleet’s BeWired asset tracker comes network and application-ready, protecting and tracking your equipment and other assets with a detailed history of their movement and location, usage reports, maintenance monitoring to prevent breakdowns, misuse alerts and more.

 

Do Your Employees Need Training?

 

Depending on the teams that require access, you’ll need to know how much training your workers need to operate the trackers. You should also be aware of training costs and how long it takes to train key stakeholders. The BeWired trackers are easy to install, maintenance-free and there’s no reader required, providing full support for a large number of devices and workers.

 

Conclusion

 

Asset tracking allows your business to maximize the assets you have, as well as their utilization. By using them within the construction industry, asset tracking also allows project managers, contractors and managers to enhance the lifespan of their assets, and improve business operations. At GoFleet, our consultants will help you identify your company’s goals, as well as determine the trackers you need based on size and scope, to deliver optimal results. Moreover, our experts will help you build an asset tracking system that’s scalable and can evolve with you as your business continues to grow. Contact us today!

Cellular, Satellite Asset Trackers & BLE Beacons – An Industry Guide

With technology expanding continually and telematic solutions on the rise, fleets should consider taking advantage of the various resources available. When discussing telematics, asset trackers primarily come in mind. Having the ability to track various features of goods and vehicles give fleets tracking data that helps improve their management processes. There are several asset trackers available and knowing which is the optimal solution for a fleet is important to remain within budget and not waste resources. 

Three Types of Asset Trackers

Before diving into the specific asset trackers available, it is important to understand the 3 main categories that they all fall under: 

1. Cellular Asset Trackers are the more common asset trackers. They use cellular network coverage to transmit data and information about an asset. 

2. Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) Beacons succeed where cellular asset trackers face challenges. They can be used to transmit data in locations without cellular coverage. 

3. Satellite Asset Trackers use satellites to transmit technology and are considered the most reliable option amongst the three for using outside cellular coverage.

 

What Solutions Industries Should Keep Their Eye Out For

Different industries prioritize different variables and equipping the right asset tracker can be difficult when there’s so many to choose from. It’s important to be aware of the several types of asset trackers that each industry will find most beneficial. 

Cellular Asset Trackers

The Flex Solar – A Step Towards Free Energy

The Flex Solar is a solar powered asset tracker primarily utilized for the general tracking of bulk cargo containers, vehicles and other large assets with no direct power supply. Using solar energy is critical for large assets travelling far or being stored outside, like shipping containers, because they are often standalone assets with no power supply. With solar trackers, power can last up to 4 months, so fleets don’t need to worry about constant maintenance.

Transportation, Bussing, Construction, and Waste Management Fleets would find the flex solar most beneficial as they tend to be out in daylight for long periods of time. With no battery replacement, fleets won’t have to worry about adding it to their maintenance procedures, and it would be a great step towards renewable and free sources of energy.

 

The ZenRemora – A Simple Solution To Asset Tracking

If being dependent on solar energy is challenging, the ZenRemora 2 is a great alternative to the Flex Solar. It relies on an ion battery that would be quite reliable on trips where solar energy is scarce. Designed for general asset monitoring, it also has additional features including anti-theft mode, tamper detection, geo-fence awareness and expandability opportunities with BLE beacons.

The ZenRemora should be considered by most industries looking for a reliable and affordable solution to general asset monitoring. Long haul deliveries would find it most beneficial because they require several pings daily. Managing assets that travel far distances can be simpler for fleet managers by having their eyes on all their assets on one screen.

 

The ZenFalcon – Temperature Is Now A Known Variable

The ZenFalcon is a temperature-sensitive asset tracker which allows fleets to monitor temperature and humidity. With a 5 year battery life and hourly reporting, fleets can continually monitor temperature sensitive cargo. Similar to the Remora 2, the Falcon also has an anti-theft mode, tamper detection, and geo-fence aware included in its features. 

Temperature monitoring can be a necessity in the Transportation and Courier/ Delivery industry, but it can be considered mandatory for the Food industry. There have been countless cases where food has spoiled due to improper temperatures, which results in inefficiency and waste of resources. The ZenFalcon can be utilized to monitor temperature and humidity levels of locations where food is stored to ensure optimal conditions are met.

 

The BlackBerry Radar – Prioritizing Load Management

The Bundle focuses on asset tracking for cargo, vehicles and non-motorized assets like bulk containers, trailers and various equipment where content capacity needs to be monitored. This allows fleets to better plan their loading processes and increase their efficiency.

It would be beneficial for several industries such as the Transportation, Food, Construction, and Courier/ Delivery, where fleets want to ensure the most use of their resources. As an example, it can be particularly useful for the Delivery/ Courier industry as they deal with receiving new delivery requests often. Specifically, it can allow for fleet vehicle load capacities to be known so dispatchers can view capacity levels and assign vehicles with low capacity to add more deliveries to their route to maximize productivity. 

 

Sensoneo – Smart Waste Management For A Smarter City

Smart Sensors provide a Waste Management solution focusing on monitoring waste content quantity. This robust device can withstand harsh environmental conditions making it reliable in the long run. Once equipped into waste bins, it transmits data on bin capacity so waste management is aware of when bins are full and need to be emptied out. This reduces inefficient trips where barely filled bins are being emptied out, and emergency trips required because bins get overfilled and require immediate assistance. 

For an in depth look at Smart Sensors and how they can prove to be effective, check out How A Waste Management Industry Can Implement Smart Sensor Technology.

 

BLE Asset Beacons

ZenBeacon Asset Tracking Independent Of Cellular Coverage

The ZenBeacon provides data on light exposure, temperature, asset impact and provides an alternative to Radio Frequency Identity (RFID) tracking via BLE beacons. With a set of sensors, the status and conditions of fleet assets can be monitored, where the sensors can show temperature and light readings in one minute intervals. 

Designed to have a long battery life, this would be resourceful when assets travel to locations with no cellular coverage. Specifically, long haul trips, which would include the Transportation industry

 

The ZenGuppy – A Solution To Track Small Valuable Assets

The ZenGuppy is a compact, rugged Bluetooth tag solution for low-cost monitoring of assets. The ZenGuppy and the ZenRemora work great in coordination, where the Guppy can be utilized to track smaller assets within a larger asset, and the Remora can track the larger asset. With a 5 year battery life, and the ability to equip onto anything, the ZenGuppy provides the device serial number, manufacturer code, battery voltage, transmit power and temperature. 

Since the ZenGuppy can equip onto anything and provide tracking information about the asset, all industries can take advantage of this solution to easily track any desired asset. It is particularly useful for low value or smaller assets where it may not make commercial sense to attach a more robust (and expensive) solution.

 

The Infsoft – An Indoor BLE Reader

Infsoft keeps track of assets and personnel within a building. Once an indoor map of each level of the building is uploaded to Infsoft, it can track where every single asset is at all times. This can be quite helpful in First Responder buildings. Knowing where each and every person is at all times will help raise efficiency which will result in safe cities and more lives saved.

Warehouses can take advantage of Infsoft to help their workforce as it will help them with tracking and monitoring all assets on the go between warehouse aisles and shelves with improved efficiency and productivity. 

 

Satellite Asset Trackers

The SmartOne’sC – Reliability Outside Of Cellular Coverage

The SmartOneC is a self-charging solution to support long term remote deployments without the need to replace the battery. Using a highly efficient solar cell, it can continuously charge the battery and maximize operating life, even under extreme weather conditions.

It can be valuable for long haul deliveries and fleets working in rural areas like Agriculture Industries, as well as Rail Cargo. These fleets travel and work in locations with no cellular coverage, and therefore require a strong reliable connection, hence satellites being the viable option.

There are several telematic solutions available for fleets to take advantage of to improve their performance and management processes. Knowing which asset trackers benefit your fleet the most, is important to being within budget and spending your resources wisely. For a deeper look into what solutions will work best for your fleet, contact us for a custom solution.

Off-Road Fleet Tracking: Why Your Construction Business Needs It

Construction managers have many responsibilities that include not only caring for the well being of their team, but the productivity of their projects. Often this includes meeting worksite compliance, verifying that equipment is efficiently used and ensuring that costs are kept low. With so much to keep in mind, managers can’t overlook how IoT and telematics tools can help them stay successful. Specifically how off-road fleet tracking solutions could help them stay on track. 

Boosting Security 

Off-road fleet tracking allows site managers to better manage their equipment by ensuring that the location of equipment is always known. This helps to reduce the costs that arise if equipment is stolen or is misplaced on job sites. As some pieces cost thousands of dollars to rent, or hundreds of thousands of dollars to purchase, managers must always know where these investments are. Recently, it was brought to light how serious the issue of stolen construction equipment is during a press conference on Wednesday, January 8, 2020, when the OPP recovered a substantial amount of construction equipment worth over $600,000. While insurance is typically used to help reduce the financial burden of missing equipment, the stress and wasted time of relocating equipment is something that many site managers can agree that they can do without. 

 

Increasing Visibility 

Off-road fleet tracking does exactly what it sounds like it does, completes tracking off-road. While knowing the continual GPS location of equipment or tools has its own benefits, it also allows site managers to review their efforts. This is because the trackers and sensors used in off-road fleet tracking solutions can monitor whether there is excessive downtime or other inefficiencies that are costing businesses. 

Often, when a large project is being completed, some equipment will only be used for a small period of time, but will still remain on-site unnecessarily for days or even weeks. This is worrisome if the equipment is taking up critical space, is a rental, or could be used more efficiently at another site. When expensive equipment usage is tracked, managers can make better financial decisions about the equipment and their projects. This also goes one step further as off-road fleet tracking can ensure that the most work is being completed with the fewest resources. Meaning idling equipment is kept at a minimum and the proper equipment is being used so the job is completed effectively. 

 

More Informed Decisions 

Tracking off-road fleets also allows for processes to be streamlined. This speaks to the mass quantities of data that can be gathered from the IoT tools. Anything from location, to hourly use, or fuel-efficiency can be analyzed. This can then be translated into tangible benefits for businesses as better record keeping is possible, alert systems can be programmed, and more intuitive decision making can occur. Ultimately allowing for better preventative maintenance and improved monitoring of engine alerts. 

 

Using Off-Road Fleet Tracking in Your Business 

While discussing the benefits of off-road fleet tracking, it’s important to highlight that just having a telematics device will not guarantee success. Rather it’s important to know that you need to not only use the right solution but utilize it to its maximum potential. Using a reliable and durable solution like the GO RUGGED device is one way to do this. As it’s built to last in harsh conditions and is trusted to track your assets accurately, it’s something that construction teams can’t overlook. If you’re interested in learning more about how GO RUGGED could benefit your construction operations, contact us today! 

Why Use ZenScore? What it is, How to Use it, & Benefits!

 

 

What is ZenScore? 

 

ZenScore is an add-in found within MyGeotab and it’s completely free. Simply scroll to the bottom of the sidebar, and you will see the ZenScore add-in. But what is it? Let’s dive right in.

First off, ZenScore summarizes specific key performance indicators that you can customize based on your business goals, including a view of historical data in order to observe pain areas that need improvements, for example, speeding or harsh acceleration. When you open ZenScore, your data will already be loaded automatically for your review! You can run reports based on different time periods, and see how your fleet is performing. Drivers will see the settings you created, contests you made, and they will see their performance all on their phone or tablet! All they need to do is download the ZenScore Mobile App.

Fleet Report

Once you know where you need improvements, you may create contests and view your driver’s scores based on the KPI’s you set. For example, if your fleet is speeding too much, you can create a contest within ZenScore based on speeding, then rank your drivers based on this KPI. The drivers will see the final results of the contest, which will help incentivize improvements. You may also decide to give a reward to the winners for extra motivation!

As an added feature, built in training videos are available to drivers that are continually struggling with areas such as hard acceleration, harsh braking, and harsh cornering, etc. These training videos may also be used for new drivers that just came on board. You may also easily add your own videos that you find are effective.

As a new feature, you have the capability to create your own dashboards where you can add widgets such as heat maps, incidents summaries, idling line charts, HOS violations, Driver Scores, and much more! Use the Dashboards to display in your office to see how your fleet is performing in real-time!

ZenScore Dashboard

 

 

How Do You Use ZenScore?

Once you click into ZenScore, the data is already synced for you! This data came from your Geotab devices installed in your fleet.

First, you will need to set the KPIs that you want to optimize in your fleet. To do this, simply go into the settings, and select which rules you would to see! You will notice that if you had any customized rules, they will already be synced. Just check them off to make them visible! Done. Now you can see your KPI’s, it’s that easy. You will notice that you can track improvements even from here since it shows you the data from different time periods.

Now, go ahead and set your customized reports to be emailed to you automatically, either daily, weekly, or monthly. Go to settings, and select email reports. Customize the time period and other settings, and you’re all set! Adding training videos is very easy as well. In the settings, select add video, and enter the video URL!

ZenScore Email Reports

You may add contests by going to the contests tab. Add a relevant title such as “Lowest Speeders Contest – April, 2018”. You can choose the rule that you want to measure, your fleet’s goal, as well as the reward description. You can get creative with this!

 

 

So in the End, How Does ZenScore Benefit Your Company?

ZenScore will have many measurable benefits for your company. Firstly, you will see savings on your fuel costs. When your drivers start driving more efficiently, and less aggressive, the vehicles will use less gas. Aggressive driving can lower your gas mileage by 10% – 40%! 1

By encouraging safe driving, this will lower the risk of incidents, and in the long run, save you money for costly repairs and downtime. Also, wear and tear will be decreased on the vehicles, reducing repairs and maintenance.

With ZenScore, measuring your fleet’s performance has never been so easy. Measure performance, encourage improvements and start saving money now with ZenScore, a consolidated and convenient fleet management system.

 

 

 

 

Sources: 1 Driving More Efficiently, https://www.ornl.gov/news/sensible-driving-saves-more-gas-drivers-think

 

Cut Costs With Fleet Maintenance Software

Our Fleet Maintenance Software Will Cut Down Your Costs

Our easy to use fleet maintenance software/fleet management solutions are designed to help you cut costs associated with maintaining vehicles by streamlining your workflow. It will help you quickly and easily identify over—and underutilized vehicles, eliminate unnecessary inventory, track your assets, schedule preventive upkeep, predict potential hazards, and really help manage your facility in the most efficient way possible.

In the very pit of fleet maintenance software, there must be a robust reporting mechanism. This supports users in identifying usage and repair trends to minimize unnecessary costs.

Fleet maintenance software helps you extend the life of your equipment, reduce downtime, and get the most out of your assets.

Here’s some common functions of a fleet maintenance software system:

Maintenance Management

Manage preventative task schedules, work orders, and vehicle repair histories—based on timelines or custom triggers. Some systems also include predictive maintenance, which raises flags based on physical parameters like noise, vibration, temperature or emissions.

Inventory and Equipment Control

Helps efficiently manage tools, consumables, and remanufacturable parts—allowing you to monitor current inventory, orders, returns, transfers, part changes, hazard and disposal fees, etc.

Vehicle and Asset Management

Track the vehicles in your fleet. Vehicle maintenance software is a valuable feature of these systems. This starts at purchasing and runs all the way through resale or disposal, including along the way: regulatory compliance, fuel consumption, tire usage, warranties, lifecycle cost, driver history, and more.

Accident and Claim Management

Proper upkeep mitigates risk, but accidents still do happen. A good commercial fleet maintenance software and management systems help you manage claims and monitor incidents and driving habits to reduce risk on the road.

GPS Tracking

GPS software improves efficiency through mapping, driver locating, reporting on driving paths and activity, turn-by-turn directions, and more.

 

What Type of Buyer Are You?

The vast majority of fleet maintenance and management software purchasers fall into one of these categories:

  • Vehicle rental organizations. These are companies that specialize in loaning vehicles out to other companies. These businesses desire a system that supports detailed preventative tasks and work orders, flexible inventory control, a good user interface and strong integration with billing and customer relationship processes.
  • Service based industries. Companies that use their fleet for field services may want their fleet maintenance software integrated with a dispatching system to ensure maximum efficiency in scheduling routes. Depending on the size of the organization, you may also want to pay close attention to CRM systems, as well as billing and accounting.
  • Distribution and delivery companies. As with service companies, distribution and delivery businesses will want excellent dispatch capabilities to ensure maximum efficiency in scheduling routes. These businesses desire their fleet maintenance software to integrate with their distribution and warehousing software with ease to help keep track of all the products going in and out.
  • Transportation Industry. Buyers who transport people need to keep excellent records—tying customers to the vehicle and going that next step to make sure the vehicle and driver are safe. This requires a top-notch tool along with fleet maintenance and often customer relationship management.
  • Heavy Machinery Users. Buyers in the ag industry or construction businesses often have large vehicles that double as heavy machinery. This requires software that’s specialized to that particular industry’s tools. Or else easily customizable to fit those needs.

 

This comprehensive guide to fleet maintenance software is geared towards those desiring fleet management solutions for their business. To answer further questions about whether our fleet maintenance software is right for your business, please call GoFleet at 1.888.998.1122 or by emailing our sales team here.