GPS tracking is one of the best ways to monitor business activities such as logistics services or manage businesses like car rentals. Besides the business benefits, you can use them for personal needs, such as tracking your car’s location. They can also help you to track people, pets, and other significant assets.

Different types of trackers are available in the market; they have different shortcomings and strengths; hence, you should select them based on your needs. Modern trackers offer other business benefits; hence, location tracking capabilities should not be the key selection consideration. The benefits also vary based on performance features and capabilities; therefore, you must select carefully to have a multipurpose tracking system. Here are some GPS trackers you can try based on the anticipated benefits.

GPS trackers are classified into three categories based on their operational and location-tracking capabilities. They include:

1. Cell-based GPS tracking system

Cell-based trackers use car systems such as sensors, maps, and other cellular devices to track location and remit instant and live location capabilities. They report constantly and are a more cost-effective way of tracking cars. Reliable cell-based trackers such as RAM Tracking gps tracker for vehicle have additional features enabling you to track the car and enjoy other benefits such as cost saving, fuel efficiency, route allocation, etc. RAM tackers enable personal and business car owners to track their cars and enjoy these benefits once they activate the features such as notifications and alerts.

They are further classified as:

Asset GPS trackers

Companies use these trackers to track specific goods, mostly considered valuable goods. They can also be used by individuals transporting valuable goods such as sports cars, horses, and other essential items vulnerable to theft and targeting while on transport.

Companies such as Ferrari and Lamborghini that ship sports cars to the owner’s locations can rely on these GPS trackers mostly embedded in the cars. After attaching them to the cars, they will emit signals that show the cars; real-time location.

Personal or Wearables GPS Trackers

These are the trackers to consider if you need a discreet and unnoticeable GPS tracker. They are embedded in wearables, mobile phones, and other handheld devices, and you can use them everywhere you go while they track your real-time location. They are mainly suitable for human use, or you can input them in pet collars and tags to track their real-time location.

If you have young children, the wearable trackers can help you to monitor their real-time location. For other outdoor adventures such as biking and hiking, these trackers can be necessary to keep the team together and monitor the location of every individual on the team. You can also add other safety features, such as an emergency response button, to help you respond to any distress and danger. Once they press the stress button, it will emit signals indicating their exact location or if they are moving.

Wearable and personal GPS systems vary in size and performance capabilities. Some may be larger with screens to show the location and use other features such as google maps and navigation. Others are small and basic, like smartwatches or ordinary watches that can only show location or have a distress button.

They show location based on Bluetooth capabilities, satellite, or free connectivity to remit their location. The current option available for people is to integrate GPS tracking systems into pendants. You can also use them for cars, but you need advanced versions.

Vehicle GPS Trackers

These trackers are suitable for large moving objects such as cars, planes, and ships to help you trace their real-time location. However, planes and ships have navigation and tracking systems already installed; hence no need. They are three types, namely:

Plug-in GPS Tracker

Such trackers are designed to be plugged into the car’s ports as a power source, and you can only plug them into specific ports, mainly the OBD II ports. These are the ports used to program a car’s computer and digital system. When connected to the port, it integrates with the car’s digital system; hence it can receive location data and other connectivity capabilities.

To install these trackers, you do not need any expert help, all you need is to install them into the port, and when you turn the car on, they become active and go to sleep mode when the engine is off. They are good for commercial vehicles, such as rental cars, since they can send a notification whenever the engine is on or off. You can also use them for private and personal vehicles. It has one shortcoming: if the car is off, it emits a weak signal to avoid draining the battery.

Hardwired GPS tracker

You will have to wire these trackers directly into the car’s system. They mainly consist of traditional trackers or are used for vehicles without OBD II ports. Alternatively, you can use them for cars when you need to hide the trackers to avoid disassembling by drivers. In addition, they can also be ideal for rental vehicles that need to hide trackers.

Besides, these trackers are also best suited for hybrid cars and trucks with a large battery capacity, enabling the tracker to stay on even when the vehicle is off.

Battery powered trackers

Battery-powered trackers are independent of the car; you do not have to connect them to the car since they can operate efficiently independently. However, you have to keep recharging when the battery capacity is low. Due to battery capacity, they may not report frequently, and when the battery is completely drained, you cannot track the car. They report based on certain intervals when the vehicle is off and on, hence hindering real-time location tracking capabilities.

2. Cellular-based tracking

Cellular-based tracking uses cellphone tracking capabilities to track cars to show real-time location. Such trackers operate by using apps installed on phones to communicate the real-time location of drivers.

They are suitable for companies using contracted vehicles and delivery systems when they do not have their fleet to track but need tracking services to monitor deliveries.

3. Satellite GPS tracking

Satellite GPS tracking is the most common tracker since they use satellite connectivity and other networking items, such as cell towers and boosters, to emit signals of real-time location. Their major shortcoming is that they can hardly show their real-time location in areas without satellite and networking devices.

Conclusion

Using an effective GPS tracker for your fleet management can significantly boost your revenue due to better fleet performance and customer satisfaction. So, before finalizing any GPs tracker, consider all the points mentioned above and choose the one that best suits your needs.