GPS Tracking ROI

So, you have a livery business. everything conspires against you. fuel goes out of sight, good drivers are hard to come by, customers are hard to deal with an price conscious .. what’s a business owner to do?

Well this guy’s boss knew what to do, but sadly, he didn’t get it done in time to perhaps save this driver’s life. When you run a business, you have to stay conscious of the bottom line. But somehow, when people’s lives are at stake the cost to protect them somehow seems to leave a little more room in that equation.

Leave out the fact that you might (or might not) be able to save a life. though. What about saving hundreds per month per vehicle in down to earth business cost reductions and increased profit opportunities? Sounds like something worth looking more closely at, doesn’t it?

For a service such as a taxi company, where you can’t know in advance where your vehicles are going to be or where they’re going next, you need a live, or near-real time system. The most common contenders in this area of GPS fleet tracking use the cellular phone network to bring the data to your dispatch office. If you’re out of cell phone range often, then there are systems that bring the data back to you via a satellite link .. virtually 100% coverage, anywhere.

With either system, think of the efficiencies you can gain. Instantly know which cab is closest to the next fare calling in. document where and when a fare was picked up. Know for sure that drivers aren’t taking side trips, or shuttling friends around without the meter. How about credit cards? You’re dead in the water if you can’t take them, and if you don’t have a real time authorization system in the cab you pay way too much in service charges and in costly charge-backs.

Not long ago I went to San Antonio on business. I jumped in a cab driven by an older gentleman and on the way to my hotel I noticed he had what looked like a GPS dispatch system on his dashed. When I asked him about it, he told me it was the single greatest profit maker he’s come across in over 20 years of hacking.

he pointed out how I had not heard much chatter on the radio. As we drove, he reached up and touched a key. “That was my next fare,” he explained. “A customer around the corner from your hotel, just called in and was posted, silently by the dispatcher. Since he already knows I am here and will get the fare, I don’t even have to wait one minute or cruise one mile after I drop you off. I make twice as much money since the company bought this technology.”

“Sounds great,” I responded. “I bet all the other drivers like it to.’

“Nope,” he replied. “About half our drivers refuse to use it. They don’t want big brother tracking them. It’s great for me that way, I get the fares they don’t even know about.”

Are you as smart as the cab driver in San Antonio? Are you in business to serve the public and make a profit … and save lives while you’re at it? Use one of the systems I sell, use one of my competitor’s products, but use _something_ in 2006 … you’ll feel better and so will your bottom line.