How GPS Tracking Apps for Android Work
GPS tracking Android apps are an easy and often inexpensive way to track your fleet vehicles. Typically, they’re downloaded from the Google Play Store onto a phone or tablet kept inside the vehicle or on the driver’s person as they go about their daily work.
These apps use the internal link to the GPS satellite network to determine where the device is throughout the day. GPS is a basic function of nearly all Android devices, and doesn’t necessarily require a data connection to function properly. That said, you may still need a stable connection for the app to then connect with the service provider’s network. Through this connection, the data is collected and reported back to the home office, possibly along with helpful reports detailing where and when the device was throughout the day.
While these apps are helpful, they don’t actually track the vehicle, but rather the device they’re installed on. They also don’t offer further information regarding the health of the vehicle’s engine and other working parts, and they don’t qualify as ELDs for compliance purposes.
How Vehicle-Installed GPS Devices Work
Vehicle-installed GPS devices are either hard-wired into the vehicle or plugged directly into the OBD II port. These devices can provide a great deal more information than their Android app counterparts, with much of their data coming straight from their connection to the vehicle. They may also include an Android app for reporting and user interface purposes, but the main GPS tracker is separate from the Android device.
Devices such as this tend to include far more robust reporting than the simpler GPS tracking Android apps. They can report on details like engine health, hours of service, driving behaviors, and much more. In many cases, they also have robust software systems attached with further functionality such as the ability to schedule maintenance tasks, manage customer data, and run your dispatch desk.
Which GPS Type Is Better for Commercial Fleets?
GPS tracking apps for Android may be good options for personal tracking purposes, but they’re far from the best choice for a commercial fleet of any size. Some fleets choose them because they’re perceived as some of the easiest and cheapest options available, but GPS devices can often pay for themselves in short order and may be as simple to install as plugging them into the vehicle’s OBD II port.
Track Your Fleet With Azuga
When you’re looking for a full-featured GPS tracking system to manage your fleet, no matter the size, Azuga should be on your shortlist. Our fleet tracking system is incredibly affordable, even for small businesses, and we have so many features that you’ll wonder how you ever got along without them. Learn about all the ways Azuga can make fleet management easier by scheduling a demo with our team.
