GPS vehicle tracking has numerous benefits; however, using this technology is a debatable issue. Companies worldwide are proponents of GPS tracking and are using this advanced technology with wide success. On the other side of the coin, opponents of the technology bring up some strong points. It is valuable to take a look at both sides of the debate.
While vehicle tracking can be used for many purposes; the most common use in the business environment is tracking the usage of a company’s vehicles. When companies initially started using this technology they were met with much opposition and outrage from employees who believed that using a GPS tracking system violated their constitutional rights. Furthermore, employees believed their loyalty to their employers was being questioned.
Looking at this from the other side; over time, the use of GPS technology has improved work productivity and work hour utilization. It has also reduced the number of traffic accidents that involved company vehicles which has annually saved companies thousands of dollars in vehicle repairs and insurance premiums.
As with many technological advances, GPS tracking found its way into the criminal court system. An early case where this was used in court was a case in which an individual tracked his spouse who he suspected of cheating. It resulted in the murder of the wife and her lover. One of the victim’s families sought to take legal action, claiming the creators of GPS tracking technology were responsible for the death. The family lost their case in court; however, it caused a worldwide debate about how this technology should be used and the legal ramifications of using it.
There is widespread use of GPS vehicle tracking in car rental agencies; over 90% of all agencies use some form. Some of the systems enable the agency to determine if the renter was speeding or broke any contractual agreements, such as driving outside of areas designated in the agreement.
Other businesses who commonly use GPS vehicle tracking systems are delivery companies. The systems allow owners and customers to track their shipments throughout the duration of the shipping process. This usage is a benefit to the company and the consumer as well.