What is a GPS Geofence?
Geofencing is regarded as a type of innovative service, which is responsible for enabling notifications when a particular device or vehicle enters a reserved area. The use of geofencing is also useful for enabling engagement features, security alerts, and notifications of a GPS tracking devices. Fleet managers can employee the use of such virtual boundaries for keeping track on their employees.
What is geofencing?
Geofencing is widely known for providing location-based services, which allows the system to make the best use of GPS, Wi-Fi, RFID, and cellular data for setting a programmed action. It notifies an authorized authority on the presence of a mobile device or RFID tags in a particular area. Similarly, it also keeps a supervisor informed on when a vehicle enters or exits a prescribed geographical location—which is otherwise known as a geofence.
Depending on the configuration of a geofenced area, it can be used accordingly for prompting mobile push notifications. It is also used for triggering text messages or alerts to notify a fleet manager on the location of the fleet. In addition to that, it is also widely used dispatching sponsored advertisements on social media platforms. It allows the tracking systems integrated to the vehicle fleets to determine the exact location of the vehicle. If a driver has crossed the restricted geographical location, it would instantly report to a supervisor, who can take an action regarding the driver. Also, if a vehicle is stolen from its spot, using geofencing feature can allow a vehicle owner to locate the location of its vehicle.
A majority of the geofences are particularly installed for monitoring the activities of trucks and trailers in reserved areas. It permits the manager to view the alerts, in case the vehicle enters or leaves the reserved area. Businesses can use such innovative and efficient feature for tracking the activities and presence of the employees working remotely.
How geofencing works
Geofencing works in a considerably unique way. It requires a developer to establish a virtual boundary near to a specified location using software which is calibrated with GPS or RFID technology. It simply requires them to specify the location using Google Maps, and they can reserve a territory up to 100 feet. It also requires them to specify the APIs to determine the location of their preference. The virtual geofence is further calibrated to trigger a response, when a driver leaves the prescribed location. It also reduces the occurrence of theft and robbery, as a supervisor will be notified instantly on the accurate location of the vehicle, and he can work with concerned authorities for finding the missing vehicle.
A geofence is typically prescribed using a code specified by a mobile application, as it allows the users with an access to location services, which works ideally for determining a geofence. A geofence is also determined by mobile users, and they can utilize geofencing capabilities in their mobile apps for making the best use out of it. Mobile apps, such as, iOS reminders enable a user to select a particular location or address, which would be triggered for receiving push notifications or push alerts.
The function of geofencing is not reserved to mobile apps—it can also be maneuvered for managing and tracking vehicles in a fleet industry. With the integration of GPS tracking devices into business processes, a majority of business owners are required to learn about the location of their employees. They also need to know that the employee is performing its job within the prescribed and not using the vehicle for personal purposes.
Geofencing applications
The use of GPS tracking devices has become significant over the years, and the feature of geofencing is regarded as a standard mode for a number of businesses for managing their fleet and employees simultaneously. If a geographic is determined using GPS technology, it allows the companies to make the best use of it for improving their services overall.
A certain number of fleet tracking businesses are more likely to indulge on such innovative technology for keeping up with the competition in the market. When a driver reaches or pushes the prescribed territory, it will notify the company on the location of the driver, and it can reach out to the driver and ask him to stay in the prescribed area.
Here are other common geofencing applications:
Social networking:
One of the most prominent uses of geofencing applications is pertinent to its integration to social networking apps, and it is commonly used in Snapchat for activating stickers, share-worthy content, and location-based filters. It also allows a Snapchat user to use sponsored filters at an event to add to their snaps. They can also use the feature of geofencing for adding their snaps to a location-based story.
Marketing:
Apart from its use in social media networking, the use of geofencing is also beneficial for enabling the companies to improve their marketing strategies. It helps a business to offer in-store promotions, and it enables them instantly as soon as a customer enters the geo-fenced location surrounding the store. Geofencing is also committed to help businesses to create targeted ads, which are delivered to specific audience, and it allows them to determine the appropriate strategies based on the location-based data of the user.
Audience Engagement:
Geo-fencing is regarded as an excellent tool for enabling engagement among the crowd at events like carnivals, concerns, festivals, exhibitions, etc. For instance, a concert venue is more likely to use geofencing technology for enabling the crowd to post customizable posts to their social media accounts regarding the event.
Smart Applications:
A majority of the smart home devices are calibrated with excellent Bluetooth abilities for activating its features. However, it is considerably easier to use geo-fencing technique for making the best use of your smart home devices. You can use geo-fencing abilities for turning on and off your devices before you reach your home. Also, if you forget to turn off your devices, you can resort to using this innovative technique for turning off the devices remotely.
Human resources:
A majority of the HR departments heavily rely on geofencing technology for tracking the location and performance of employees working remotely. It allows them to automate time cards, which is considered ideal for clocking the time of the employees at a remote work area.
Telematics:
Geo-fencing plays a vital role with the calibration of telematics, as it allows the companies to determine virtual zones surrounding a work site and secure areas. It can be triggered instantly as soon as a person or vehicle crosses it, and it informs a supervisor instantly.