The arrival of 5G technology, combined with the broadening nationwide cell tower coverage even in the most rural areas, has opened the door to new possibilities when it comes to the development of a next generation GPS asset tracking mobile app. So how can a modern asset tracking mobile app benefit your business? Let’s examine how the most innovative development teams are leveraging modern technology to create a new generation of asset tracking technology.
Improving Upon the Existing Asset Tracking App Technology
Logistics companies, along with shipping and transport companies, have long faced a major challenge. Since they’re tasked with transporting valuable goods and equipment, those hiring these companies want to track the movements of their property in real time. This provides more than just peace of mind; it also offers an advantage in terms of strategic planning. But historically, accurate and consistent asset tracking has brought some major challenges.
The first generations of asset tracking mobile apps left much to be desired. Until recently, the most reliable asset tracking apps leveraged satellite GPS technology, requiring pricey hardware and suffering from outages when cloud cover and weather conditions were less-than-perfect. Mobile coverage wasn’t sufficient to allow for consistent, real-time asset tracking.
These limited tracking capabilities not only resulted in unease for the clients who hired transport companies to move millions of dollars worth of goods or equipment; companies were also facing a major threat from highway pirates, who were in a position to intercept and overtake a transport vehicle with relative ease. These incidents generally weren’t detected or reported until after the cargo theft was complete and the driver was in a position to call for help. This vulnerability only increased costs, as insurance companies were forced to charge higher premiums to transport companies — a cost that was passed along to the client.
Fortunately, improved technology has resulted in some massive improvements that are transforming the ways in which we track shipments and asset transports in the USA and beyond.
The Development of Next-Generation GPS Shipment and Asset Tracking Mobile Apps
Mobile coverage has improved dramatically in recent years, particularly in the regions surrounding interstate highways. Today, drivers enjoy very consistent cell service, GPS and data coverage as they travel along interstate roadways. The arrival of 5G technology has resulted in even greater improvements, opening the door to new tracking technologies (amongst many other developments!)
Today’s mobile infrastructure allows for new, next-generation shipment and asset tracking mobile apps that provide companies with many new capabilities, including the following:
- Shipment / transport companies (and their clients) can track shipments using an app on the driver’s mobile device. Consumer cellular coverage is now very consistent along major roadways and virtually all mobile service providers have agreements with other carriers to provide uninterrupted cellular, GPS and data service. This means that it’s now practical for a driver to install an asset tracking mobile app on their mobile device, allowing for real-time GPS tracking of the delivery.
- Dispatchers have greater insight and control. A well-crafted asset tracking mobile app can provide the company’s dispatcher with greater control and real-time insights about the shipment’s movements. The driver can file a travel plan and route and if mobile GPS indicates any deviation from the planned route, the mobile app can alert the dispatcher. This allows for early identification of a problem, such as cargo theft, while ensuring that the driver is taking the most efficient, direct route to the destination.
- Drivers can press a panic button, receiving attention from a company dispatcher within moments. This allows drivers to summon help if they are targeted by highway pirates who are intent on stealing cargo or hijacking a vehicle.
- Today’s asset and shipment tracking mobile apps can also be expanded to accommodate other modern technologies. An innovative software and mobile app development team, such as the experts here at 7T, have the capability to create a mobile software platform that works with other technologies, such as satellite hardware if you prefer to leverage this in place of mobile phone GPS technology. Additionally, it’s possible to integrate other features, such as the capability to scan and track GPS smart tags that are placed directly on assets.
In fact, an innovative mobile app and software development company like 7T can create an asset tracking interface as part of a much larger enterprise software platform, with back-office integration, ERP and CRM capabilities, amongst others. Of course, every successful software development project begins with the creation of a software requirements document. Simply creating this document can be a wonderful exercise that will prompt you to perform a comprehensive evaluation of your needs.
At 7T, we specialize in digital transformation through emerging technologies, as we integrate cutting-edge solutions into virtually every development project. From mobile app development, to custom software projects such as CRM platforms or ERP development, we’re ready to deliver collaborative, multi-phased software development services.
7T has offices in Dallas, Houston, Chicago, and Austin, but our clientele spans far beyond Texas and the midwest. If you’re ready to harness the power of a custom software platform and today’s most innovative technologies, contact 7T today.
