The numbers tell a very convincing story: Installing a fleet management system streamlines operations, improves safety, and can cut costs by thousands of dollars per month.
But once you’ve decided to add a fleet management system to your operation, what should you do next? Does self-installing telematics devices—the critical components that let you monitor and track vehicles in real time—make sense? Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of this do-it-yourself step.
Pro: Potential Cost Savings
Self-installing telematics devices could mean you don’t have to hire a professional to do it for you. Providers like GPS Trackit have telematics solutions that are simple plug-and-play options for the OBD-II port in most vehicles, but other systems might require hard wiring and an expert set of hands. That might be an option for a fleet with a dedicated staff of maintenance and service professionals, but more of a challenge for managers who contract that work out.
Pro: Time and Convenience
The ability to order the devices you need directly from a provider’s website, and have them delivered quickly and installed right away is a huge advantage when it comes to self-installing telematics devices. When you DIY, you’re not waiting for an installer to arrive, moving vehicles to the installer’s location, or waiting for a middle-man to order devices and accessories on a schedule you don’t control.
Pro: Customer Support
If you run into any issues when you’re self-installing telematics devices, providers like GPS Trackit offer customer support to help you install the devices correctly and troubleshoot any issues. GPS Trackit’s comprehensive Knowledge Base also offers detailed self-installation guides to take you through the process smoothly at your own pace.
Con: Seeing All Your Options
If you buy and install telematics devices yourself, you might be missing out on a product or feature that could help your business even more. That’s why it can be worthwhile to talk to an expert Fleet Advisor about your needs and get a complete overview of your choices. Then, you can still take advantage of the time savings and added convenience of self-installing telematics devices once you have the right solution.
Con: Missing Data
Although installation can be quick and easy, you could make a mistake and leave your vehicle disconnected from your telematics system. Those errors could be time-consuming to fix if your vehicle is traveling far from your base of operations.
Con: Complex Installations
If you need telematics devices hard-wired into your vehicle, or you need to make sure your devices can’t be tampered with by drivers or others, it might be beyond the scope of a self-installation. Experienced installers can tackle those more complicated jobs and keep your devices working even under the most adverse conditions.
Whatever you choose, GPS Trackit has you covered with its industry-leading fleet telematics systems that range from simple plug-and-play geolocation trackers to AI-powered video-based systems that can help predict potentially distracted driving and warn drivers before it happens. Find out more at GPSTrackit.com.
