You should specify the main reasons of deploying a tracking system for your fleet. Is it for: theft protection, driver performance evaluation, fleet performance management, customers delivery confirmation, etc. Your specified needs affect directly on the tracking software that fits your needs. The more your needs are clear, the more your selection is accurate.

Some fleet management systems come with their own hardware and others do not. Choosing a system with its own proprietary hardware has the disadvantage of not being able to change in case you want to. It is recommended to consult the the fleet management company on which devices their system is compatible with. After that, you can easily evaluate the quality of the hardware, and you will have evaluate the features that the fleet management software is claiming it meets. Moreover, hardware warranty should be investigated, and if there is no local hardware supplier for the selected GPS tracker, then you should consult the software supplier for this.

This is the crucial point that you should be aware of. Most of the tracking softwares are based on annual or monthly subscriptions. However, your budget should consider two additional fees: hardware and Internet connection. Some companies may offer you the hardware for free against a contract of minimum period. Internet fee is related to the telco provider you prefer, as most of tracking systems suppliers do not cover this.

How much your usage will be a heavy duty or not. This has a direct impact on the following:

• Internet fee: Most of M2M SIM subscriptions bill you for a fixed price with maximum usage (e.g. 100 MB/month). Therefore, you should consult your tracking software supplier regarding the sufficient package for you, specially if your business is critical and that you will need extensive updates (every 10, 30, 60, 100, … seconds) This will affect the Internet fees notably.
• Hardware: The selected GPS tracker must comply with the working conditions, hence it should be suitable to your application. For example: operating temperature, the need of antenna, etc.
• Software: You should ask yourself if you may need proprietary features in the future, because there are a lot of tracking system suppliers that cannot adapt their systems to fit exactly your needs. If this is the case, then you should have a confirmation from your supplier before starting the contract.

For some customers, it might be something straight forward to install a GPS tracker in their vehicles, however, for others it might be a headache. Make it clear with your hardware supplier and do not hesitate to make it part of your contract.

A quick comparison of prices, features, and after sale support between different fleet management software suppliers will be useful before making your mind.