The advent of cheap (and even, in some cases, free) GPS tracking systems has revolutionised how the general public move from point A to point B. The days of paper maps are regarded as numbered by many. However, GPS has far more applications than acting as mere electronic maps and GPS tracking has become an important business tool in fleet management. Vehicle tracking enables fleet managers to keep a close eye on the exact location of all their vehicles and also allows them to gather information on how the fleet is operating, optimum routes and even incidences of speeding.

Recently Google and Locatea.net have thrown a new ingredient into the mix ? free GPS tracking. Google has launched ?Latitude? ? a free access system showing participants their exact (to within a few metres) location on the planet and the location of all their friends and family who sign up to the system. More of an extension of their highly successful ?Google Earth? package, Latitude is a fun way of keeping in touch with friends and family, but it doesn't really have a practical application in the business world. The same is true of Locatea.net, which gives an accurate portrayal of the locations of everyone who wants to be involved in the programme. And herein lies the problem with free vehicle tracking systems. They are really more of an addition to social networking collectives and do not as such have a practical application as a business tool. Free vehicle tracking is also voluntary, so it's easy to exclude yourself from the system should you so wish to.

Paid vehicle tracking is completely different. Designed for a specific purpose, it allows fleet managers to manage and control fleets of vehicles for business use. A paid-for system is a tailor-made business solution that is far more accurate and reliable than a free system. Not only does it allow a fleet manager to identify and locate all vehicles on the system ? it also supplies vital additional information that can make an important contribution to the overall efficiency of the business. Vehicle tracking systems supply information about unofficial out of hours usage, calculate average speed of vehicles and can act as a locator beacon in the event of an emergency (particularly important if the fieldworkers are operating in remote locations). GPS devices also act as a security measure. If a vehicle is stolen, a fitted GPS tracking system will enable the fleet manager to locate it immediately, notifying police and ensuring that the vehicle is recovered as quickly as possible. Because of their use in this aspect, GPS tracking systems can also help to reduce the overall insurance costs of a fleet and so save the company money in the long run.

Another major advantage of paid-for vehicle tracking systems is the after-care and systems support that it brings with it. Updates and both hardware and software are covered by a warranty, which means that the system is always operating at maximum efficiency and running costs can be kept to a minimum. With free systems, updates are much more generic in nature and less frequent. Although the mapping functions may be updated regularly these are still only designed for general use and rarely have additional features attached that are business-specific in nature.

For fleet management and business use, a paid vehicle tracking system is a worthwhile investment. By carefully selecting a supplier that can provide you with a custom-made system which suits your business needs, the initial investment can actually turn into a business asset that will save your company money over time.