How to Successfully Introduce GPS Tracking to Employees

When GPS tracking was first introduced to the construction industry, it was used mostly as a tactical solution to gain insight into vehicle locations. As the adoption of GPS tracking has increased and the technology has advanced, businesses are taking a more strategic approach to help drive return on investment (ROI) and solve more significant business challenges. In order to accomplish this, opening the lines of communication with drivers about GPS tracking has become crucial in order to achieve the big-picture plans of a fleet management strategy.

With that in mind, how do you build a positive perception of GPS tracking with your employees? Although you may be convinced that GPS tracking will benefit your business, your employees are not always on the same page from the start. It is common for drivers to consider GPS tracking as Big Brother, or misunderstand upfront how and why your business plans to use the technology. It is essential to promote driver adoption before using GPS data to ensure this project is successful.

We often receive questions from construction business owners and fleet managers on how they should introduce GPS tracking to their drivers. The following are the top 5 questions our customers ask about how to introduce GPS tracking to their drivers and how to address them to help gain employees acceptance.

1. How should I answer employee concerns about GPS tracking?

It’s important to listen to your employees’ objections about GPS tracking and respond to them with complete transparency. This will open the door to a conversation that allows you to debunk the myths and alleviate their concerns.

In this conversation, you can explain that using GPS tracking is not about a lack of trust; it is about incorporating tools that will create better results for your business. When there is technology available to help solve difficult business challenges, help perform jobs more efficiently and increase revenue, why would it not be used? By explaining that your business will not use GPS tracking to be overly intrusive, but rather, to improve productivity and help the business become more profitable, you will increase positive perception of the technology.

The most common concern employees have is the view that GPS tracking is acting as Big Brother, or being overly intrusive in their lives. Drivers who have worked in the construction industry for a long time without the use of GPS tracking may not fully understand it or may think it’s being introduced because management doesn’t trust them.

2. When should I tell employees we will be using GPS tracking?

Some fleet owners and managers are concerned about employees reacting negatively to the business using a GPS platform to track their vehicles, so they start using the system before introducing the technology to drivers and later surprise them with punishments. However, it is strongly advised that you discuss your plans to use GPS tracking with your drivers before using the data.

Using GPS tracking to monitor vehicle locations without employee knowledge usually results with backlash and creates a negative perception of the technology. It is important to be upfront and honest about your plans to use the technology from the beginning.

3. How does GPS tracking benefit employees?

One of the best ways to gain acceptance from your drivers is to discuss the ways GPS tracking benefits employees directly. GPS tracking helps construction businesses solve many challenges, some of which include increased safety, improved driver accountability and more efficient operations. When your business runs as effectively as possible, it has a direct impact on revenue.

When your construction business becomes more profitable, it will increase employee earning potential. Having more funds available allows your business to increase salaries, award bonuses and create incentives for employees.

Incentive programs are a great way to improve fleet metrics and motivate your employees at the same time. A driver scorecard report ranks drivers/vehicles based on speeding, rapid acceleration/deceleration and idle time. You can use this report to show your employees which areas they need to improve to receive their incentives.

4. Should I share the business challenges that brought on the need for GPS tracking?

It is advised to share the business need for the technology with your employees, and it’s likely to increase their acceptance as well. If speeding citations are higher than industry standards or fuel costs are at an all-time high, you should absolutely share that information with employees. Presenting information about how a GPS tracking system can help solve these challenges is important and will help your employees understand why the business needs it and get them on board.

What business challenges are you facing? Watch this video to hear Ryan Driscoll, marketing director at GPS Insight, break down the top three challenges GPS Insight helps customers solve with its consultative approach to GPS tracking.

5. What is the best way to present the new rules?

It should not be a surprise to your drivers that they will be held accountable for their behavior with GPS tracking data. That’s why it is best to write driver policies for when and where GPS tracking will be used, and share this information with your employees before the policy is put into action.

When your employees understand what is expected of them, there will be little to no backlash when this information is used to coach or hold drivers responsible for their performance.

Want to learn more about the best practices when writing driver policies that include GPS tracking data? Download “Best Practices When Putting Driver Policies in Ink.”

Get Started on Your Big Picture Fleet Management Strategy

Successfully introducing GPS tracking to employees is a common concern for many businesses. Presenting the technology in the right way is crucial to gaining employee acceptance from the start and using the technology to solve more significant challenges. Your employees will gain a positive perception of GPS tracking when you explain how and why the technology will be used, have open conversations with employees and present the obtainable benefits.

To learn more about introducing GPS tracking to your employees, call GPS Insight at 877-477-2690 or continue researching the challenges we can help you solve.