I am doing some research on the pro's and con's of implementing GPS "tracking" on service vehicles. I would like to hear from as many people as possible on your thoughts on this issue. Some questions that I have would be:
1. Would you feel like you are being watched?
2. What problems or issues would be solved by installing GPS on service vans?
3. Can anyone quantify in real numbers the savings by installing GPS on service vehicles?
4. How do they increase efficiency as claimed by many manufacturers?
5. Would you get your good techs mad by installing them?
6. If you have a good tech (takes care of themselves, covers their time) how can GPS possibly help?
I would especially like to hear from anyone who works for a company that is currently using GPS or has used them in the past and what your feelings are on using GPS. I will keep a close eye on this and try to come back with more questions or remarks whenever anyone posts. I'm not being arrogant, I just want to learn as much as possible about GPS and want to pick as many brains as possible.
Thanks in advance.
Showing items 61 - 75 of 146 results.
This discussion started with the pro and cons of the GPS. There's good points made for each. There is also a discussion about travel time on this site. Could the GPS recorded records be used as a legel document for protecting the tech and the dealership if the department of labor is looking for unfare practices of travel time and how much time would be or not be owed to the tech?
Gps was took off van today.I really hope someone is watching,checking up on techs.It was said cost wasnt worth savings we will see
I would like to see more information on GPS
mcracing,
"...before you raise your rates...see if your house is in order."
I have never heard that before but I certainly like the philosophy. I think too many companies rubber stamp a rate increase every year due to inflation, payroll raise, etc. and never bother to look at what needs "cleaning at home." That would be a great selling point also for GPS to your service techs. You may definately be one of the few great managers who can actually look at all sides of an issue, which is probably why you are in the position that you are in and I have enjoyed and learned from your posts.
Olly
Yes we passed the savings on to the customer.
I don't want to make it sound as simple as we cut them a check because t that's not how it was done. We were looking at the gross profit side of our service departments and saw it dropping due to increased wages and discounts to the customer on labor rates. The simple thing to do would have been to raise the rates.
The cost savings we gained from GPS allowed us to bring the GP up to an acceptable level without raising the rates to the customer.
I have always felt that before you raise your rates you should look and see if your house is in order. If it is and there are no more ways to get your profits to the expected level then you have earned the right to raise your rates.
It is sad to hear the recent stories posted about using GPS.
If management continues to use it this way then they will lose people. In my opinion it is deceitful to not communicate with your employee's
Thats the big problem I have with it.Unless the tech didnt know he was being followed he is going to skirt the system.Case in point a new tech van shows to be in a county he is in a diffrent county at customer suposedly.He had a part I needed on his van if he was where he was supposed to be it would have been 25 miles.Trick found pull fuse it kills gps and you show to be at place fuse is pulled.How do I know that?His van swaped locations 30 min after I called and started heading for me.Tech there 1 month.You know he didnt drive 125 miles to get his unit then get to where he said he was in 30 min.When asked about it he didnt know what was going on.Serval ufo movings have been reported. Beam me up Scotty.
G,day all
I did not think a responce from down under would start a bigger discussion.But I do think that GPS IS a manager weapon.
Because in the service industry ( forklifts) you have poeple with no understanding with what we (servicetech) go throught to make money for the company.Also what DOES COST to have GPS???
If management are good then he will manage his men well and there would be no use for GPS other than data transfer.
To mcracing you seem to be a manager that under stands
but with all your saving you indicated did these saving get pass on to the boy at the shape end in some ways????
Response to Canada: This is an example of a "HORROR" STORY that I have also heard.
Response to batman: That is being quite deceptive toward employees, Tells a story about this Company.
It is all well and good to say we (The Company) are putting in GPS to enable us to better serve the customer. By providing quicker responce times and by sending the, not only the closest, but properly trained tech.
All that's nice to say and was at our company but none of it is true. Dispatch never uses it! The only ones that look at it is management. We have had threatening memo after memo about everything from alowable distance after hours that we are allowed to travel to the speeds we are allowed to travel at.
As most techs say, "we would not be bothered about any restrictions put on the use of the vans, after all it is the companys' van. It is the fact that we were told that GPS will never be used as a weapon. AND THAT'S ALL IT HAS BEEN USED FOR"
It could be a great tool but it should not be used to hit you on the head
I dont thonk i could after such deception.But at least they found out who was doing what.I mean if you let a guy know there is a cop up the road he is not going to keep doing 90.
I just found something out today:
A local forklift company secretly had GPS capability activated on the road tech's cell phones. The tech's did not know about this and the company tracked certain techs to see what they were doing. Of course after several disciplinary actions the tech's pretty much figured they were being "watched". Is this even ethical and would you work for a company that did something like that?
mcracing, I could have not said it better. I too have seen many changes. While I oversee the southern district of our service dept, I still turn wrenches. We have GPS on all our vehicles. There is no one "eyeing the dots" on a regular basis, but spot checks are done. It has been used for discipline and it has been used to protect a tech as well. The honest do not mind, while the others refine themselves or leave. It is a tool for dispatching which saves fuel and time.
I dont mind the monitoring part.As a manager you have to know whats going on.A phone call of where are you what ya doin gets old.Gps is great for that.I just hate how some think all is well we got the gps.
mcracing, I believe you summed it up, Very well spoken, Thanks!
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