What Is Geo-Tracking?

Geo-tracking has emerged as a technological tool that has transformed how businesses and organizations operate. This advancement has helped monitor devices by providing geographical data, improving security and operations across various industries. Let’s dive deeper into what geo-tracking is, how it works, its use cases, and more. 

Definition of geo-tracking

Geo-tracking, also known as geolocation or location tracking, is the practice of tracking an object or person’s geographic location using the Global Positioning System (GPS) or other similar means. This technology can be used on various devices, such as mobile phones, tablets, and computers. Additionally, geo-tracking technology monitors a wide range of other items, including vehicles and fleets, assets and equipment, people, and pets. This enables one to pinpoint the exact location of the device at any given time. 

How does geo-tracking work

Geo-tracking uses sophisticated technology to work. Here’s a breakdown of the typical process:

1. Receiving satellite signals. Items with GPS receive signals from GPS satellites, which include data such as the satellite’s unique ID and the time the signal was sent.
2. Calculating distance. After collecting the signal and data, the GPS receiver measures how much time it took for the signal to arrive. Given that radio waves travel at a constant speed, the GPS receiver can rely on them to figure out how far the satellite is.
3. Trilateration: The receiver needs signals from at least three satellites to pinpoint a location on a two-dimensional map. By measuring the distance to each, it can determine a single point where all three “spheres” of distance intersect. For a more precise 3D location (including altitude), a fourth satellite is needed to correct for clock errors.

Other methods for geo-tracking include:

• • Measuring the signal strength of the cellular network from nearby cell towers
  • Scanning for nearby Wi-Fi access points
  • Measuring Bluetooth-enabled devices’ proximity through Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons

Businesses can deploy their location tracking initiatives using the methods outlined above. One great example is tracking the geolocation of remote devices that employees operate from another location. Businesses can deploy location tracking for remote devices by using a combination of GPS, Wi-Fi, and cellular data.

• For example, an organization may monitor the geolocation of company-issued laptops or mobile devices operated by employees in different locations. This requires a location-enabled device and reliable tracking software or MDM solution. Once activated, the software can capture and transmit the device’s location at defined intervals, providing near real-time updates while adhering to privacy and compliance requirements. Furthermore, this allows protective actions such as integrating with remote access tools to lock or wipe sensitive information if a device appears lost or stolen and is brought to an unusual location.

Geo-tracking use cases

Many industries have benefited from what geo-tracking can provide. Here are some of the common applications of the technology:

• Fleet management: Rental car owners can track their vehicles with geo-tracking. Some are even equipped with geofencing capabilities that can trigger an alarm or limit functionalities when the vehicle crosses a set virtual boundary. This helps car fleet owners to prevent vehicle theft and avoid getting them involved in unauthorized use.
• Logistics: Geo-tracking also benefits companies by helping them track their shipments. This helps with route optimization, fuel efficiency, and accurate estimated times of arrival (ETAs). It’s crucial for delivery services, transportation, and supply chain management.
• Asset tracking: Geo-tracking enhances theft prevention by allowing businesses to track important items in transit, like high-value goods, medical equipment, construction machinery, and more.
• Workforce management: Companies with remote workers can use geo-tracking to monitor their employees. Employee devices are typically equipped with GPS for geo-tracking purposes, which helps maximize productivity, scheduling, and employee safety.
• Fraud prevention: Banks and financial institutions use geo-tracking to detect and prevent fraudulent transactions by verifying whether a transaction’s location matches the user’s typical behavior.
• Navigation: Mapping and navigation may be one of the most popular personal uses of geo-tracking. Navigation apps such as Waze, Apple Maps, and Google Maps utilize geo-tracking to provide crucial information such as real-time traffic situations, directions, alternate routes, and ETA to the user’s destination.

Advantages of geo-tracking for businesses

Geo-tracking offers many benefits in business settings, from enhancing security measures to improving customer service. Here are some of its advantages:

• Enhanced security

Geo-tracking provides an added layer of security by allowing businesses to monitor their devices’ whereabouts, reducing the risk of theft or misuse.

• Improved customer service

Businesses can use geo-tracking to offer location-based services to enhance customer experience.

• Efficient resource management

Knowing their location at all times can help organizations better manage their resources, resulting in increased productivity and reduced costs.

• Data-driven decision making

Geo-tracking data can provide valuable insights to help businesses make informed decisions.

Best practices in implementing geo-tracking

• Privacy compliance

Ensure all tracking activities comply with privacy laws and regulations. Always inform and obtain consent from the individuals being tracked.

• Data security

Implement robust security measures to protect the collected geo-location data from unauthorized access.

• Accuracy

Use reliable tracking software to ensure accurate and real-time location data.

• Ethical use

Use the technology ethically and responsibly. Avoid using it for intrusive or illegal purposes.

FAQ

1. What is geo-tracking and how does it work?
   Geo-tracking is the process of determining the real-time location of a person, device, or asset using GPS, Wi-Fi, cellular networks, or Bluetooth beacons. It works by receiving location signals (e.g., from satellites or nearby towers), calculating distances, and pinpointing the exact position through methods like trilateration or signal strength analysis.
2. What are common business uses of geo-tracking?
   Businesses use geo-tracking for fleet and shipment monitoring, asset protection, workforce management, fraud prevention, and customer service improvements, such as accurate delivery ETAs. When integrated with MDM and remote access tools, it also supports security actions like locking or wiping data on lost or stolen devices.
3. How does geo-tracking improve security for companies?
   Geo-tracking enhances security by enabling real-time monitoring of devices and assets, triggering alerts for unusual movements, and integrating with geofencing or MDM tools to take protective actions such as remote locking or wiping sensitive data.
4. What are the privacy concerns with geo-tracking?
   Privacy concerns include unauthorized tracking, misuse of location data, and potential legal violations. To address these, businesses should obtain informed consent, follow privacy regulations, and secure all collected location data with strong encryption.
5. How can a business implement geo-tracking effectively?
   To successfully implement geo-tracking, companies should choose accurate and reliable tracking software, integrate it with security tools like MDM or geofencing, train staff on ethical usage, and ensure compliance with privacy laws in every region they operate in.

Conclusion

Geo-tracking is an innovative technology that offers numerous benefits to businesses and organizations. Depending on an organization’s requirements and infrastructure, several methods and strategies are deployed to ensure that geo-tracking works accurately. These methods need to be executed appropriately to ensure the delivery of their greatest benefits, especially for businesses. One thing to remember, is that it is essential to use geo-tracking responsibly and in compliance with all relevant laws and regulations.