Jan/Feb 2005

Asfordby Doors, a commercial and domestic door and shutter specialist, has started tracking and managing its team of mobile engineers with a GPS-based telematics system from Verilocation.

The implementation is significant in that it draws attention to the fact that Verilocation, initially a specialist in GSM phone-based tracking, now also offers a full GPS satellite-based tracking product.

According to partner Paul Murphy: "With four vehicles out on the road every day, and installation engineers under increasing pressure, it was unfair and unwise of us to rely on them alone to plan their days.

"A GPS tracking system appealed to us because we felt it would give us more control over our business; the problem was that the cost of the systems we initially looked at was prohibitive." However, he adds that the Verilocation system, with its one-off flat fee charging system and easy Web access, fitted the bill.

He says that following initial hesitation, the engineers quickly took to the system, and now appreciate the improvements it brings in time management. He adds: "Using the GPS tracker, we can be far more confident that if we quote a fixed price for a job, it can be done in that time."