Geofencing and virtual zones – how they work
Want to know when a vehicle arrives at a site, leaves the company yard or crosses a regional boundary? That is exactly what geofencing is for. Let's look at how virtual zones work and how, in SaveTrack, they help you keep track of vehicle movement without constantly watching the map.
What geofencing is
Geofencing is a function that lets you draw a virtual boundary on the map around a place that matters to you. That boundary creates what is called a virtual zone – a delimited area whose entries and exits the system tracks automatically.
The name comes from combining geography and fence. It is effectively an invisible fence on the map that does not exist physically, yet the system knows precisely when a vehicle crosses it. Thanks to that, you do not have to check positions manually.
How virtual zones work
The principle is simple. The system continually compares the vehicle's current position with the boundaries of the defined zones. When a vehicle crosses a boundary inbound or outbound, an event is evaluated – entering the zone or leaving it.
Virtual zones can be of various shapes and sizes – from a small circle around a warehouse to a large region. You create them simply by drawing directly on the map. One vehicle can be tracked against several zones at once.
What geofencing is used for in practice
The uses of geofencing are very varied. Companies use it to guard a yard or a warehouse – they get an alert when a vehicle leaves the perimeter outside working hours. In fleets it helps verify whether a vehicle really arrived at the customer or at the site.
Geofencing also comes into play in theft protection. If a vehicle leaves a designated zone at a time when it should be parked, the system flags it immediately. Automatic alerts on entry and exit therefore save time and reduce risk.
Geofencing in SaveTrack
In SaveTrack you create virtual zones directly in the application by drawing on the map. Vehicle entries and exits are then recorded automatically and the system can alert you to them.
Since SaveTrack works with a 60-second update rate while driving, zone-crossing events are evaluated almost immediately. That gives you a current overview of where your vehicles are and whether they are keeping to the defined areas.
Tips for setting zones up effectively
For geofencing to work reliably, it pays to set the zones up sensibly. A zone that is too small around a place with poorer GPS signal can occasionally report false entries and exits, so it is worth giving it a slightly wider margin.
We also recommend naming zones clearly – by town, customer or branch, for instance. Reports are then easy to navigate and alerts make immediate sense without lengthy cross-checking.
FAQ
What is geofencing?
Geofencing is a function that lets you draw a virtual boundary on the map around a chosen place. The system then automatically tracks when a vehicle enters that zone or leaves it.
What are virtual zones used for?
Most often for guarding a yard or warehouse, verifying a vehicle's arrival at a customer, checking the fleet and protecting against vehicle theft.
Can a vehicle have several zones at once?
Yes. One vehicle can be tracked simultaneously against several virtual zones of different shapes and sizes.
How quickly does SaveTrack evaluate a zone crossing?
Since SaveTrack works with a 60-second update rate while driving, entries into and exits from zones are evaluated almost immediately after the boundary is crossed.
How do I create a virtual zone?
You create a zone directly in the SaveTrack application by simply drawing it on the map. You then name it and the system starts tracking vehicle entries and exits.
Want to know when a vehicle arrives at or leaves an important place? Geofencing is part of SaveTrack from €6 a month. Write to info@savetrack.sk or call +421 908 918 880.
GPS tracking from €6/month, with the GPS device included on annual payment.
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