Confidence in the integrity of the tracking service provider and the network used is the key when deciding on how to best utilise vehicle tracking to combat the rampant crime rate in South Africa, says Anton Joubert of Fleetcall, South Africa's pioneer radio trunking network operator.
Transport operators have to keep one eye on crime syndicates, which threatens to paralyse the industry. Recent figures indicated that vehicle hijacking is still on the increase. At the same time, fleet managers have to guard against fly-by-night companies promising solutions which simply don't exist.
Says Joubert, "The danger is that the 'fly-by-nights' are not always easy to identify because some well-meaning companies with high profiles and access to big capital have entered the market, but have failed to become sustainable and have since closed their doors for business."
"The best advice to fleet managers is to stick to a network operator with a proven track record and use a service provider accredited by the network."
Joubert said that Fleetcall allows only type-approved tracking systems on the network and conducts regular audits to ensure quality control. "Fleetcall's network will be fully Y2K compatible in good time and the network allows only type-approved radios and type-approved software onto the network to protect the integrity of the backbone network."
A leading network (with more than five million calls per month, of which 78% are data calls) Fleetcall is internationally recognised for its expertise in data calls and applying radio trunking technology for vehicle tracking and other innovative solutions.
"Insist on type-approved radios and type-approved software and don't cut corners when it comes to the installation of radios and antennas," says Joubert.
"Transport operators should not hesitate to ask tracking companies for references. Investigate the service provider's after-sales ser-vice, maintenance capacity and its ability to support the product in the areas in which your vehicles operate, be it regional or national," he says.
Fleetcall has designed and implemented its network for the expected growth in data calls. This was done in anticipation of the needs of the road transport industry and the move from voice calls to data calls. Says Joubert, "This has enabled Fleetcall to widen the measurement parameters for fleet operators to obtain more data in real-time and to take immediate corrective steps, if required."
Service providers
To best serve the market, Fleetcall offers a choice of more than 130 service providers country-wide, with a selection of locally manufactured and imported radios and different software configurations. Subscribers can also custom design their subscription with options ranging from single region, multi-region and national coverage. Subscribers can also select voice, data or a combination of voice and data facilities with different quota-packages.
Concludes Joubert, "Fleetcall manages its network services to offer a custom-made service because each transport operator's needs are unique. Working hand-in-hand with a countrywide network of service providers, Fleetcall endeavours to develop a fleet-specific solution for individual fleet operators."
For details contact Fleetcall on tel: (011) xxx xxxx.
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