When thinking of GPS trackers, most people think immediately of cars. While it's true that GPS tracking devices are primarily used on vehicles, the technology has many other applications. It’s versatile and can be integrated with lots of other devices, such as your smartphone for example. To put it simply, you can use GPS tracking to keep tabs on virtually anything that moves.

GPS and vehicles This is by far the most common use of GPS tracking devices. They can be used by:

  • Employers wanting to keep an eye on employees using company vehicles – ensure that they are actually going where they say they are
  • Business owners and customer service managers want to provide their customers with better service, in relation to more accurate delivery times
  • Fleet managers monitor the performance of fleet vehicles, from speed management and safe driving to fuel efficiency and the best routes to take
  • Individuals wanting to protect their vehicles and recover them if they are stolen or go missing – there’s also the possibility that a GPS tracker could lower a driver’s insurance premiums
  • Suspicious spouses wanting to track where their partner goes – in case of infidelity or possibly for use as evidence in a divorce case
  • Worried parents trying to keep teen drivers safe, especially if they’'ve only just passed their driving test and are not behaving very responsibly behind the wheel
  • Police and law enforcement officers wanting to recover stolen vehicles or catch speeding drivers

Once placed discreetly on a vehicle, you can either track the movements of the car in real-time using a user interface on your smartphone or laptop, or you can request location information via text message – all without the driver suspecting a thing.

Protecting property

A GPS tracker can also be a great way to protect property. A device can be placed on what is normally a static, non-moving piece of equipment – from a laptop to a piece of farm machinery – and only activated when the item is moved without permission. This means if the item is stolen, you can find and hopefully recover it in a matter of hours.

Tracking pets

This may sound like more unusual use of SMS trackers, but a surprising number of pet owners are making use of the technology to keep their pets safe. Cats and dogs can leave home and go a-wandering for days at a time, but if they are gone too long then it's only natural for the owner to start worrying. Unfortunately, there’s also the chance that a pet has been kidnapped, run over or is stuck somewhere.

In many cases, being able to locate them within minutes using the signal from their GPS tracker (usually placed on the collar) can save the animal’s life or bring him or her home. It can also provide great peace of mind knowing where your adventurous pet is at all times.

Image Credit: Wiki Commons