Geofencing Software: How It Manages Your Workforce Like a Breeze

Imagine managing your workforce with ease, knowing exactly where your employees are at all times and optimizing their productivity. Geofencing software can make that a reality.

But what exactly is geofencing?

It is a technology that allows organizations to create virtual boundaries around a physical location, receiving notifications or triggering actions when devices enter or exit the boundaries.

In this article, we will guide you through all you need to know about geofencing software, covering the following topics:

1 How Does Geofencing Work

Geofencing has come a long way since its early days with RFID technology. Today, geofencing systems use various technologies, such as GPS, RFID, Wi-Fi, and cellular data.

By using GPS or RFID, for example, geofencing systems create a virtual boundary around an area or object. When a person or object enters or leaves the virtual boundary, it triggers an action such as sending a notification or alert. This technology allows businesses or individuals to track and monitor people or objects within a designated area.

There are four types of geofences:

• Static geofences: These remain in place until changed or removed, as they are set up once and do not move.

• Dynamic geofences: These vary based on the movements of the person or object being monitored, as they change dynamically.

• Temporary geofences: These are set up for a specific period.

• Permanent geofences: These remain in place indefinitely.

To set up a geofence, you need to define the virtual geofencing radius boundary, choose the appropriate geofencing technology, and enter parameters into the geofencing platform. This involves determining the location, size, and shape of the virtual boundary, selecting the technology that best suits your needs, and entering the parameters into the geofencing device.

2 Types of Geofencing Software

Geofencing software is available in different types, each with its unique features and applications that meet specific business needs. We have listed out 6 most commonly used types of geofencing platforms as below:

Asset Tracking Software

This type of software is specifically designed for organizations looking to monitor the location and safety of valuable assets. Asset tracking software includes geofence alerts, real-time location tracking, and remote data wiping to ensure the safety and security of the organization’s assets.

Field Service Management Software

This software is tailored to organizations that manage field operations, such as service companies, utilities, or maintenance departments. It provides real-time job scheduling, route optimization, and location-based tracking of field workers, helping organizations optimize their field operations, improve productivity and customer service.

Fleet Management Software

Designed for transportation and logistics businesses, this type of software provides real-time monitoring of vehicles, path tracking, and route optimization. These features enable organizations to optimize their fleet operations, reduce costs, and increase efficiency.

Location-based Marketing Software

This software helps businesses to send targeted push notifications, advertisements, or offers to customers within a specific geographical area. It is considered a very useful tactic for businesses to increase customer engagement, drive sales, and enhance the overall customer experience.

Time and Attendance Software

This software is designed to help organizations track and manage employee attendance and work hours. With geofence-based clock-in and clock-out features, real-time employee location tracking, and automatic time tracking, businesses can ensure accurate timekeeping, improve payroll management, and reduce employee time theft.

Retail Analytics Software

Retail analytics software helps retailers gather data and insights about in-store customer behavior. It provides features such as foot traffic tracking, heat mapping, and queue management, helping retailers to make data-driven decisions and improve their in-store operations.

3 Geofencing Examples: Its Uses & Applications

In recent years, geofence technology has become a popular business tool, because it provides a more comprehensive view of workforce management and resource allocation. In fact, the geofencing market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of over 27% according to report by MarketsandMarkets.

Here are some geofencing examples and the benefits they offer:

1. Logistics and Transportation

Geofencing is a valuable tool for organizations in the logistics and transportation industry, helping to monitor vehicle movements, optimize routes, and reduce costs. By setting up geofences around specific locations, organizations can receive real-time geofence alerts when vehicles enter or exit certain areas. This information can then be used to optimize routes, reduce fuel consumption, and improve driver performance.

A study from National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health found that the use of geofencing technology in the transportation industry has reduced accidents and incidents by up to 40%, resulting in significant cost savings and improved safety for workers and the general public.

2. Human Resources

In the human resources industry, geofencing can be used to track employee attendance and improve timekeeping accuracy. By setting up geofences around the workplace, organizations can monitor when employees arrive and leave, making it easier to manage payroll and reduce timekeeping errors.

3. Retail and Hospitality

By setting up geofences, organizations in retail and hospitality can monitor the locations of their devices in real-time, prevent theft, and track lost or stolen devices in key locations.

Besides its security benefits, geofence technology is also being used to deliver personalized marketing campaigns based on a customer’s location, such as sending relevant promotions and offers to customers who are nearby. This method helps businesses increase foot traffic and drive sales. According to a recent study by Accenture, the use of geofencing in the retail industry alone has increased to 58% and is predicted to grow further by the end of 2030.

3. Healthcare

In healthcare, geofencing technology can be used to monitor patients' wearable devices by creating virtual boundaries around important locations. This allows healthcare providers to easily track patients' movements and ensure they are receiving the necessary care.

Geofence alerts can also notify healthcare staff when patients leave the designated area, which is especially important for patients diagnosed with amnesia or other conditions that may affect their ability to navigate safely.

Furthermore, tracking patients' movements using geofencing technology enables healthcare providers to collect data for evaluating the effectiveness of care plans. This data-driven approach can lead to improved patient outcomes as providers can make informed decisions based on the insights gathered from the geofence data.

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4 Recommended Geofencing Software for Workforce Management

Geofencing software has revolutionized how organizations manage their workforce by providing real-time location tracking, geofencing capabilities, and detailed reporting. Below are some of the best geofencing software options available on the market for fleet management, field service management, and asset tracking:

1. Fleet Management

• GPSWOX:

This fleet management solution offers real-time tracking, geofence alerts, and detailed reporting for organizations to monitor their fleet effectively. It also offers powerful geofencing capabilities, such as creating virtual fences and generating replays for better visibility.

• Geotab:

A cloud-based fleet management platform that provides real-time GPS tracking, fuel usage monitoring, and driver performance analysis to optimize fleet operations. Moreover, its geofencing feature allows users to set up virtual zones and receive instant geofence alerts when drivers enter or exit those areas.

• Verizon Connect:

This powerful fleet management solution includes real-time tracking, route optimization, and safety monitoring to ensure the efficient operation of an organization's fleet. Also, its geofencing capabilities allow organizations to monitor their field staff in real time and receive instant geofence alerts when they enter or leave a predetermined area.

2. Field Service Management

• Skedulo:

Skedulo is a deskless productivity software built for businesses that manage global workers out in the field. It helps various industries to simplify workforce scheduling, gain visibility into workforce utilization, and provide actionable analytics on their workforce.

• ProntoForms:

This mobile geofencing forms solution enables organizations to create, send, and track custom forms for their field workers in real time. Plus, its geofencing functionality enables users to automatically trigger forms based on the location of their workers.

• Housecall Pro:

This field service management solution provides real-time job scheduling, GPS tracking, and invoicing capabilities to streamline field operations. Moreover, its geofencing feature helps users to manage job locations, assign jobs based on worker location, and set geo-based alerts.

3. Asset Tracking

• Linxup:

Linxup provides a GPS asset tracking solution that is ideal for companies that rent out equipment or deploy expensive assets across job sites. Whether it's heavy equipment, containers, trailers, towables, or power equipment and tools, Linxup's asset tracking feature allows you to monitor the location of your assets in real-time, view their current status and usage, and get geofence alerts if they move or leave designated areas.

• Samsara:

This IoT platform offers real-time monitoring, analytics, and reporting for a wide range of assets, making it a comprehensive asset-tracking solution. Also, its geofencing feature allows users to monitor the location of their assets with precision.

• TrakIT:

This comprehensive asset-tracking solution includes real-time GPS tracking, geofencing, and detailed reporting to help organizations monitor their assets. Plus, its geofence feature can be used to create virtual perimeters and automate asset monitoring processes.

5 How to Set Up Geofencing with AirDroid Business?

Here are the steps to set up geofencing with AirDroid Business:

1. To get started, click on the free trial and create an AirDroid Business account by filling out basic information.

2. Login to AirDroid Business Admin Console and enroll your Android devices (guide).

3. Go to the "Geofencing" tab in the platform and click on Geofence Mgmt. You can create new geofences from here by clicking on the "New Geofence" button.

4. Drag the fence to the location you wish to set up virtual boundaries. You can either insert the longitude and latitude of the location or put down the location keyword.

5. Decide the name and the radius of the Geofence and click save.

Then voilà, you are good to go!

6 Challenges and Limitations of Geofencing Software

Like any other system, geofencing also has certain factors that should be taken into consideration before implementation.

Maintenance can be time-consuming

Geofencing requires maintenance and updates to function optimally, which can become time-consuming as you scale up. Additionally, the reliability of the system depends on the technology you use, and you may experience some bugs along the way. When researching and comparing geofencing platforms, pay special attention to its reliability and the maintenance it requires.

Pushback Due to Privacy Concerns

People may perceive geofencing technology, like any other form of tracking, as an invasion of privacy. When implementing geofencing for employees, you may encounter resistance. Building trust and explaining the benefits of geofencing for both the company and your staff is important in addressing employee concerns.

Battery and Data Draining

Geofencing software requires location services to be constantly active, which can consume a significant amount of battery power. This is especially true if the software is set up to track employees' locations frequently or in real-time. As a result, employees may need to charge their devices more frequently or carry a backup battery.

False positives

Geofencing technology can trigger alerts when an employee enters or exits a geofence, even if they are not actually at the location. For example, if an employee is near the geofence but not within it, they may still trigger an alert. This can lead to unnecessary notifications and false alarms.

In conclusion, carefully evaluate the benefits and drawbacks before intergrating geofencing platforms into the workflow, and take the necessary steps to mitigate their effects. By understanding the disadvantages of geofencing software, you can make the most of its benefits while minimizing potential risks.

7 AirDroid Business MDM Geofencing

For organizations seeking a one-stop solution for tracking their mobile devices and fleets, AirDroid Business MDM Geofencing is an excellent option. It offers a centralized platform that businesses can use to monitor device movement, track and secure devices, and improve route efficiency. Moreover, it simplifies maintenance for IT teams by offering configuration in bulk and remote troubleshooting as your fleet scales up.

Its features include:

• Device location tracking
• Geofence alerts
• Remote data wipe
• Route history records
• Configured security measures
• Logs and reports

With these powerful geofencing software features, organizations can efficiently manage their workforce and assets while improving productivity and profitability.

FAQs about Geofencing Software

What are the benefits of geofencing?

Maverick

Geofencing allows you to track the location of employees, customers, or other entities within predefined geographic boundaries. It can also be used to improve customer service and marketing campaigns, enhance asset protection and security, and reduce costs associated with employee time.

Does geofencing work if the location is off?

Maverick

Yes, geofencing works even when the location of the person or asset is off. A geofence is defined by a virtual perimeter that can still be tracked, whether the location services are enabled or not.

Can geofencing work without the internet?

Maverick

The short answer is yes. Geofencing can still function even if the device doesn't have access to an internet connection. This is because geofences are based on GPS location data, which does not require internet connection to work. However, the accuracy and reliability of geofencing can be affected and may not be able to send alerts or notifications.

Does geofencing have privacy concerns?

Maverick

Yes, there are definitely some privacy concerns to be aware. While geofence technology can greatly benefit businesses and individuals, some may feel uncomfortable with the idea of their movements and whereabouts being tracked. To ensure that data privacy is maintained, geofencing should be used responsibly and only for legitimate purposes.

How much does geofencing cost?

Maverick

The cost of geofencing really depends on the features you need and your usage levels. For instance, AirDroid Business Geofencing offers a basic plan that charges $3 per device and a standard plan that costs $5 per device. If you need geofencing for targeted advertising campaigns, the cost can range from $5 to $15 per thousand ads displayed. You may want to consider the cost of any additional services, such as geofence management and analytics.

How accurate is geofencing?

Maverick

Geofencing accuracy depends on the software used. AirDroid Business geofencing maintains accuracy even without network connectivity. This is achieved by letting the device itself determine when to trigger the geofence workflow, rather than relying on server calculations based on uploaded location data.