Fleet management can begin with vehicles—but it certainly doesn’t finish there! In today’s competitive environment, companies in sectors such as construction, logistics, warehousing and field services also need to watch over equipment, tools, and non-vehicle assets.
With increasing instances of asset theft, equipment’s misplacement and operational inefficiency, there is a ever growing demand for high end asset tracking systems.
This blog post will highlight how GPS for tracking equipment provides business-critical benefits, minimizes downtime, and connects you seamlessly to both mobile and stationary assets.
What Does Asset Tracking Even Mean and Why Should You Care?
Asset tracking is the process of tracking the position, utilization and condition of physical assets—ranging from forklifts, containers, and vehicles, to cranes, tools, and even generators.
Conventional fleet tracking systems are focused on vehicles whereas latest asset tracking solutions employ GPS, RFID, Bluetooth and IoT for tracking of the following:
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Equipment and machinery
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Shipping containers
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Trailers and pallets
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Onsite tools and portable storage devices
According to Tech Research Online, a loss of up to a billion of the assets every year businesses in the world due to the loss or theft of non-vehicle assets, but with GPS asset tracking this risk can be significantly mitigated.
Advantages of GPS for Tracking Equipment
Theft Prevention and Asset Recovery
Construction sites and outlying facilities are magnets for equipment theft. GPS trackers can offer the most up to date location information as well as immediate alerts if they are moved unauthorized.
Features:
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Geo-fencing boundaries
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Tamper alerts
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Remote immobilisation (in motorised systems)
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24/7 live location tracking
Case Study:
After theft in Rawalpindi, the owner of an excavator returned it in 3 hours, by installing and using a portable GPS tracker to it with motion module.
Maximizing Asset Utilization
Are your assets working — or sitting — for you?
Businesses use GPS tracking to keep an eye on:
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Frequency of use of equipment
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Where it’s deployed
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Duration of operations
This helps to:
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Ensure assets are distributed evenly across sites
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Avoid redundant purchases
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Identify under-used or ghost assets
Operational Efficiency Across Locations
Transportable and fixed assets are often difficult to track for multi-branch businesses. Asset tracking technology aggregates data into one cloud platform, so that managers can instantly see what’s happening across cities or branches.
Example:
A warehousing network in Lahore tracked GPS for forklifts to slash inter-location delays by 22%.
Preventive Maintenance Alerts
An integrated GPS asset tracking solution can track the following with the help of telematics:
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Engine run hours
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Vibration and usage patterns
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Battery levels
Result:
On-time service reminders, minimizing downtime and preventing expensive repairs.
Hint: Utilize asset usage reports to perform maintenance according to how your assets are actually affected in the field – not just when the calendar reminds you to!
Improved Compliance and Audit Readiness
Asset trail and condition is essential for regulated industries such as pharma, oil & gas and food logistics. The GPS logs, temperature sensors and tamper alerts are evidence for:
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Insurance claims
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Legal disputes
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Compliance audits
Companies adhere closer to government and ISO compliance standards with smart tracking—saving time and protecting reputation.
Typical Resources Benefiting from GPS Tracking
| Asset Type | Tracking Features |
|---|---|
| Generators | Engine run hours, movement alerts |
| Heavy machinery | Location, usage, fuel level |
| Trailers & Containers | Trip history, door open sensors |
| Cold Chain Equipment | Temperature logs, real-time alerts |
| Field Tools | Theft protection, last known location |
Asset Tracking Solutions and the Technologies at Their Core
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GPS: For outdoor positioning (vehicles, trailers and heavy equipment)
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Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE): For short-range indoor tool tracking
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RFID Tags: Scanning products in warehouses
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Cellular & Satellite Communication: Long-distance data transmission
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IoT Sensors: Temperature, motion, and tamper detection
CLI-96RANG: Long Range Wireless data transceiver 380-430MHz/433-470MHz Wireless Long Distance data modems:: Cellular & Satellite Communication: For remote transmission of data:: ISM band application: Compact size, low power consumption.
Motive and other industry-leading fleet partners are now providing you with combined vehicle + asset tracking solutions, from one dashboard.
Tips to Implement Asset Tracking in the Best Way Possible:
✅ Inventory Mapping
Start by labeling all high-value and portable assets.
✅ Choose the Right Tracker
For powered gear, GPS with telematics. For devices, choose battery-powered BLE, or RFID tags.
✅ Use Cloud-Based Dashboards
Make sure your tracker has real-time alerts, usage reports and can be accessed from a mobile.
✅ Set Up Geo-Fencing
Define places and monitor when assets move in and out of unauthorized areas.
✅ Train Staff
Train your field and warehouse crews to deal with equipment attached to trackers, and how to respond to alerts.
Internal Linking Opportunity
Learn More:
How Real Time Vehicle and Driver Behavior Tracking Works with Asset Management in our IoT in Fleet Operations Guide.
Call to Action
🔒 Want to protect your wealth and make it work for you?
Contact our asset tracking experts to schedule a free demo today. No matter if you are in logistics, construction, or warehouse management, we’ll take the guess work out of getting started deploying GPS for equipment tracking.
📞 Don’t let your assets vanish—track them better.
Conclusion
Although vehicle tracking is the hub of the modern fleet management system, the real golden nugget is its ability to extend visibility to all assets, no matter the size.
Through today’s asset tracking solutions, organisations have a real-time perspective on equipment usage, minimised loss and a more efficient operation between a spread of locations.
Equipment tracking GPS helps to ensure your tools, machines, and other mobile assets are where they need to be—doing what they should, when they should.
In a networked operations world, monitoring beyond vehicles isn’t a nice-to-have — it’s a business differentiator.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is asset tracking in fleet management?
Answer: That’s the tracking of non-vehicle assets such as equipment, trailers, tools or containers using GPS and IoT technology.
How does GPS equipment tracking work?
Response: Placing GPS trackers on machinery sends location data in real time to a cloud dashboard, allowing businesses to track asset use, movement and safety.
Is it possible to monitor portable assets or small tools?
Answer: Yes. Bluetooth (Battery powered or BLE) GPS trackers are made for small tool and short-range tracking.
Industries that Profit Most from Asset Tracking
Answer: Construction, logistics, warehousing, manufacturing, utilities and agriculture see big benefits from asset tracking.
Is asset tracking expensive?
Response: Basic trackers are economic and flexible to deploy with a fast return on investment from theft deterrence and improved asset utilization.
