Three Powerful LBS Platform Features to Watch For

Location-based services (LBS) permit a wide range of options when it comes to providing solutions to fit a fleets’ varying needs. At the same time, that large number of options in the LBS marketplace can be overwhelming to navigate for potential users struggling to understand the capabilities that a full-featured LBS platform should have – and one can quickly become bogged down by metrics and tech-heavy details. Indeed, with a wide range of options available, it can be hard to know what to look for -- but there are several key features of a strong platform that can guide your search. Here are three that you should be on the lookout for when considering LBS platforms.

 API and Device Integration

Having an idea for how you want to incorporate LBS into your company is a good start for narrowing down platforms that cater to your needs, but after that a potentially crucial step is ensuring that the platform will be capable of communicating with business-essential software that you already have, like payroll software or a CRM. The process of connecting your existing software to an LBS platform typically requires that the platform publishes an API to allow for such communication – so in order to be able to take full advantage of an LBS platform, make sure that it has such an API in place.

It is also likely that additional hardware or devices will be required to track and report location-based information as your fleet grows. While you may purchase hardware directly from a manufacturer, a good platform will be able to connect to and receive data from a wide variety of devices. Look for a platform that already has a large library of devices with which it’s preconfigured to work. This will give you the greatest selection of devices to choose from in order to meet your needs, and ensures a hassle-free experience getting those new devices provisioned on the platform.

 User-friendly Experience and Customization Options

Good LBS platforms will include a variety of dashboards that provide a user-friendly experience while still maintaining all of the key components of functionality. Having the option to see an overview of information, and then get into the nitty-gritty details if need be, will make your life easier and your fleet more efficient when using LBS in daily operations. Having the option to access applications through a variety of different devices, such as a smartphone or tablet, will also allow you to use LBS functions beyond a computer in an office. Job sites in construction, transportation, and the medical field require mobility, and a good platform will have compatible options for accessing and using software from the field, office, or even from home.

In addition to having a user-friendly overview of data and functions, a good LBS platform will also offer customizable features that allow businesses to apply LBS technology most effectively to meet their needs and maximize benefits.

Some customization options can include:

• A POI (point of interest) option
  • This option will provide the ability to set points of interest on specific locations. This can range from setting a notification for entry and exit at certain locations or keeping a historical record of location-based data.
• An option to simultaneously use LBS technology at different locations and on different assets
  • The type of LBS function you need may vary within your company. For example, you may need to place location trackers to monitor where valuable construction equipment is at one job site while using LBS to keep a historical record on what kind of equipment is being used at another.
• In-vehicle videos
  • This option can benefit location-based services for fleet management in particular. In-vehicle videos are useful for providing insight into accident investigations and help negotiate insurance premiums, among other options for video tracking.
• Multi-lingual language options
  • This option will allow users to navigate applications and dashboards in their preferred language.
• Remote access
  • This option will provide the capability to perform basic functions such as enabling, disabling, or locking systems.

Data recovery

Data recovery is also an essential part of a good LBS platform, even if it’s one that hopefully is seldom needed. LBS technology is constantly collecting and processing different data points and systems quickly become heavily laden with data sets. While the user-friendly overview will make it easy to understand this data, there also has to be a failsafe to make sure that data is protected when it comes to accidental deletion and system hiccups. Having the option to recover historical, archived, or lost data quickly and without too much hassle will provide you peace of mind when interacting with LBS.Finding the right LBS platform to maximize return on investment

Location-based services use advanced, complicated technology and platforms make them easier to integrate and use.. These key aspects are some of the qualities that a good LBS platform will provide in order to maximize your return on investment. For more in-depth information on what makes a good LBS platform, see our eBook at [link]

Position Logic’s comprehensive and adaptable LBS platform offers solutions for organizations of all sizes and budgets. Position Logic’s platform provides LBS services to meet your needs, with feature sets that are designed to meet the needs of fleets both large and small.