Like any business, your construction company is always looking for ways to become more efficient and streamlined. One way to accomplish this is by implementing construction equipment tracking software. Fleet tracking and construction asset management software have become popular across fleets of all industries over the last several years. 

Construction inventory management software offers numerous benefits for construction companies of all shapes and sizes. It allows managers to step back and manage everything from a single screen on their phones or computers, telling them what is happening with no micromanaging. Let’s learn more about this software and how you can use it to your advantage.

What is Construction Equipment Tracking Software?

Construction tracking software, or construction inventory management software, tells you where all your heavy equipment is at any time. When you need something for a job, you should be able to locate it instantly and quickly send it to the correct location. Such logistics can be a challenge if you have several storage yards with multiples of each type of equipment.

Tracking each piece of equipment means you can see where every vehicle is at any time. Some companies use traditional barcode systems to track equipment movement, which can introduce human error. If someone forgets to scan a piece of equipment when they move it, you may have difficulty locating that item again until a complete inventory is performed.

Instead, use a construction asset management software like Azuga’s. With a tracker installed on each asset, you’ll always know where to find your equipment. If it moves, you won’t have to rely on someone scanning a barcode. Instead, its location will be automatically updated. You can even track equipment while it’s in transit, allowing you to pinpoint precisely when it will arrive at a job site.

The Benefits of Construction Asset Tracking Software 

Monitoring Heavy Equipment

Things can get confusing for a construction fleet with multiple job sites and equipment moving back and forth between them. When you use construction asset management software, managing these assets becomes much easier. This solution helps you monitor all your assets on one platform to automate maintenance, locate lost or stolen assets, and access related data on your mobile device. With real-time diagnostics, you’ll always know the needs of your fleet, no matter where you are. 

Maximizing Asset Utilization

Monitoring is only part of your duties regarding your construction equipment; you also want to ensure that you utilize all of your assets to their fullest potential. Proper use of your equipment can reduce equipment hoarding and unnecessary hiring costs while increasing productivity on your job sites. 

With tracking reports from construction asset management software, you can view the total number of assets on a job site, the active days on a project, and engine hours. All this information is summed up to show equipment utilization as an easy-to-access percentage. Having this data is crucial in your day-to-day decisions. For example, you can cross-reference time spent on a site with asset usage, figure out how much an asset costs you in fuel costs, or calculate contractor costs. 

Improving Safety

Construction asset management software isn’t only beneficial for your fleet’s efficiency. It can also boost safety on your job sites by tracking operator behavior. Obtain customizable reports highlighting specific driver habits and warn you when problems require more training. When you know these behaviors, you can provide targeted training that addresses the issue at its root. 

With construction tool tracking, you can ensure that your fleet remains compliant with federal regulations. You’ll never have to worry about being hit with unexpected fines or fees.

Maximize Productivity

The first goal of any construction fleet is, of course, to maximize productivity. Construction fleet tracking tells you where vehicles are, when they start and stop, and when the ignition is turned on or off. You can tell when a vehicle has been off for a while and check in with the driver to ensure everything is going according to plan. Furthermore, workers who know they are being monitored are more likely to remain on track, ensuring that work gets done quickly and efficiently as if you were directly overseeing on-site.

Assign Crew and Assets Effectively

It is crucial to ensure you always get the most out of your people and assets. With vehicle and asset tracking, you can remain updated on how assets are used on-site. As mentioned, you can view when vehicles start and stop. For example, if one site has idle vehicles while another has people reporting overtime, you can reassign workers and equipment as needed. 

Reduce Fuel Use

One of the top benefits of fleet tracking is the ability to track idling. Idling is a huge fuel waster, and once you start tracking, you’ll find that it happens more often than you think. Your fleet tracking software can create reports showing what vehicles are idling and how much fuel is wasted, showing you exactly where to crack down.

Furthermore, fleet tracking lends itself to route optimization, which uses algorithms and machine learning to help vehicles and equipment get from site to site in the most efficient manner possible, wasting the least fuel.

Prevent Theft

All fleets should invest in asset tracking. Azuga offers rechargeable asset trackers that last six months without charging and long life asset trackers that last up to five years. The most prominent benefit of asset tracking is that it prevents theft. If a thief strikes your vehicle or asset, you can report to the police exactly where it is. This makes it more likely that your vehicle or asset will be recovered quickly and undamaged. 

Geofencing is also a part of fleet tracking that prevents theft. You’ll receive an alert when a vehicle or asset exits a set boundary. This lets you take action as quickly as possible to recover your asset in one piece. 

Find Assets Easily

Another benefit of asset tracking is that you can always find your assets when needed. It can be frustrating having multiple job sites and not knowing where to find a particular piece of equipment. This is no longer an issue with fleet tracking. It’s easy to find missing assets and reassign them to other job sites as needed.

Azuga Equipment Tracking Features

Azuga’s trackers are the best of the best. Let’s talk about the specific features that Azuga offers. 

Real-time Tracking

Real-time construction tracking tools in your fleet management software are the best solution when it comes to: 

• Detecting the location of your construction assets at any time
• Managing multiple job sites and projects
• More easily monitoring asset utilization and output
• Monitoring when equipment is up for maintenance

Geofencing Capabilities 

Geofencing allows you to set a virtual boundary around job sites, storage yards, and any other location where equipment is stored. If an asset passes through the virtual fence, you’ll get an alert automatically. This way, you’ll know as soon as an asset is on the move whether your people are on-site at the time. Then, you can track the vehicle or equipment using its GPS signal, making recovery of a stolen asset quick and easy.

Geofencing helps prevent theft but is also useful for another industry problem. Unauthorized use of equipment can be both costly and dangerous. It exposes your company to unnecessary liability. With geofencing and GPS tracking, you can stop unauthorized use before a problem arises.

Maintenance and Repair Tracking

Keeping vehicles maintained is a primary aspect of a fleet manager’s job. Fleet tracking provides information on engine hours, mileage, and equipment time to keep your vehicles running efficiently. You can also set up maintenance alerts to ensure you never miss a scheduled vehicle maintenance appointment. Keeping your vehicles maintained ensures that you won’t have any unwanted surprises like breakdowns or malfunctions that keep your team from being productive. 

Fuel Management

Tracking idling is a critical benefit of fleet tracking. Idling is a massive fuel waster; for every hour your drivers spend idling, a truck wastes about 0.8 gallons of fuel. Once you start tracking, you’ll find it happens more often than you think. Telematics can create reports showing what vehicles are idling and how much fuel is wasted, showing you exactly where you may need to check in or provide coaching.

Furthermore, fleet tracking lends itself to route optimization, which uses algorithms and machine learning to help vehicles and equipment get from site to site in the most efficient manner possible, wasting the least fuel.

Implementing Azuga’s Equipment Tracking Software

Azuga is your one-stop shop for all things fleet management. That’s why we provide asset tracking to track construction equipment.

Azuga is a leading global connected vehicle platform, helping our customers turn data from vehicles and their use into intelligence that improves operations and safety while reducing cost and risk. Our leading technology, fleet applications, and data analytics provide customers — whether a small fleet of a few vehicles or up to several thousand — with robust features, ease of use, and affordable pricing. Try a demo of our software and see for yourself!

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Best Way to Track Construction Equipment? 

The best way to track construction equipment is by using GPS tracking systems designed for heavy machinery. These systems use satellite signals to pinpoint the exact location of the equipment, helping construction companies monitor their assets in real time. They often come with features like geofencing and maintenance alerts, providing even more control and efficiency in managing construction equipment.

How Do Construction Companies Keep Track of Inventory? 

Construction companies keep track of inventory by using various methods. They often use specialized software that helps manage and monitor materials’ availability, usage, and ordering. Additionally, many companies conduct regular physical inventory counts and implement systems like barcoding to streamline the tracking process. Finally, some companies use GPS and tracking technology to monitor the location and movement of valuable equipment and materials.

Does Construction Equipment Have GPS?

Yes, many modern construction equipment pieces come equipped with GPS technology. This allows construction companies to track the location of their equipment in real time, which can be very helpful in managing large construction sites. GPS also enables companies to monitor equipment usage, schedule maintenance, and improve overall efficiency in their operations.

Does Heavy Equipment Have Tracking Devices?

Yes, many heavy equipment pieces are equipped with tracking devices. These devices use GPS technology to monitor the location and movement of the equipment. This helps construction companies keep tabs on their valuable assets, ensuring they are used efficiently and reducing the risk of theft or loss.