GPS Tracker for Business Use: An Expert Guide to GPS Trackers for Business
Tips on choosing the best device for your business’s unique needs
There are a number of considerations that have to be made when selecting a GPS tracker. What you’re looking to track, how long you’ll need to track it, and where you’ll be tracking it, and more are all important considerations, as different tracking devices will be optimal for different purposes. At BrickHouse GPS, no matter what application you need to cover, we offer a tracking solution.
In this guide, we’ll look at individual trackers and highlight their best applications, so you can rest easy knowing that you’ve made the right choice for your business.
The Spark Nano
The Spark Nano is BrickHouse GPS’s flagship battery-powered GPS tracker. Smaller than a classic flip phone, the Nano is our go-to choice for tracking people, smaller assets, or vehicles in the short-term. Because the Nano is compact and battery operated, it’s not the best choice for long-term covert tracking; its battery typically lasts for around 14 hours of continuous tracking (which translates to roughly two weeks of tracking based on an average of one hour of live tracking per day). So if you’re looking to monitor a fleet of vehicles, it is not the best option.
The Spark Nano can be placed in bait boxes and other shipments, which is why it’s a go-to solution for many retail loss prevention professionals. The device will spring to life based on motion, so if a baited box is taken off of a loading dock or off of store premises, a security manager or retail loss prevention specialist can receive an instant text or email alert and then track the device live. Geofences enable a manager to set a custom perimeter, say, a block radius around a store, which will trigger an alert if the device leaves the predefined zone.
Because of the Nano’s small size, it can also be used as a custom tracking solution. Our GPS experts have inserted the hardware of the Nano into jewelry boxes, pill bottles and more, acting as an ideal countermeasure to smash-and-grab operations and helping thwart organized retail crime syndicates. Our team is willing to work with anyone to build custom GPS trackers based on whatever housing will be most effective.
Because the Nano houses a unique panic button, it is also a tool of choice for companies with employees out in potentially unsafe situations such as social workers making house calls or traveling salespeople. School bus drivers have also been known to carry the Nano in the event of an emergency because of the built-in panic button. With the push of a button, the Nano will transmit a distress signal and location information to a security manager who can then transmit that information to police.
Overall, because the Nano is battery powered and doesn’t need to be tethered to a vehicle’s power source, it has a number of versatile applications. Still, it faces some limitations because it needs to be recovered for charging every few days.
TrackPort 4
The TrackPort 4 GPS Vehicle Tracker is an ideal solution for vehicle tracking without the need for installation. While other more advanced hardwired trackers need to be connected to a vehicle’s power source like a car stereo, the TrackPort plugs directly into a vehicle’s OBD-II port. As a result, it not only provides live tracking whenever a vehicle is running, but it can be easily transferred among multiple vehicles.
This plug-and-play tracker allows for real-time vehicle tracking, perfect for managing a small fleet. A fleet manager can use the TrackPort to receive live speed alerts, run more detailed travel reports to monitor driver efficiency, and manage routes. Because of its low cost, the TrackPort is a great option for small business owners monitoring the performance of a few vehicles.
Livewire Dash & Livewire Volt
For professional, scalable fleet management, we recommend the Livewire Dash GPS Vehicle Tracker. The Livewire is installed directly into a vehicle’s power source (similar to a car stereo), so it never runs out of power as long as a vehicle is running. The Livewire features a 12-hour backup battery, so even if the vehicle is off, it will continue to track. This backup battery functions as an anti-theft mechanism because it will monitor the vehicle if it’s loaded onto a car carrier trailer or tow truck.
Because the Livewire is hardwired out of sight, unlike the TrackPort, it can be used for covert tracking without alerting or inconveniencing a driver. As a result, a fleet manager can get an unencumbered view of driver performance. Track speed, route efficiency, idle times, and more in order to get the most out of your company vehicles. The Livewire is our recommended choice for large-scale, long-term fleet management because of its durability and versatility. And, with its included external antenna, the reporting results are much more accurate than those of similar devices.
The Livewire Volt functions like the Livewire but acts as an easier-to-install option, wiring to the car battery instead of inside the dashboard.
Sat Track & Sat Track Micro
While the Spark Nano, Eon, TrackPort, Livewire, and Livewire Micro run on terrestrial cellular networks for their reporting, the Sat Track and Sat Track Micro report location using satellites. By using satellite reporting, these devices can pinpoint the location of whatever they’re tracking anywhere in the world.
The Sat Track is our recommended tracker for monitoring assets in remote parts of the world. If you’re looking to track shipping containers in the middle of the ocean, or if you’re transporting something internationally, the Sat Track will report locations as long as it has a clear line of sight to the sky.
Because these trackers are built for long-term remote tracking, they rely on pings for location updates. So, while they’re great for making sure vital assets get where they need to go, they’re not built for real-time tracking. If you’re looking to get updates a few times a day to ensure a shipment is on course, the Sat Track is the choice for you.
The Sat Track runs on AA batteries and the Sat Track Micro, the more compact option, runs on AAAs. While other trackers all contain rechargeable batteries or run on a vehicle’s power, these devices need to have their batteries replaced. Fortunately, because they don’t report real-time location, their battery estimates are pretty staggering: The Sat Track can run for about 2.5 years on its batteries and the Sat Track Micro can manage about a year.
All on One Platform
No matter which device you choose, you’re guaranteed the best platform in the business with BrickHouse GPS. Featuring live tracking and device breadcrumb trails, you’re given a full picture of a device’s current location and travel history. Custom geofences, as mentioned above, allow you to create zones that will trigger alerts when your tracker enters or exits a specific area, letting you know the second your employee takes the company delivery vehicle off the lot, for example.
Text and email alerts based on speed, motion, or geofence activity keep you alerted to any suspicious device activity. And, because you can have multiple devices tracking simultaneously, the BrickHouse tracking platform is completely scalable to your needs.
All of our devices (except for the Sat Track and Sat Track Micro) run on the Verizon cellular network, providing the best possible reporting coverage in the US. You’re also able to check in on and manage multiple device locations using our intuitive Android and iOS apps. And, as always, our lifetime technical support team is here to help you with any questions or concerns you have with your tracker.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best GPS tracker for business use?
The right GPS tracker depends on what you’re tracking, how long you need to track it, and where it will be. For vehicles, the TrackPort 4 plugs into the OBD-II port, and the Livewire Dash hardwires to the vehicle’s power for long-term fleet management. The battery-powered Spark Nano works well for people and smaller assets. For remote or international assets, the Sat Track and Sat Track Micro report location by satellite.
Which GPS tracker is best for fleet management?
For long-term fleet management that grows with your business, BrickHouse GPS recommends the Livewire Dash. Because it’s hardwired to the vehicle’s power source, it never needs charging. A 12-hour backup battery keeps it tracking when the vehicle is off, and an external antenna improves location accuracy. The Livewire Volt does the same job but wires to the vehicle battery, so it’s easier to set up.
What is the difference between a plug-in and a hardwired GPS tracker?
A plug-in GPS tracker like the TrackPort 4 connects to the vehicle’s OBD-II port in seconds and moves easily between vehicles. A hardwired GPS tracker like the Livewire Dash connects to the vehicle’s power source and stays out of sight. That makes a hardwired tracker a better fit for permanent, long-term fleet tracking.
How long does a battery-powered GPS tracker last?
The Spark Nano lasts about 14 hours of continuous tracking. At an average of one hour of live tracking per day, that comes to roughly two weeks. Satellite trackers last much longer because they report on a schedule. The Sat Track runs about 2.5 years on AA batteries, and the Sat Track Micro runs about one year on AAA batteries.
Can a GPS tracker work without cell service?
Yes. The Sat Track and Sat Track Micro report location by satellite, so they work anywhere in the world with a clear view of the sky, including on shipping containers at sea. They send location updates a few times a day and aren’t built for real-time tracking. All other BrickHouse GPS trackers run on the Verizon cellular network.
Can GPS trackers help keep employees safe in the field?
Yes. The Spark Nano has a built-in panic button. One press sends a distress alert and the device’s location to a designated manager, who can pass it along to emergency services. Businesses use it for employees who work alone or travel, such as social workers making house calls and traveling sales teams.
What is a geofence and how does it work with GPS tracking?
A geofence is a virtual boundary you draw on a map around an area like a job site, yard, or store. When a tracker enters or leaves that zone, the BrickHouse GPS platform sends you a text or email alert. For example, you’ll know the moment a company vehicle leaves the lot.
Can I track multiple GPS devices on one platform?
Yes. Every BrickHouse GPS tracker runs on the same platform, so you can monitor multiple devices at once in the Android and iOS apps. The platform includes live tracking, breadcrumb trails that show travel history, geofences, and alerts for speed, motion, and geofence activity. Lifetime technical support is included.
Can a GPS tracker help with retail loss prevention?
Yes. Retail loss prevention teams put the Spark Nano in bait boxes and shipments. The tracker wakes up when it detects motion and sends an instant text or email alert if the box leaves a loading dock or store, so the team can follow it live. The hardware is small enough to fit inside custom housings like jewelry boxes and pill bottles.