GPS Tracking Overview

Find out which GPS option is for you to use with your AroFlo

Updated on May 27th, 2024

You can track the location of your field staff, vehicles, or high-value assets throughout the day by using one of the tracking options described below.

 

 

Features

 

Supported GPS tracking unit for vehicle tracking

 

Mobile device with third-party smartphone app

 

Supported GPS tracking unit for equipment tracking

 

User's mobile device with AroFlo Field tracking

 

Vehicle tracking

 

Limited

 

Static asset tracking

 

Limited

User tracking

 

Tracking frequency

 

Continuous

Continuous

Point-in-time and when movement is detected

Point-in-time only

Accuracy*

 

High

 

High

 

High

 

Low

 

Cost

 

See pricing schedule

 

See pricing schedule

 

See pricing schedule

 

Free

 

Data history

 

Option to move/disable device   
and keep tracking history.

 

The accuracy of any tracking method can be affected by factors such as where the receiving device is (e.g. indoors, outdoors, underground), atmospheric conditions, and a range of other factors. See the page Set Up AroFlo Field tracking for more information on tracking accuracy.

 

Tracking Frequency

As described above, AroPoint GPS features differing levels of tracking frequency depending on which option you choose.

Any marked continuous will show you a “story” of where that unit travelled during that timespan, while point in time refers to captures of when AroFlo was in use.

Position capture frequency differs highly between the methods used and should be carefully considered to fit your needs.

More detail on Limited

As this method relies on a mobile device, e.g. phone, tablet, it is not really suitable for tracking a vehicle.

An exception might be if you have the device powered on upon start-up of the vehicle and the vehicle is driven regularly so the mobile device never powers off.

 
 

More detail on Continuous

Data is sent back to AroFlo every 30 seconds, giving you near real-time tracking.

 
 

More detail on Point-in-Time

AroFlo Field Tracking returns a GPS data point when a logged-in user interacts with AroFlo Field.

These data points appear on the AroFlo Map soon after they are collected, creating a history of where the user has been, rather than a continuous display of where they are.

 
 

 

Tracking options

Click on the expands below to learn more about the tracking methods that AroFlo supports:

Supported GPS tracking unit - vehicle tracking

This type of tracking is ideal for...

Vehicles that are regularly driven so you can see where they are at all times:

  • Company vehicles
  • Delivery vehicles
  • Removalist trucks
  • Farm machinery
  • Cement mixers

With this option, you purchase one of our supported GPS tracking units and set it up against the asset in AroFlo.

You can then:

  • install the tracking unit in one of your vehicles, e.g. a work van or delivery vehicle
  • link one or more users to the asset, so you can use the GPS data to complete their timesheetsschedule them to the nearest job, and more
  • view the linked user's movements in real time on the main menu's Map
  • use the Map tab in the asset card to view the location and history of tracked assets not linked to users.

To order supported GPS devices, please submit a support request or call Customer Service.

See how to set up GPS Tracking

How much data? 
All of our supported GPS devices for vehicle tracking are currently set to a 30-second frequency and so will only consume around 8.5Mb of data per month.

1 GB (gigabyte) of data is equivalent to 1000 MB (megabytes), so if your data plan allows for 1 GB of data per month, our devices will only consume 0.85% of the monthly allowance.

 
 
 

Supported GPS tracking unit - equipment tracking

This type of tracking is ideal for...

Assets that don't do a lot of movement, but may be left on a job site or client's premises for a short while:

  • Skip bins
  • Toolboxes
  • Generators
  • Flood restoration fans or dehumidifiers
  • Electronic road signs or billboards
  • Large machinery.
 

Country availability

Our equipment tracking devices are currently unavailable to our clients outside of Australia.

 

With this option, you purchase one of our supported GPS tracking units and set it up against the asset in AroFlo.

You can then:

  • install the tracking unit on one of your assets.
  • view the device's last whereabouts on the main menu's Map and also on the Map tab in the asset card.

This option is recommended for low-movement assets and not vehicles as the frequency of tracking is point-in-time only and when movement is detected, and not continuous.

 

To order supported GPS devices, please submit a support request or call Customer Service.

See how to set up GPS Tracking

 
 

Mobile device with third-party smartphone app

This type of tracking is ideal for...

Company devices, e.g. shared mobile phones or tablets.

 

With this option, you can track the location of a smartphone by using a third-party app to turn it into a mobile tracking device. This is set up in much the same way as setting up a supported GPS tracking unit.

You can then:

  • link one or more users to the asset, so you can use the GPS data to complete their timesheetsschedule them to the nearest job, and more
  • view linked users' movements in real time on the main menu's Map
  • use the Map tab in the asset card to view the location and history of the tracked asset not linked to users.
 
 

User's mobile device with AroFlo Field Tracking

This type of tracking is ideal for...

Users who will use AroFlo Field on their device to complete day-to-day activities, e.g. accessing tasks and quotes.

 

With this option, Site Administrators click a checkbox in the Feature Access Settings on a user's card to enable AroFlo Field Tracking. As long as the user has enabled location services on their mobile device, AroFlo Field Tracking will capture GPS information periodically throughout the day when users are logged in to AroFlo Field and completing checklists. This allows you to:

We don't recommend this option for tracking physical assets such as vehicles or equipment, as it would mean leaving the phone/tablet with the asset all the time.

 
 
 

 

Next Steps

Now that you have considered whether you'd prefer to look at using tracking using a dedicated device, or a mobile phone, click one of the coloured buttons below to find out what the next steps are: 

Vehicle and Equipment Tracking
Mobile Device Tracking

Or, if you've already got GPS set up and you want to learn more about using the AroPoint map with your devices, click below:

AroPoint Map