Why Real-Time Location Data Is Vital For Field Service Safety

By Vatix

We live in a world of immediacy. With everything we desire just a click away and the ability to track everything from taxis to Amazon packages in real-time, it’s only natural for us also to want to integrate the same level of convenience into our working lives.

Many employers are waking up to the fact that they can now use technology to keep their workers safer out in the field, and data is a massive part of that.

While a lot of organisations are indeed making use of modern devices and cloud-based software to enhance their strategies, it remains the case that, without real-time (or as close as possible to) information coming in, it’s challenging to get the desired results.

Too many systems merely allow for approximate data, with GPS tracking that’s only refreshed every 15-30 minutes.

For example, if an employee were to get into an accident while out on the road, it would be essential to know precisely where they were in order to send help as quickly as possible. Similarly, if a lone worker alarm or other device were lost, it would be challenging to find it if the location could only be pinned within a 30-minute window.

In short, without reliable information about where employees are, have been, or whether they may have fallen victim to a hazard while performing their duties, lessons cannot be learned, and safety cannot be optimised appropriately across the business.