The GPS tracking market is experiencing significant growth in our country. This is mostly due to the demand for fleet management software to help businesses reduce operational costs.
There has been a slow rise in car theft syndicates over the past few years, pointing to the need for individuals and businesses to safeguard their cars.
Finding the most suitable car tracking company for you might take a while, but now that you are here, you can stop the search. Let us show you why we have the best GPS tracker in Kenya.
In this article, you will:
Learn how GPS tracking systems works
Get tips on choosing the right GPS tracker
Find out why Cartrack is on of the best GPS trackers in Kenya
How does a GPS tracker work?
Before we dig deeper, here is a short breakdown of what a GPS-tracking device is and how it works: A GPS tracker is a device that uses GPS technology to determine a specific object's location remotely. It consists of a GPS receiver connecting to a series of satellites to determine the device’s location. The device is portable, making it easy to place inside your car. GPS trackers utilise the same technology that is used by navigation systems found in cars or smartphones. The key difference is in the purpose. Navigation systems, such as Google Maps, help you identify your own position on a digital map and then give you driving instructions so that you can reach your destination. While GPS trackers help you identify something or someone else’s position on the map. They also give you additional data about the object you are tracking, such as how fast it is moving.
One of the best GPS trackers in Kenya—Cartrack
Now that we have covered the basics, let us show you how we are different. Here are a few reasons why we stand out from the rest:
In-house manufacturing It is important to know where your GPS tracking service provider sources the devices, as this might affect the quality of the product. At Cartrack, all our devices are developed and manufactured in-house. This allows us to give you a lifetime hardware warranty and the best quality possible, while still offering competitive pricing.
After-sales service Most vehicle tracking devices in Kenya are sold as a once-off purchase. After installation, you get access to an app and then start tracking the car by yourself. Although this sort of service might be quick, it is however not viable in the long run. The GPS tracker needs to be maintained in order to perform at its optimal level.
Cartrack has highly trained technicians who use advanced fitment techniques to ensure that your vehicle is still in top shape after the installation and that the tracking device is not easily found and disabled. We offer an after-sales service, meaning for as long as you have our device, we will be there to help with all the maintenance related to it. Once you sell your car, we will also be there to remove the device and place it into your new one.
Stolen Vehicle Recovery Should your car be stolen, rest assured we have a team of experts who specialise in vehicle recovery and a control room service that is available 24/7. Our team of experts will be on the hunt to get your car back to you as soon as you let us know.
Network coverage Instead of relying only on GPS technology (which connects to satellites) for vehicle location, we also use a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM). What is the difference? GSM works with GPS to allow data transmission over cellular networks. This means our devices have SIM cards that can connect to the nearest cellular towers, giving you more accurate updates and nationwide coverage.
Why are car trackers important?
The general crime rates have increased over the past few years, driven by inflation, which has led to more people experiencing a tough economy and resorting to crime to make ends meet. According to a report by the National Council of Administration of Justice 2024, approximately 1600 motorists lost their vehicles in the financial year of 2022 to 2023. It marks a 14.3 % increase compared to the previous year and equates to about four vehicles stolen daily. Car theft is mostly prevalent in urban areas such as Nairobi and Mombasa. For this reason, vehicle owners need to invest in vehicle tracking units for an extra layer of security.
GPS trackers also assist fleet managers in different industries to monitor vehicles’ activity and ensure optimal productivity. How? When paired with IoT (Internet of Things) technology, GPS trackers provide the ability to evaluate and record large amounts of data about time, location, speed, and direction.
The benefits of a GPS tracking device
Here’s how this powerful technology can solve some of your everyday challenges:
Improved driving habits: A GPS tracking device does more than just help you see the location of a car; it also collects information about the car’s movements and direction which is a reflection of the driver’s behaviour. This comes into great use when you own a fleet of vehicles and want to ensure that your drivers are being cautious on the road to avoid speed tickets, fatal accidents, and heavy repair costs. Furthermore, driving habits, such as speeding and harsh braking, also increase fuel usage. By carefully monitoring driver behaviour, you will also reduce the amount of money spent on fuel.
Reduced fuel misuse: Speaking of saving fuel costs, drivers sometimes do not follow planned routes and make personal stops along the way. The quickest way to spot that is through the information that comes from the GPS tracking unit. Additionally, you can get route planning software that will automatically create routes to minimise the distance travelled and fuel consumption.
Let’s say you own a fleet of taxi motorbikes. A vehicle tracking unit can help you calculate the distance travelled versus the number of refuels done throughout the day. If the taxis are going the same route every day, then there should be an estimate of how much fuel is needed per day. If the amount spent on refuelling is extremely above budget, then you will know that was some sort of fuel misuse.
Paperless documentation:Managing a fleet comes with a lot of paperwork. Things such as calculating driver working hours and payroll can take time to figure out. With a GPS tracking system, everything is digitalised, making the admin easier, saving time, increasing productivity, and eliminating human error.
Five-star reviews: Through real-time GPS tracking technology, you will always know exactly how far your vehicles are from their destination, helping you deliver accurate estimated times of arrival to your customers. This will leave your business with good reviews, as customers are always assured that their orders will arrive on time.
Easily monitoring the safety of your loved ones: If you share a car with your spouse or teenager, it is important that you know they are safe at all times. The live updates from a car tracker show you where the person driving your car is and if he/she is being cautious. They might see this as you being nosy, but at least you will know they are safe. Should there be an emergency, you will know exactly where to send help.
Tips on choosing the right GPS tracker
Let’s have a look at some of the reasons you should consider when choosing the right GPS tracker for your needs:
Purpose of use
The first thing you need to do is establish your purpose of use. A business usually has more needs and uses for a tracking system than a person with one car. For example, if you own motorbikes that transport people, you need to know where they are at all times, check how drivers are handling them, and how much fuel is used over a day. A good GPS tracking system paired with an IoT device will help you do just that and more. Choose a package that will give you as much insight into vehicle and driver productivity as possible.
Standard features
The standard features of a vehicle tracking service should be live location updates, geofence alerts, trip history, and reports detailing everything concerning vehicle use. These features should be easily accessed from anywhere through a website or mobile app.
Reliability
Signal coverage is an important factor, as already mentioned. The better the signal, the more accurate the data. The accuracy depends on factors like satellite position, weather, and the quality of the tracker. Should there be any issue, your service provider should be one with customer support that is available anytime to attend to your queries.
Cost
Choose a GPS tracking service that you can afford, but also keep in mind the long-term value. A GPS tracking device that is made with cheap material might cost you less initially, but in the long run, it will turn out to be more due to constant replacements or repairs.
Scalability
Go for a vehicle tracking company that caters to vehicles of all shapes and sizes. There should be options for both individual vehicles and large fleets. Whether you own a motorbike, SUV, van, or truck. That way, even if you own a fleet of mixed vehicles, all your vehicle tracking needs will come from one provider.
How Cartrack GPS tracking solutions make your life easier
As one of the leading companies in the vehicle tracking industry, our main goal is to give you solutions that enhance your vehicle’s safety and save you money. Here are more reasons why you can count on us to cater to all your vehicle tracking needs:
Bike Track Protect your motorbike from theft and ensure you always know where it is. Use the Cartrack mobile app to see the visibility of your bike no matter where you are. If you are using it for business, then you will know how productive or profitable it is. This solution also grants you access to stolen vehicle recovery services, like with any other vehicle.
Geofencing Create virtual fences around areas of your choice so you can get alerts whenever your vehicle enters or leaves that area. For example, you can create a geofence around the city so you know when the person using your car goes outside the city. It works the same if you have a fleet, as you can use geofences to see when drivers go outside of stipulated working areas.
Carwatch Ensure your vehicle remains exactly where you left it. Carwatch is a value-added service that helps monitor your car by giving you an alert whenever your parked car moves without your approval. All you need to do is activate the feature anytime you step out of the car so we can keep a closer eye on it.
Route reply Review past trips for insights, replay the journeys, and know the distance and duration of every trip. This can be useful for everyday work trips where you will get to see which route was shorter and less strenuous on the vehicle.
Asset tracking GPS trackers with IoT technology can also be used to monitor the location of assets such as machinery and generators, as well as evaluate labour productivity.
Use in case: Construction equipment is expensive, and most construction sites are poorly secured, making equipment theft a huge possibility. You can use an asset tracker to keep an eye on all your equipment and ensure it does not go missing. This also ensures the efficient allocation of resources, reducing costs and downtime.
Digitised logbook entries Differentiate between business and personal trips so you can make easy claims and remain tax-compliant. This awesome feature automatically logs all your vehicle trips then you can easily make them as personal or business trips. Our logbook eliminates human error and time-consuming paperwork.
Driver behaviour reports Reduce the costs caused by poor driver behaviour. Get detailed data reports of driving habits such as speeding, excessive idling, and harsh braking. This ensures that drivers are held accountable for their actions and coached for improvement.
Choose the leading providers of GPS tracking
Cartrack is a leading global GPS tracking service provider for small, medium, and large businesses, as well as consumers. We have over 2 million subscribers who trust us with their vehicles and assets, and so should you. Get in touch with our consultants and find out more about our cutting-edge mobility solutions.
Here are some Frequently Asked Questions about GPS trackers in Kenya
Q: What is the difference between a tracker and a GPS tracker? A: A tracker is a common term used to describe a device or application that monitors the location, activity, and other data of an object. It collects information such as browsing habits and IP addresses to create detailed reports about how people interact with websites or applications. In most cases, trackers are used by companies for market research so they can better understand the preferences of their clients. A GPS tracker uses satellite technology to provide live information about the location and movement of the object being tracked. It is commonly used for vehicles.
Q: What is the maximum range for GPS trackers?
A: The range of a GPS tracker depends on satellite visibility and signal strength. It is virtually limitless on the surface of Earth, as long as the GPS tracking unit can receive signals from at least four satellites. What matters the most is the conditions under which it can receive a clear signal.
For example, obstructions such as buildings, mountains, and tunnels can interfere with or block the GPS signal. Extreme weather conditions, such as heavy rain or snow, can also impact GPS signal strength.
Q: How long does it take to install a car tracker? A: The installation of a tracking unit can anywhere from take 40 minutes to an hour depending on the type of vehicle, and the product chosen.
Q: Does a GPS tracker need internet?
A: No, GPS trackers do not need to connect to the internet to determine their location. The devices can send data to the cloud, store it in internal memory or use a SIM card that can connect to the internet without the need for Wi-Fi.
There are many GPS tracking services to choose from. Finding one that best suits your needs can be difficult, but we are here to make the choice simple.
