In India, public transportation is absolutely vital. The nation is, in many areas, extremely dense in terms of population. Owning an automobile is not as prevalent, or as practical, as it is in the United States. The Andhra Pradesh Road Transport Corporation is largely responsible for managing public bus transportation in India. The corporation has recently announced big improvements that citizens of India may hope to enjoy in the near future.
The addition of air conditioning to many of its bus units will be a welcome addition. Added travel to the important and growing city of Tirumala, a popular site of pilgrimage for Hindus, will be additionally wrlcome. Key to Andhra Pradesh Road Transport Corporation’s efficiency and success in the future, however, may be the integration of GPS functionality in a large portion of its fleet.
Basic Fleet Management Benefits
To any bus fleet, fleet management utilizing GPS has tremendous advantages. GPS devices are installed on vehicles and provide extremely accurate data in terms of speed and vehicle performance. When proper monitoring software and personnel are in place, notifications may be sent out when busses are speeding, braking excessively, etc. By monitoring the handling of these vehicles, maintenance costs may be lowered marginally. The benefit is more present over time, as the length of service of these vehicles are increased. The benefits in emergency situations are apparent as well: accidents, mechanical breakdowns and more may all be monitored with pinpoint precision.
Basic Fleet Management Problems
Unfortunately, the GPS revolution in terms of fleet management has had some highly publicized speed bumps, mostly due to corporate corruption. Several fleets have been scammed into installing nonfunctional GPS devices. Companies were paying good money for GPS systems that just didn’t work, and then were sacked with the bill. The functionality of GPS devices and the quality of their upkeep is absolutely critical in order to utilize these devices to maximum effectiveness.
A Promising Future for India
As India becomes progressively more affluent, citizens may be pleased as creature comforts such as air conditioning are added to public transportation. Bus fleet managers, however, may be extremely pleased as GPS fleet management makes the fleet last longer, run more efficiently and, in the long run, saves money for the company which utilizes those services.
