Why Innovation Matters in Battery-Powered GPS Tracking

There’s an old saying, “If you’re not growing, you’re dying.” That saying could be revised with technology companies to “if you’re not innovating, you’re dying.” The companies that choose to sit idle, content to continue to sell the same thing year after year, are the ones who get left behind.

It’s easy to take batteries for granted because they’re everywhere: our phones, kitchen gadgets, smoke detectors. But batteries are remarkable things and technological innovation continues to be a game-changer in the auto industry, especially when it comes to battery-powered GPS trackers. Here’s why battery-powered GPS innovation matters to the automotive industry.

GPS DEVICE SMALLER THAN A DECK OF CARDS

Battery innovation means GPS tracking devices can get smaller. How small? >PassTime’s Encore device is smaller than a deck of cards. These advancements in battery technology – making physical batteries smaller while maintaining or increasing the actual power capabilities of the battery - allow manufacturers to produce overall smaller GPS tracking devices. The small form factor and the fact that there are no wires in a battery-powered GPS device means you can install it virtually anywhere that isn’t obstructed by metal: It’s discreet and takes mere seconds to install. This gives customers more options on where to place the device in a vehicle, but also opens opportunities to track assets beyond vehicles, that previously would have been impossible.

LONGER BATTERY LIFE

Innovations in battery technology have made battery-powered GPS trackers more energy efficient, consuming the least amount of power possible. This means your batterypowered GPS tracker can stay on the road longer—up to several years, in fact. With smaller, longer lasting battery technology, Encore can provide reliable use for up to 4+ years without ever needing to be recharged. With regular check-ins with the servers, customers can monitor battery life of the device without wondering whether the device is still working.

POWER MANAGEMENT

In addition to the advancements in the hardware of the battery itself, engineering innovations in power management can help extend your GPS device’s battery life even further. Encore’s cutting-edge power modes were designed and perfected to provide customers with four power mode choices, each a balance between battery life and frequency of location data. Because each time data is communicated between the device and the servers uses power, and therefore battery-life, Encore power modes give customers the choice to adjust the device’s power mode as needed for the situation at hand. Customer paying on time, and all is well? Keep it in Endurance mode. Vehicle out for recovery? Dial it to Recovery Mode to speed the recovery process.

DUAL LOCATION TECHNOLOGIES

While GPS location technology has and continues to be the primary method to obtaining location data in the IoT and asset tracking industry, innovations in this space are setting PassTime’s Encore apart from others. PassTime’s new, Beyond GPS™ service, goes beyond the standard GPS location technology and incorporates a secondary location technology called POLTE (position over LTE), which utilizes cellular location technology to provide location data. PassTime can now provide customers with dual location technologies, GPS and Polte, for unprecedented indoor and outdoor visibility in the automotive industry. This is particularly useful in the instance in which location data is unavailable via GPS, perhaps if the asset is in a parking structure, garage, building or under any type of overhead obstruction. With PassTime’s Beyond GPS service, if a GPS location is unavailable for any reason, customers will be provided location insights quickly and seamlessly using Polte’s patented cloud-based cellular location technology.

There’s an old saying “if you’re not growing, you’re dying.” With technology companies, that saying could be revised to “if you’re not innovating, you’re dying.” The companies that choose to sit idle, content to continue to sell the same thing, year after year are the ones who get left behind. Those that continue to innovate, design, and develop new products, solutions and technology are the ones who stay in the game. While GPS technology has been around for decades in the automotive industry, leading GPS provider PassTime continues to innovate with new products, software, and features that provide customers with ongoing benefit to their businesses.

PassTime is a leading Location Solutions Provider and has been in business for over 30 years. Using advanced GPS, Cellular and Automated Collection Technologies, PassTime’s solutions help auto dealers and finance companies mitigate the risk of financing by helping improve default and delinquent payments and facilitate an easier repossession process. With PassTime solutions, customers can experience higher rates of return on financing based upon improved customer payment performance. PassTime prides itself on a 24/7 Live Customer Care and its reputation of sustained industry leadership with its innovative products and services. For more information, visit passtimegps.com or call 877.727.7846. Find us on Facebook at PassTimeGPS or Linkedin at: PassTime.