Is GPS Mileage Tracking as Accurate as They Say?

Ever since civilian GPS systems became fully operational in 1995, the technology has become ubiquitous in our daily lives. We use it for all sorts of things, from guiding us on an unfamiliar journey so we don’t get lost, to eagerly tracking the progress of our Uber Eats driver. 

GPS has also found its way into our business processes. For example, some companies, rightfully fed up with outdated manual methods of mileage tracking and reimbursement (Pen and paper? Please), elect to use GPS-based mileage software to track their mobile employees. These platforms function both as a way to track mobile employees’ work-related mileage for later reimbursement and to ensure that employees are exactly where they say they are. 

Sounds like a perfect example of technology making our lives easier, right? However, GPS tracking might not be the perfect solution. Let’s take a look at how GPS technology for mileage tracking works, its major flaws, and how CompanyMileage has approached business mileage tracking from a different perspective. 

What is GPS Tracking?

Global Positioning System (GPS) technology, is a multi-use radio navigation system based in dozens of space satellites owned by the US government. With origins dating back to the 1970s, today GPS technology is in…well, pretty much anything digital, from smartphones to computers to even our watches. So, it makes sense that this tech would extend to mileage tracking software as well. 

Many organizations with mobile employees who receive reimbursement for their work mileage opt to use this method. GPS-based tools can record and calculate the mileage driven by employees, help them organize routes, and communicate to their managers and supervisors that they’re where they’re supposed to be, ensuring accountability even while on the go. 

Drawbacks of Tracking Mileage With GPS

However, every rose has its thorns, and GPS tracking isn’t without its pitfalls. For one thing, although GPS technology does allow employee mileage to be easily tracked, it cannot differentiate between work-related mileage and personal mileage, such as side trips and commutes. GPS-enabled devices are also not immune to tampering or manipulation by tech-savvy employees, opening your organization up to the possibility of mileage fraud. 

Another issue with GPS technology is its inherent infallibility. A GPS-enabled device is only as effective as its access to wifi or cell service, leaving gaps in tracking data that might be difficult to fill in later. GPS apps are also notorious for draining phone batteries, which not only disrupts mileage tracking, it also leaves employees out in the field without a reliable means of communication. 

Last (but not least), using GPS to track employees’ locations over their workday might open your organization up to some uncomfortable legal and ethical questions. Your workforce might feel that their privacy is being encroached upon by being required to broadcast their location, which could have a pretty heavy impact on employee morale. Plus, if your organization isn’t careful about acquiring consent, you might be opening yourself up to future lawsuits. 

What Sets CompanyMileage Apart? 

GPS technology might seem pretty cool, but it might not be the best method for employee mileage tracking. Thankfully, there is a better way with CompanyMileage! Our reimbursement software, SureMileage, uses a unique point-to-point approach to calculate trip mileage for reimbursement. Employees simply enter the starting and ending points of their work trip, and SureMileage automatically determines the most direct route between them, and from there, mileage for reimbursement.

The entire process is automated, so your hard-working employees can focus on doing their jobs to the best of their abilities. All they have to do is check in via our SureMobile app at the beginning and end of each trip, and at the end of the day submit any relevant receipts. 

Plus, unlike GPS tracking systems, our SureExpense module tracks other expenses besides mileage for employee reimbursement, such as parking, tolls, and meals. 

Ready to make mileage tracking simple, fast and efficient, and maybe even safe money in the process? Contact CompanyMileage today to learn more!