Entrepreneur Plus - Short White
For Subscribers

Stay on TrackGPS-equipped cell phones are the latest way to keep tabs on mobile employees.

ByAmanda C. Kooser

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

If you could check on the location of your employees, would you? GPS-equipped cell phones make that possible--and they're more affordable than fixed GPS systems.Nextelis the main provider, but expect other carriers to get onboard this year.

Brian Gratch, principal at wireless consulting firm Gratch Associates in Evanston, Illinois, refers to these capabilities as "track and trace." Growing businesses with delivery drivers or workers in the field will find this technology appealing. "The attraction for small businesses is in productivity, cost control, the ability to optimize a route, and accountability," says Gratch.

That latter attraction is particularly important. GPS-enabled phones can help businesses keep track of mileage for tax purposes and verify employees are where they're supposed to be. But employees may feel like Big Brother is watching. Gratch recommends that you carefully spell out why you're using the devices and how they work. Employees should know when they're being tracked.

This is a subscriber-only article. Join Entrepreneur+today for access

Editor's Pick

Related Topics

Business Solutions

This PDF Tool Lets You Edit and More — and It's Just $30 Through EOD Today

It's the last day to get this handy productivity tool.

领导

Young Workers Don't Want to Become Managers — and This Study Uncovers the Reason Why.

The average person has no interest in becoming a manager anymore, and the missing middle is putting companies at risk.

Business News

Jeff Bezos Becomes His Own Neighbor, Purchases $78 Million Florida Mansion Next Door

The billionaire bought another house in the same Florida neighborhood in August.