Geotab Review: Pros & Cons, Features, Ratings, Pricing and more

Geotab offers hardware and software services for fleet management. It was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Oakville, Canada. It is one of the largest telematics outfits in the world and was also the first company to surpass two million connected vehicles built on a single, open platform. It currently has over 4 million vehicles connected from over 47,000 companies.

Geotab offers a range of fleet tracking solutions, including Go devices for real-time tracking that can be easily installed with a plug-and-play connection, and MyGeotab software. These solutions provide businesses with the information they need to improve efficiency, stay compliant with regional regulations, and enhance driver safety. 

Geotab: Plans and pricing

While most other companies involved in fleet management services or tracking equipment, sell their solutions directly to the end customers, Geotab takes a different approach. Rather, it operates through a network of resellers. 

A shortcoming of Geotab is that it does not list any plans, pricing, or contact information online. This provides resellers the option to offer additional features by including software based on the fleet manager’s requirement. Therefore, the pricing and the contract may vary for each customer. 

Geotab’s solution, on the other hand, can support all compliance requirements, and the company offers a standard one-year warranty with Go devices. Additionally, with the ProPlus plan, this warranty can be extended for an additional year. The Geotab Go device requires an upfront payment followed by a recurring monthly payment for the service.

Since pricing can vary from case to case, it is best to contact the company or reach out to the nearest reseller directly to get a direct quote for your particular business requirements. To initiate contact, check out the sales section on the website where you'll find a contact portal.

Geotab: Features

The company offers multiple plans with different features, but live GPS tracking is only available with the top-tier ProPlus plan. The other plans are Base, Regulatory (HoS), and Pro.

The software, MyGeotab, is a cloud-based solution that can be accessed through any web browser. This makes it platform-independent, so it can be used on any operating system or device that can run a browser.

The MyGeotab dashboard provides administrators with all the data they need at a glance, including real-time vehicle location, speed, fuel consumption, and other key metrics. It also offers a variety of reports, such as driver scorecards, Hours of Service (HoS), driver productivity, and more, with an easy drag-and-drop customization option.

Additionally, MyGeotab claims an SDK that provides a collection of tools for working with car data, allowing integration with hardware or systems from other companies. If you already own a tracking device, pairing it with the dashboard is a simple task. This can help businesses avoid issues associated with replacing outdated equipment while enjoying a substantial upfront cost reduction.

The Geotab website's marketplace section offers a plethora of add-on solutions. These ready to use solutions allow fleet management companies to add specific features to meet their requirements.

Going beyond the MyGeotab dashboard, drivers can use the Geotab Drive app to complete vehicle inspections, messaging, and more. Compliant with FMSCA standards as part of the Geotab ELD cloud system, the app is compatible with both iOS and Android. Despite this, the ratings are modest, especially the iOS version, which has a 2.5 out of 5-star rating and complaints about its impact on battery life.

This user-friendly mobile app allows drivers to effortlessly log their work hours, eliminating the hassles of paperwork. It also enables them to stay connected with their administrators while on the go. Additionally, administrators can offer real-time feedback and coaching to drivers through the in-vehicle driver feedback feature.

Numerous user testimonials posted online indicate that MyGeotab is quite user-friendly with a straightforward interface. Multiple businesses even state in those reports that they were able to more effectively optimize their spending by monitoring drivers, achieving cost reductions in real-time.

Additionally, a few businesses have claimed that they were able to teach errant drivers through the aid of driver scorecards after using Geotab to identify those who were not following efficient routes.

All that said, some reviews have reported random inconsistencies in driver’s duty functions. This can result in unnecessary delays, wait periods, and even disciplinary action against drivers.

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As for the hardware products offered by Geotab, the website puts the spotlight on its standout product: Geotab Go. Geotab Go is a plug-and-play device that connects to the vehicle's OBDII port. Once connected, it can record data such as vehicle status, engine idle times, route distance and time, vehicle speed, and even collisions. Moreover, it supports various add-ons available in the market to enhance its functionality. 

Geotab: Support

Geotab, which sells its products through resellers, does not offer direct customer support. There is no direct contact number on the website for customers to call. Instead, the website directs customers to the nearest authorized reseller, who can handle basic inquiries and even driver training, if necessary. Geotab also offers a Support Center that provides access to documents and guides, along with a community forum connecting users with product experts.

Geotab’s hardware products come with extensive DIY guides to set them up and the company expects customers to install the devices on their own. We did not find any ebooks, video content, or webinars to help users.

Geotab: Final verdict

Geotab is a one-of-a-kind provider with a unique business model. This has both advantages and disadvantages. Customization and flexibility are two of the advantages, but customer support and lack of transparent pricing are major drawbacks. Because direct support is entirely dependent on resellers, your experience may vary, as may the pricing and contract.

Geotab's dashboard is easy to navigate, and the platform's openness stands out as a positive feature. The brand's solid reputation and favorable user reviews further contribute to its widespread popularity.

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