By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

A Bahamas-based vehicle tracking start-up yesterday that apart from the security benefits of its product, it has helped local businesses increase efficiency and significantly reduce fuel costs.

Geovanie Rodgers, general manager of EZTrak GPS, which sells a real-time, web-based GPS tracking device, said that while Bahamian companies initially viewed the technology as an added expense, that perception had changed.

“Initially persons saw it as an additional expense,” Mr Rodgers said. “With one company, for instance, we installed the device in one vehicle. We helped them monitor their fuel consumption. We then installed it in their entire fleet, and all of a sudden the persons who were using the vehicles to do other things while on the job in the company vehicle, stopped.

“Fuel consumption for them has decreased tremendously. Also, businesses can get a discount on their premiums when they go to the insurance companies and tell them that they have the device installed.”

EZTrak GPS, which launched in the summer of 2014, has sold more than 700 units. The company has eight employees.

“In terms of growth we had been going door to door to businesses, identifying those who we thought had a need where our product could enhance their business and efficiency,” Mr Rodgers said.

“Fortunately for us, we were able to land a few clients with a lot of units. We have been continuing with that as our core business, but we want to now start selling to persons individually, giving persons the ability to be able to retrieve their vehicles when stolen.

“We also have an agreement with Star General, Bahamas First and RSA. As long as persons install our units, if they are not already receiving preferential rates, they will get a discount on their insurance.”

Mr Rodgers added: “We spoke to the police and they told us that some 800 vehicles were stolen last year, and that’s why they are on board. Certain cars, like Hondas, get stolen all the time, and if you can get the vehicle back shortly thereafter the chances are that they haven’t had a chance to strip the vehicle as yet.”

Explaining the technology, Mr Rodgers said: “Our units use a GPS sim card. That is how the units report. We install a device with a sim card in it and every 300 feet, every 30 seconds or every 30 degree turn, it reports its position. It’s totally web based.”