If you’re looking for an unbiased and comprehensive review of Google Cloud, specifically for fleets and vehicle tracking, then you’re in the right place.
Google Cloud can provide customers with a range of tracking and navigation tools, such as routes, directions and customised maps.
This could help you to better plan and boost the productivity of your business while being cost-effective and accurate.
In this review, you’ll find out what you need to know about Google Cloud for use in fleets and vehicle tracking, such as how these tools could help you and customer reviews.
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What’s in this guide?
Who is Google?
Google is possibly one of the most famous companies in the entire world, with a search engine which is used over a billion times each month, which is calculated by the power of over a million computers.
Yes, really.
This goliath of a company is now worth over 367 billion dollars and has operations in 50 countries, with thousands of employees who speak many different languages and specialise in areas such as design, development and marketing.
They provide their customers with a range of services and products, ranging from their well-known search engine, to pay per click advertisements, Google assistants and Google maps.
Each one of their products can help you to see more insights into your business, such as how your ads are performing and how you can target more customers.
Google Cloud Costs and Fees
When it comes to Google Cloud costs and fees, these figures will usually depend on the volume of use per use, as they offer a recurring $200 credit each month for your account, so you’ll only be charged once you use more than this amount.
This means that you could use Google Cloud and its products effectively for free.
Here are some of the prices associated with the Google Cloud functionalities for route and vehicle tracking.
Unfortunately, Google Cloud doesn’t offer exact prices in GDP, but you will receive a conversion when you calculate your costs in the console.
Product |
0 – 100,000 Volume Price |
100,001 – 500,000 Volume Price |
Mobile Static Map | $0 | $0 |
Mobile Dynamic Map | $0 | $0 |
Static Map | $2 | $1.60 |
Dynamic Map | $7 | $5.60 |
Static Street View | $7 | $5.60 |
Dynamic Street View | $14 | $11.20 |
Directions | $5 | $4 |
Roads – Route Travelled | $10 | $8 |
Geocoding | $5 | $4 |
Geolocation | $5 | $4 |
Time Zone | $5 | $4 |
For Google Cloud pricing, it’s important to notice that your costs will depend entirely on the volume of use of a certain function.
An example is, if you use the geolocation function between 0 and 100,000 times in a month, it will cost you $5, while if you use it between 100,0001 times up to a total of 500,000, it will only cost you $4.
You will only be charged this amount when you exceed the free $200 credit that you will receive from Google every month.
Google Cloud Core Services
Google Cloud offers customers a wide range of organisational and planning tools, such as viewing dynamic maps, planning the best routes and storing location data for over 150 million locations.
This can help you to identify the best routes for your drivers better, and track your assets regardless of where they are.
Maps
With customisable maps from Google Cloud, you can view data and information for locations in over 200 countries, with real-time data that is updated over 25 million times daily.
This means that when you look for a location, you will only be seeing the most up to date information, so you can better plan your day and business activities.
For instance, when you are running a fleet, you can highlight your headquarters and your driver’s destination so your employees can see clearly where they need to go and the route they need to take.
As well as being able to see real-time traffic updates and congestion.
This high quality and comprehensive range of information on offer can give you high-resolution satellite imagery, which can give your employees a more detailed view of their routes and destinations.
✔ Constantly updates information
✔ Highlight locations and routes
✔ Global coverage
✔ 1 billion users worldwide
✔ Customise your maps
✔ Utilise reliable data
✔ Allows you to scale your business
Routes
The routes function from Google Cloud is specifically designed and developed for planning your routes in real time, with live traffic updates, directions and estimated arrival times as well.
For drivers, this means being able to see precisely when they should be arriving at their destination, which could be particularly useful for courier services, as you can update your customers in real time.
Or, for fleets of vehicles transporting goods long distances, you can quickly divert your drivers to quicker routes at a moments notice.
So, when you see traffic beginning to form, you can find an alternative route.
This could help you to save significantly on both time, and your fuel consumption costs, as well as learning which routes often take the most time or have lots of congestion problems.
Being able to adapt to new scenarios can help you to strengthen your brand image and reliability, and improve your customer reputation.
✔ Divert vehicles
✔ Plan routes
✔ Update your customers
✔ Real-time traffic updates
✔ Find alternative paths
✔ Improve customer reviews
✔ Calculate ETA times
✔ Reduce your costs
Places
The places function from Google Cloud allows you to view detailed data and information about millions of locations across the globe, such as restaurants, cinemas, business locations and service stations.
You can benefit from being able to send your drivers accurate information about the destination and the address, which can also be used to invoice your customers accurately.
This can also help your customers to find your location and leave you reviews, to help other customers make smart choices about their purchases.
There is the option to combine the places function with routes and maps, to give a balanced view of your local area as well as your future destinations.
✔ Get accurate addresses
✔ Send information to your drivers
✔ Help your customers find you
✔ Combine with related software
✔ See information about your planned goals
✔ Allow your customers to leave reviews
Asset Tracking
If you want to track your assets and benefit from the Google Cloud products, their asset tracking option means you can track your vehicles, plan routes, divert vehicles and manage your whole fleet at once.
This is an incredibly useful tool for fleet managers, as you will be able to view real-time information and identify areas of improvement.
Such as finding the best routes, seeing the conditions of the roads in real time and schedule your underused assets for trips or maintenance.
✔ Track assets
✔ Plan routes
✔ Manage fleets
✔ See road conditions
✔ Schedule maintenance
✔ Find the best courses
✔ See location data
Google Cloud Reviews
Google Cloud has an excellent 4.5/5 rating on Capterra, which is out of a total of 1,171 individual reviews from both individuals and companies who have used the software.
They have many positive reviews which point out both the pros of the platform, as well as the areas of improvement.
Many of these reviews state that overall, the software is intelligent, simplifies processes and allows better management of fleets.
However, they also state that this software can be challenging to use at first, because of how many functions it offers.
Positive Google Cloud Review
Richard I. on Capterra: I’ve enjoyed using this product. It makes development time faster, and it integrates very well with a wide range of Google Cloud / API products.
Negative Google Cloud Review
Jay A. on Capterra: It’s a vast expanse of software development to wrap one’s focus about.
Google Cloud Customer Support
Do you need to get in touch with Google, and have some of your further questions answered by one of their experts?
Here’s how you can get in touch.
- Call 020 7031 3000 for the Google offices at 6 Pancras Square, London
- Ring 020 7031 3001 for the Google offices at Belgrave House, London
- Call 020 7031 3000 for the Google offices at St Giles High Street, London
- Fill out the quick and easy contact form here
Or, you can find Google at this address:
1-13 St Giles High Street
London
WC2H 8AG
United Kingdom
Comparing Google Cloud
Company |
Customer Score |
Software Flexibility |
Price |
Google Cloud | ★★★★ | ★★★★★ | Free + |
Tracker | ★★★ | ★★★★★ | £462 |
Rewire Security | ★★★★ | ★★★★ | £130 |
Back2You | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | £150 |
Tracker Fit | ★★★★ | ★★★★★ | £199 |
Conclusion
In conclusion, Google Cloud has an excellent range of solutions on offer, which can help you to manage your vehicles as well as your fleets.
Have you learnt what you need to know about Google Cloud?
Do you want to compare all of your vehicle tracking options?
Why not fill out the quick and easy form you can find at the top of the page?
Or, you could take a look at some of the comprehensive ExpertSure guides here.
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Google Cloud Review
Final Verdict
Google Cloud is an intelligent platform which offers customers a highly rated solution, which allows users to plan the routes for your vehicles, track your assets and view information about locations.
Pros
✔ Excellent customer score
✔ Low pricing
✔ Flexible software
Cons
✗ Doesn’t show pricing in local currency
✗ Might be difficult to use initially