Choosing the most suitable equipment tracking device for your rental business can be tough but vital. I can guarantee that Apple’s AirTags will come onto your radar at some point during your search. They are quickly becoming a near-ubiquitous solution for finding things, but can they work for a rental company tracking large equipment all over? Can they replace a dedicated GPS solution? Let’s find out.

Tech: AirTags vs. GPS Devices 

What makes an AirTag tick? What makes a GPS device tick? Why does this matter?

AirTags are Bluetooth tracking devices that emit a signal. This signal can connect to other devices connected to Apple’s “Find My” network. The location is then calculated by the strength of the AirTags signal, according to those devices. A stronger signal means the AirTag is close; weaker means further away.

That calculated position is then uploaded to the cloud and pinned to a map for location. You can then use an iPhone 11 or newer to locate the tag. Or, you can request that the tag makes a beeping alarm, allowing you to find the tag.

This type of locating relies on three things. 

1. The AirTag must be active and emitting a signal. 
2. An iPhone to locate the tag must be present.
3. The AirTag must be within 33 feet of an iPhone or other device currently connected to the “Find My” network to register its location.

The third point is the key one we will circle back to.

GPS devices use similar tech but at a more independent scale. GPS devices connect to the satellite network and compare their internal clock to the satellites. This allows the device to learn its current longitude and latitude, giving it its location. It will then send that data back to a server to the user as part of a software solution. Our trackers use cellular networks to transmit this data; most trackers do this. Some specialized trackers use satellites to transmit, but they are not the norm.

GPS trackers also require three things to work, the satellite network, a cellular connection, and a powered tracker.

Which should I use to track my equipment?

When trying to find an equipment tracking device, the thing that stands out to me is the AirTags reliance on Apple-connected devices being within 33 feet of the AirTag to be able to calculate its location. That is tricky to be sure of when the equipment may be on remote or unattended sites. When the staff leaves, it is arguably more important to have an accurate location, and the AirTag will struggle there.

GPS can provide that location, even when the device is left unattended. The negative for GPS devices is the reliance on cellular connectivity. This does limit the effectiveness in specific locations, no matter how broad or advanced the network connectivity may be.

Another spec to consider is battery life; AirTags usually last one year with 4 location updates per day. GPS devices can be wired directly to the equipment, eliminating the need for battery maintenance.

The third main thing is most GPS devices' specialized software. AirTags are great for finding things like keys, or other small lost items that remain in your orbit. You do not need any more data than the primary location.

When tracking heavy rental equipment, you need to see more data points than that. You might need to review uptime, historical movement, fuel usage, etc. GPS tracking solutions can collect these data points. Include the ability to set alarms and notifications based on data collected by GPS devices, and you start to see the advantages GPS can provide.