Geofences are virtual boundaries drawn on a map that trigger automatic alerts when a tracked vehicle or asset enters or exits the defined area. Geofencing is one of the most popular and powerful tools in fleet management.

What is a Geofence?

A geofence is a virtual perimeter around a real-world geographic area — such as a depot, customer site, worksite, or restricted zone. Datalink’s platform allows you to draw geofences of any shape and size directly on a map using polygon or circle tools.

Types of Geofence Alerts

Datalink supports the following geofence alert types:

• Entry Alert: Notified when a vehicle enters the geofenced area.
• Exit Alert: Notified when a vehicle leaves the geofenced area.
• Entry and Exit: Notified on both events.
• Time-Based Alerts: Notified if a vehicle remains inside or outside a geofence for longer than a defined period.

Common Geofence Use Cases

• Depot Arrivals and Departures: Know exactly when vehicles leave or return to base.
• Customer Site Visits: Confirm when your team arrives at and departs from customer locations for proof-of-delivery or billing purposes.
• Restricted Zone Monitoring: Alert when vehicles enter areas they are not permitted to access.
• After-Hours Security: Trigger an alert if a vehicle leaves a depot or yard outside of business hours.
• Compliance: Ensure vehicles remain within approved operating zones.

How to Create a Geofence in Datalink

1. Log in to your Datalink tracking platform.
2. Navigate to the Geofences or Zones section.
3. Click ‘Create New Geofence’ and select your drawing tool (polygon or circle).
4. Draw the boundary on the map.
5. Name the geofence and assign it to the relevant vehicle group.
6. Configure alert conditions and notification recipients.
7. Save the geofence.

Tips for Effective Geofencing

• Draw geofences slightly larger than the physical area to account for GPS position variation.
• Use descriptive names that include the location (e.g., “Melbourne Depot – Entry/Exit”).
• Review alert frequency and adjust geofence size if you are receiving too many false alerts.

Contact Datalink at 03 7064 0515 for assistance setting up geofences.