Several security companies across South Africa have started using the Qic-Loc portable tracker, supplied by asset management and consumer solutions provider QCIC, to track the movement of their security vehicles and personnel.

The Qic-Loc is a multifunctional plug-and-play device, equipped with an electronic logbook that tracks and records a vehicle’s time and location of departure, travel time, and time and location of arrival using a global positioning system (GPS).

This allows for the monitoring of company staff, to manage unexplained absenteeism, and cargo, in the event of theft.

QCIC director Brian McKenzie explains that companies use the tracker to optimise security because it helps them monitor their on-duty security guards when they are on the road.

The device provides information on the movement of vehicles and security guards to determine whether they are patrolling the right areas at the right time and for the duration of time they are required to do so.

McKenzie tells Engineering News that several small security companies that guard housing estates are supplying their fleets and guards with the tracker and that security companies J&M Security, in Mpumalanga, and Omega Security, in Gauteng, are QCIC’s biggest clients.

Qic-Loc
Qic-Loc has four different modes: power-save, normal, high-power and super-track mode. The power-save mode does not provide live tracking, but records every 30 km or 40º bearing change and sends the data once the device is stationary for longer than 180 seconds.

The normal mode does the same but records change made every 3 km.

High-power mode sends live messages with every 3 km or 40º bearing change based on GPS coordinates, while super-track mode sends live messaging based on the user-specified configuration of the tracking device, for example, every 50 m.

Travel, transportation and logistics companies EPS Courier Services, City Couriers and Imperial Cargo Logistics use QCIC’s Qic-Loc device for cargo protection purposes.

Further, QCIC is in partnership with security, surveillance and air charter service provider Capital Air for vehicle and cargo recovery in the case of cargo theft or hijacking.

Vehicle tracking and fleet management solutions providers C-track and MixTelematics provide products similar to the Qic-Loc.