Companies turn to GPS smartphone technology to track business travelers

Companies have been using itinerary tracking tools for years to figure out where their travelers should be. Now GPS technology is helping travel programs assist travelers even faster by pinpointing their exact location.

Mobile device tracking can be used in several ways. First is passive tracking. Travelers are tracked if they request the service, such as by hitting a designated panic button on their phone. In an emergency situation, a company also can switch the tracking from passive to active.

Second is active tracking, in which a security team monitors the traveler’s position constantly to ensure he does not move anywhere unexpected, for example by deviating from a planned driving route.