5 questions to ask when looking for a GPS tracker supplier
The global market for GPS trackers is expanding rapidly — reaching about $12 billion in 2024, according to Grand View Research — and is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 8.5% by 2030. Against this backdrop, companies and individuals around the world are increasingly demanding reliable suppliers. However, international sourcing presents unique challenges: regulatory barriers, hidden costs and after-sales gaps in different regions can turn a“Good deal” into a financial disaster. Whether you’re a fleet manager in North , a logistics company in Europe, or an e-commerce seller in Southeast Asia, asking the right questions is the key to picking the right suppliers. Here are five essential questions to ask during the selection process.
Question 1: Do your products meet certification and compliance standards in the target region?
Compliance is the first line of defense for multinational procurement of GPS trackers. Different markets have strict regulatory requirements and non-compliant products can be seized by customs, face fines and even trigger legal liability. For global purchasers, ignoring certification not only results in economic losses, but can also lead to project delays.
Core certifications to be verified in each region
North : FCC certification is mandatory for all radio-frequency devices, including GPS trackers, and shipments that lack it are held at the -CANADA border. For commercial fleets, attention should also be paid to ISO 9001(Quality Management System) and ISO 14001-EnvironmentalnManagementmSystem-RRB-tem) certification to ensure consistency of production standards.
Europe: the CE mark is a required certification to indicate compliance with the EU Directive on Health, Safety and environmental protection. Equally crucial for electronics is the RoHS directive, which bans the use of toxic substances such as lead and mercury in electrical and electronic equipment. European purchasers should also check ETSI certification to ensure that products are compatible with the 4G/5G networks of local operators such as Vodafone and Orange.
Asia-pacific: Australia requires ACMA certification, while Japan requires TELEC certification. In Southeast Asia, certification by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Certification Body -ASEANSNCB NCB) simplifies intraregional cross-border trade.
How can compliance be verified?
Don’t take a supplier’s word for it. Instead, ask for:
A copy of the certification document with a valid period and a unique certification number (e. g. FCC ID, CE certificate number) ;
Links to public databases of certification bodies (E. G. FCC Equipment Authorization System, EU Nando database) for cross-validation of certification numbers;
A statement of conformity (Doc) , which has the force of law and binds the supplier to ensure that the product conforms to the agreed standards.
Q2: does your product meet our technical requirements? Do you provide customized service?
GPS trackers are not a one-size-fits-all product. Trackers for pet safety are ill-suited to the logistics demands of cold chains-cryogenic supply chains used to transport perishable goods-and devices for urban fleets can fail in remote locations such as the Australian Outback. Technology mismatches can lead to wasted investment, so product performance versus customisation capabilities must be defined.
Core technical parameters to be confirmed
Positioning accuracy: the positioning accuracy in outdoor scenarios (using GPS/GLONASS/Galilean moons) should be 1-3 meters for commercial applications such as fleet tracking. For indoor scenarios such as warehouse storage, ask if the tracker supports Bluetooth 5.0 or WI-FI assisted positioning (a way to improve positioning accuracy with WI-FI signals) to avoid signal blind spots.
Battery life and power supply:
On-board tracker: verify compatibility with OBD-II interface (second generation interface for on-board Diagnostics, standard interface for North n and European vehicles) or 12V/24V truck batteries;
Portable trackers (for hikers, pets) : choose a lithium-ion battery with a 2-4 week standby time in hourly update mode. A UK pet rescue organisation refused to accept a tracker from a supplier because it lasted only three days (far too long to meet the needs of stray dogs in the wild) .
Network compatibility: the global purchaser must confirm that the equipment supports the network frequency band in the target area. For example:
North : At & T/Verizon LTE-M (B2, B4, B12) ;
Europe: needs to adapt Vodafone, Telefonica B1, B3, B7 band;
Avoid buying equipment that only supports 2G networks, which are being phased out globally (e.g. , at & T will shut down its 2G network in 2022 and T-Mobile in 2024) .
Customization: when standard products can’t meet demand
Many businesses require personalized features. For example:
A Canadian cold chain enterprise requires the tracker to be equipped with a temperature sensor (measuring range-30 °C to 50 °C) and to alarm in real time when the temperature exceeds 8 °C -LRB-the safety threshold of perishable goods) ;
A South African mining company needs trackers with IP68 dust rating and impact resistance to adapt to the harsh environment of underground mining areas.
The following questions can be asked of the supplier:
What customization options are available? (e.g. , sensor integration, firmware adjustments, branding of device appearance)
Lead Time for custom orders? (small volume orders usually take 4-8 weeks)
Minimum order quantity (Moq) ? (most suppliers require more than 500 sets and a one-time fee of $3,000-$10,000) .
Question 3: What is included in the complete cost structure? Are there hidden costs?
Lower unit prices often hide unexpected costs — shipping, tariffs, mold fees, software subscriptions and so on — that can increase total spending by 20% to 50% . Global buyers must move beyond“Unit price thinking” and require suppliers to provide fully transparent cost breakdowns.
Typical cost components (with examples)
Equipment unit price: according to the order quantity and configuration of different differences. Take the standard 4G LTE-M car tracker:
100-500: $18-$25
500-1,000 units: $15-$18
More than 1,000 units: $12-$15.
Mold opening/customizing fee: as mentioned above, customizing the housing or sensor will cost an additional $3,000-$10,000. be wary of suppliers hiding this fee in the contract terms.
Transportation fee:
By Sea -ChinahinaLos Angeleseles) : $1,200 to $1,800 for a 20-foot container (about 5,000 tags can fit) , or about $0.30 each;
Airfreight (China to London) : US $4-6 per kg (500 orders for about 100 kg, US $400-600 freight) .
Tariff cost: calculated by HS code (GPS Tracker HS code 90291090) , as shown below:
United States: tariff rate 2.5% (e.g. $15,000 order, $375)
EU: Tariffs on products from countries that have trade agreements with the EU, such as Vietnam, are 0% , and tariffs on products from non-agreement countries, such as China, are 4.7% .
Software subscription: most trackers rely on cloud platforms to store and analyse data. Some suppliers will be“Free hardware” as a gimmick, in fact, charged $3-8 per month per software fee. If you buy 1,000 devices, you’ll spend $36,000 to $96,000 a year on software, far more than you spend on hardware.
How to avoid hidden costs?
Ask your supplier to provide a detailed cost breakdown in writing, including:
All one-time costs (mold opening fee, equipment commissioning fee) ;
Recurring costs (software subscription, equipment maintenance) ;
Freight and tariff estimates (with corresponding HS codes)
Payment terms (e.g. 30% advance payment, 70% pre-shipment payment, or letter of credit) .
Question 4: What after-sales service and warranty policies do you provide?
GPS tracker malfunctions can have serious consequences — lost contact with delivery vehicles, spoiled cold-chain cargo, missing hikers. Poor after-sales service can turn a small problem into a crisis, so global buyers need to make sure suppliers can quickly fix the problem across time zones.
Core after-sales indicators to be verified
Warranty period: the industry standard warranty period is 1 year. Further enquiries:
Does the warranty cover all operating regions of the world?
Does it provide replacement or repair services?
Technical Support Capabilities:
Language services: do you provide english-speaking Customer Service? (vital for non-chinese buyers)
Response time: Can you respond to a question within 24 hours? A logistics company in Singapore lost 10 shipments after its Chinese supplier took five days to respond
Software Update Service: Do you offer free firmware/software updates during the warranty period? Outdated software can cause compatibility issues such as devices not being able to connect to new 5G networks.
Q5: How Stable is your supply chain? Is delivery on schedule?
Since 2020, global supply chain problems such as chip shortages and port congestion have continued to plague the electronics industry. Suppliers with weak supply chains may not be able to deliver on time, leading to project stagnation. In 2022, for example, a US car rental company lost $500,000 in revenue when it delayed fleet expansion by two months because its suppliers could not procure GPS chips.
Key points of supply chain stability verification
Core component purchasing capability: Ask Suppliers:
Are there 2-3 alternative suppliers for key components (e.g. GPS chips, batteries) ? (good suppliers reduce risk by sourcing from multiple sources)
How long can parts be kept in stock? (choose a supplier with 4-6 weeks of spare parts in stock to cover short-term shortages) .
Production capacity:
What is the monthly production capacity? (to match orders, e. g. a supplier with a monthly capacity of 10,000 units can fill an order for 5,000 units in 2 weeks)
Is there a back-up line? (to reduce the risk of delays due to a single line failure) .
Lead Time:
Lead times for standard orders? (noncustomized products typically take 3-4 weeks)
CAN emergency orders be handled? (such orders typically command a 20-30 per cent premium if 100 units are delivered in a week.) .
Conclusion: build purchasing confidence with problems
Cross-border procurement of GPS trackers requires a balance between cost, quality, and reliability. By asking these five questions-around compliance, technology fit, cost transparency, after-sales service, and supply chain stability-you can screen out high-risk suppliers, find partners that match your long-term goals.
Remember: the best supplier isn’t always the lowest bidder. Suppliers who can provide clear certification documents, on-demand customization, open all costs, quick after-sales response and stable delivery can save you time, cost and effort in the long-term cooperation. After selecting 2-3 alternative suppliers, it is recommended to verify their commitment by placing a small order (e. g. 50-100 units) . With the right partner, GPS trackers could become a tool for efficiency rather than a source of operational headaches.
