LWAYSUser manual · 557 KB
OpenVenus Basic Tracking User Manual
Core navigation, dashboard usage, live vehicle tracking, and essential account workflows.
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Clear, practical guidance for setting up Venus, tracking your fleet, and turning live data into action.
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Guide 01
Getting Started
Get up and running with Venus in minutes. This section walks you through account access, first-time login, and navigating the dashboard.
01
Logging In
Navigate to venus.trackalways.cloud and enter your credentials. If you are a new user, your administrator will have sent you an invitation email with a temporary password.
02
Dashboard Overview
After login you land on the main dashboard. Here you will see fleet summary cards showing total vehicles, active/idle/offline counts, fuel alerts, and recent activity. Each widget is clickable and takes you to the detailed module.
03
Personalizing Your Workspace
Click the gear icon in the top-right corner to access Settings. You can switch between Dark Mode and Light Mode, choose your preferred language, set your default map location, and configure notification preferences.
Guide 02
Live Map & Vehicle Tracking
The Live Map is the operational heart of Venus. Monitor every vehicle in real time with sub-15-second updates, geofence overlays, and smart clustering.
01
Navigating the Map
Pan, zoom, and rotate the map using mouse or touch gestures. Use the search bar in the top-left to find a specific vehicle by plate number or driver name. The map automatically clusters nearby vehicles at wider zoom levels for clarity.
02
Vehicle Pins & Status Colors
Each vehicle is represented by a pin colored by its status: green for moving, amber for idle, red for stopped, and grey for offline. Hover over any pin to see a quick-info tooltip with speed, heading, driver name, and last update time.
03
Points of Interest (POIs)
Toggle POIs on and off from the layers panel. Add custom POIs such as fuel stations, client sites, or rest areas. POIs appear as labeled markers on the map and can be used in geofence and reporting rules.
04
Setting a Default Location
Click the crosshair icon or go to Settings → Map → Default Location. This sets the initial center and zoom level every time you open the map, so you always start with a view of your most important operational area.
Guide 03
Vehicle Details & Actions
Drill into any vehicle to see real-time telemetry, trip history, engine diagnostics, and perform remote actions.
01
Opening Vehicle Details
Click any vehicle pin on the map or select it from the fleet list. The details panel slides in from the right showing current speed, fuel level, odometer, engine status, and GPS signal strength.
02
Trip History & Playback
Select a date range to view completed trips. Each trip shows start/end time, distance, max speed, fuel consumed, and idle duration. Use the playback slider to replay the trip on the map with animated movement.
03
Remote Actions
Authorized users can perform remote commands: immobilize the vehicle (cut fuel relay), send a text message to the driver, or request a current position update. All actions are logged in the audit trail.
04
Engine Diagnostics (CAN-Bus)
For vehicles with CAN-Bus integration, the diagnostics tab shows engine RPM, coolant temperature, battery voltage, fuel consumption rate, and Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs). This data helps predict maintenance needs before breakdowns occur.
Guide 04
Alerts & Notifications
Stay ahead of issues with configurable alerts. Venus sends instant notifications for speeding, geofence breaches, fuel drops, maintenance schedules, and more.
01
Creating Alert Rules
Go to Alerts → Rules → Add New Rule. Choose the trigger type (speed, geofence entry/exit, fuel drop, ignition on/off, SOS, idle time, harsh driving), set thresholds, and select which vehicles or groups the rule applies to.
02
Notification Channels
Each rule can notify via one or more channels: in-app notification, email, SMS, or WhatsApp. You can configure different recipients for different rules — for example, send speeding alerts to the fleet manager and fuel alerts to the operations team.
03
Alert History
The Alerts History page shows a chronological feed of all triggered alerts with filters for type, severity, vehicle, and date range. Click any alert to see the exact location on the map at the time of the event.
04
Muting & Scheduling
Temporarily mute specific rules during off-hours or holidays. Set active schedules so alerts only trigger during working hours. This prevents notification fatigue and ensures focus on operational periods.
Guide 05
Geofences
Define operational boundaries with geofences. Get notified when vehicles enter or exit designated zones, and use geofence data in reports.
01
Creating a Geofence
Navigate to Geofences → Create New. Draw a polygon, circle, or corridor on the map. Name it, assign a category (depot, client site, restricted area), and set its color. You can also import geofences from KML/GeoJSON files.
02
Geofence Alert Rules
Link geofences to alert rules: trigger on entry, exit, or both. Combine with time-based conditions — for example, alert only if a vehicle enters a depot outside of working hours.
03
Geofence Reports
Generate reports showing time spent inside each geofence, entry/exit timestamps, and total visits per vehicle. This is invaluable for measuring route adherence, dwell times, and service-level compliance.
04
Editing & Organizing
Geofences can be grouped into categories for easy management. Edit boundaries by dragging polygon vertices. Bulk operations let you assign multiple geofences to vehicle groups at once.
Guide 06
Reports
Venus provides a comprehensive reporting engine with pre-built templates and custom report creation. Export to PDF, Excel, or schedule automated delivery.
01
Report Types
Choose from Trip Summary, Daily Activity, Speed Violations, Fuel Consumption, Geofence Visits, Idle Time, Driver Scorecard, and more. Each template can be customized with filters for date range, vehicles, and groups.
02
Custom Reports
Build your own report by selecting data columns, grouping dimensions, and filters. Save custom reports as templates for one-click generation in the future.
03
Scheduled Reports
Set up automated report delivery: daily, weekly, or monthly. Reports are generated and emailed as PDF or Excel attachments to designated recipients. Schedule timing and frequency to match your operational review cadence.
04
Export & Sharing
Any report can be exported on-demand as PDF or XLSX. Share reports via direct link with view-only access, or embed them in third-party dashboards using the Venus API.
Guide 07
Mobile App
Access Venus on the go with the mobile app for iOS and Android. Monitor your fleet, receive push notifications, and take action from anywhere.
01
Installation
Download the Venus app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Log in with the same credentials used on the web platform. The app supports biometric authentication (fingerprint / Face ID) for quick access.
02
Mobile Map & Tracking
The mobile map provides the same real-time view as the desktop version. Tap any vehicle to see details, trip history, and perform remote actions. Use pinch-to-zoom and the vehicle search to find assets quickly.
03
Push Notifications
The app receives push notifications for all alert rules configured on the web platform. Tap a notification to jump directly to the vehicle or alert details. Notification preferences can be managed per-device.
04
Offline Support
The app caches recently viewed vehicles and trip data for offline access. When connectivity is restored, pending actions sync automatically. This ensures usability even in areas with intermittent coverage.
Guide 08
FAQ
Answers to the most frequently asked questions about Venus.
Venus receives position updates every 10–15 seconds for active vehicles. The update interval is configurable per device and can be as frequent as 5 seconds for high-priority assets.
Yes. Venus supports multi-country fleets with cross-border tracking. Geofences, alerts, and reports all work seamlessly across national boundaries. The platform supports multiple time zones per fleet.
Venus supports 250+ tracking devices from manufacturers including Teltonika, Queclink, Concox, CalAmp, and more. Contact our sales team for a full compatibility list or to discuss custom integrations.
Venus uses end-to-end encryption (TLS 1.3), role-based access control, and is hosted on private VPS infrastructure. All data is backed up daily. We comply with data protection regulations applicable in East Africa.
Yes. Venus supports role-based access with customizable permissions. Create roles like Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver, or Admin — each with tailored access to modules, vehicles, and actions.
Yes. Venus provides a RESTful API for vehicle data, trips, alerts, geofences, and reporting. Documentation and API keys are available through your account dashboard or by contacting support.
Contact our support team via email at support@trackalwaysafrica.com, call +254 116 257 285, or use the WhatsApp chat. Enterprise clients have access to a dedicated account manager and priority support line.
TrackAlways support