At some point, almost every growing company tries this: they use a project management tool to track field employees.
It feels logical. Tasks are already there. Timelines are there. Why add an additional system?
The problem appears quietly. Managers start making more phone calls. Teams send more “will update soon” messages. Reports look clean, but customers complain about delays. What’s missing isn’t effort—it’s visibility.
Project tools were never meant to track people who are constantly on the move. And that’s exactly why they fail at real-time employee tracking.
1. Project Tools Understand Tasks, Not Reality on the Ground
Project tools are good at showing what should be done. They’re bad at showing what’s actually happening.
A task marked “in progress” could mean active work, waiting at a site, stuck in traffic, or already abandoned. Managers are left guessing, and guessing leads to bad decisions.
The best employee GPS tracking app removes this uncertainty by showing movement, stops, and time spent—automatically.
2. Everything Depends on Manual Updates
Most project tools rely on employees to update status themselves. In field work, updates are rarely the top priority.
So updates come late—or not at all. By the time a manager sees a problem, the day is already over.
Dedicated GPS tracking software works in the background. No reminders. No chasing. Just accurate data.
3. Location Data, If Any, Can’t Be Trusted
Some project tools offer optional location tags. In practice, they’re inconsistent and easy to bypass.
When location data isn’t reliable, managers stop trusting the system altogether. That’s when phone calls and micromanagement begin.
A proper employee GPS tracking app treats location as core data, not an add-on.
4. Delays Are Always Discovered Too Late
Project tools explain why something failed—but only after it has failed.
Real-time tracking changes this completely. Managers can see delays forming and step in before customers are affected.
That’s the difference between reporting and managing.
5. Field Work Doesn’t Fit Project Tool Assumptions
Project tools assume stable internet, predictable schedules, and desk-based work.
Field teams deal with cancellations, route changes, traffic, and offline zones. Project tools struggle here because they weren’t designed for mobility.
GPS tracking software is.
6. No Real Proof of Work
Marking a task complete doesn’t prove the work happened.
Managers eventually get asked hard questions—by clients, auditors, or leadership—and project tools have no solid answers.
Employee GPS tracking apps provide route history, visit duration, and activity logs that stand up to scrutiny.
7. Managers End Up Chasing Instead of Leading
When data is unclear, managers compensate by calling, messaging, and checking constantly.
This doesn’t improve performance—it burns time and trust.
Clear, real-time data allows managers to focus on decisions, not follow-ups.
8. Reporting Becomes Painful as Teams Grow
With 5 employees, project tools feel manageable. With 50, they become noisy and unreliable.
Field reporting turns into spreadsheets, manual exports, and late-night reconciliations.
Purpose-built GPS tracking software scales without adding complexity.
9. Project Tools Don’t Answer Operational Questions
Project tools can’t tell you:
- Where time is actually being lost
- Which routes are inefficient
- Why targets are consistently missed
That’s because they weren’t built for operations—they were built for planning.
Why Companies Are Rethinking Project Tools for Tracking
Many businesses reach the same conclusion: project tools and employee tracking tools serve different purposes.
When teams are mobile, visibility matters more than task lists.
Platforms like Connect My World focus on real-world movement—tracking location, attendance, routes, and tasks in one place.
Learn more at www.connectmyworld.io
Conclusion
Project tools aren’t failing because they’re bad products. They’re failing because they’re being used for something they weren’t designed to do.
If your team works on the move, real-time visibility isn’t optional. That’s why businesses eventually move to the best employee GPS tracking app or dedicated GPS tracking software.
FAQs
1. Can project tools track employees in real time?
Not well. They need to be updated by hand and don’t always show GPS data.
2. What does GPS tracking software really keep track of?
It keeps track of your real-time location, movement patterns, stops, and how long you spend at each place.
3. Is it an invasion of privacy for employees to use GPS tracking?
When used transparently, it reduces confusion and unfair assumptions rather than increasing pressure.
4. Is GPS tracking common for Indian field teams?
Yes. Sales, service, logistics, and operations teams across India use it daily.
5. Which is considered the best employee GPS tracking app?
Connect My World is widely used for accurate real-time tracking and operational insights.