RACO Industries will have a presence at the same-day delivery industry's largest meeting and trade show next week in Las Vegas.   At the Messenger Courier Association of America’s annual meeting, we’ll be showing off our Package Tracking Solution with such great features as:

• Mobile Computer & Accessories
• Push to Talk Service
• SOTI Mobile Device Management
• Unlimited Data
• OMS Data Management Service
• SIM Provisioning
• GPS Location

For an industry that revolves around speed, security, tracking, signature captures, specialization & individualization of services, and committed delivery times, our solution can be tailor-made to suit any courier’s needs.  To learn more, stop by our booth at the MCAA annual meeting or contact a RACO product specialist at 1-800-446-1991.

Our client is a small package delivery company that employs more than fifty employees and provide package delivery services via eight hubs in five states. The client specializes in time-sensitive packages for medical and optical labs. Its customer base is requiring higher levels of service, most notably, the ability to track packages via a web-based portal similar to large package delivery services like FedEx and UPS.

Ideally, the client wants to create and scan barcodes, capture signatures, and communicate through its existing T-Mobile APN wireless network or potentially another carrier back end to the website providing their customers visibility of the service they provide.  This will allow improved service for its customers and provide operational improvements resulting in measurable cost savings.

RACO Industries wireless team customized the core application of the Z-Space ITScriptNet Mobile Application Development Tool to create a complete mobile package delivery solution for the client’s mobile workforce. This improved the efficiencies of the routes and provided real-time information to the home office, hubs and its customers.  We also designed and built a customized web-based package tracking portal for the routing/delivery data and to give a user-friendly view for its customers. Although the solution is not as sophisticated as the big boys’, the solution does give the client everything it needs to exceed its current customer base’s expectations and create the ability to acquire new business from its competition.  

The hardware utilized in this solution include: Motorola MC70 Enterprise Digital Assistant (EDA) and Zebra QL220 receipt printer. The Motorola MC70 is a rugged handheld mobile device that incorporates a mobile phone, PDA, computer, scanner and imager in a single unit designed for the rigors of all-day, everyday usage. This compact, lightweight device combines multi-mode wireless networking, voice and data communications, and advanced data capture in an enterprise productivity tool that can support nearly any application in any environment. Coupled with the Zebra QL220 durable and lightweight printer, the solution provides the client’s mobile workforce with the optimal bundle for its requirements.  GPS technology can also be added to provide accurate, real time location data to the back end.  

For more information on the package delivery solution or other mobile worker solutions, contact RACO Industries.

Our Client
A small Midwest container company has 100 roll-off box/ containers that are leased/rented and delivered to construction sites throughout their region.  

The Pain
• Where are my containers?
• When are they coming back? Each container cost roughly 5K and I am not sure where ½ are at any one time. The Secondary Pain and addition desired ROI
• Can you help with Increasing asset utilization
• Can you help with Real Time Visibility
• Can you help me Lower Diesel / Fuel Cost by reducing deadheading
Deadheading=Traveling without a load back to home terminal

Whether due to personnel or lack of established business processes delivered equipment often get missed at check-out. Manual equipment check-in/check-out procedures are prone to errors and delays. Equipment is sometimes “lost” in the field due to not knowing where or who it was delivered to. An automated check-in/check-out procedure can significantly increase accuracy and prevent loss of equipment. Yet, not knowing where the items were sent to makes it difficult to hold customers accountable. Tracking of returnables starts not only with knowing how much inventory is in-house, but where it went, how long it’s been out, and when it returned.
 
The Cure     
Z-Space’s Solution Pack Check-In/Check-Out with GPS tracking.
 
The new established business process uses an Intermec CN3 the smallest, most advanced, rugged mobile computer in the world, the CN3 with integrated GPS and Bluetooth increases efficiency and safety by enabling turn-by-turn navigation. With 3G WAN users are connected with high-speed data (GSM/EDGE or CDMA/EV-DO) anywhere they go.
 
Now the driver rolls off the container, scans the container number and we automatically capture the GPS coordinates and display them on a user consol back in the home office.
.
Now we are providing real time visibility to their assets, time and date stamping each transaction with the users ID. We now automatically start the lease/rental timer, when the timer goes off we change the status on the screen from green to red. This will notifying the consol operator of the need to schedule a return container job ticket. Now the console operator can coordinate the pickup with a container being dropped drop off., eliminating deadheading.

Bottom line the solution contained
• Z-Space Check in/Check out Multi-User Solution Pack
• 2 Intermec CN3 with accessories
• 2  T-Mobile Unlimited Data Only Plans
• Installation and Training

It’s a lot harder to get lost these days. From easy to use consumer handheld products to integrated systems in a vehicle, the use of GPS navigation has improved our ability to get from point A to point B. Traditional GPS functions have also included the ability to track a vehicle anywhere within a few meters. Outside of directions and tracking, the benefits of GPS navigation have exponentially improved mobile worker productivity due to technology improvements in handheld devices, application software and wireless services.

By combining the traditional benefits of GPS with real-time data, companies that employ mobile workers can manage their assets via a computerized map and utilize them more effectively. Using this data can dynamically determine the best route, avoid areas that are under repair and provide real –time information where your workers and assets are at any time. Route data history or ‘bread crumbing’ can be analyzed for further route improvements and the determination of performance metrics. An additional benefit is the ability to track your assets inside or outside a specific geography. Known as geo-fencing, companies can now create virtual boundaries of where assets can and more importantly, can not go.

GPS Navigation Key Benefits include:

• Minimize inefficient routes
• Increase calls per day
• Reduce fuel consumption and vehicle wear & tear
• Decrease overtime requirements
• Track assets
• Identify personal activities
• Control driving behavior while improving safety
• Improve customer service

How have your employees performance been impacted the most by the use of a GPS Navigation system

By introducing GPS enabled ruggedized devices in typical mobile applications like Route Accounting, Field Service and Transportation, companies can greatly reduce its direct and indirect costs. So, a company will be able to shorten its return on investment to a few months while minimizing its overall liability.