Sept/Oct 2003

Telematics are to play an extended role in a real-time logistics planning and live rescheduling capability developed by supermarket giant Safeway and its logistics contractor Wincanton.

Having used Qualcomm vehicle tracking system for the past six years, the two companies are now upgrading it to a new real-time version. This will give Safeway additional operational capabilities ­ for instance, the opportunity to "geofence" its 360 stores, which will receive automatic alerts when deliveries are ten minutes away, so that staff can be allocated to offload them.

The Qualcomm system will also be used in conjunction with Paragon Integrated Fleets scheduling software, allowing the company to amend schedules "on the fly" to reflect delays or other unexpected events during deliveries.

These developments form part of what has been named Project Pulsar, a programme designed to integrate a wide range of new and existing technologies with the objective of streamlining and centralising Safeway's distribution network.