July/Aug 2004

Tyre wholesaler Bond International, a flagship UK-based user of the VSc mfour supply-chain execution software suite, is trialling a real-time vehicle tracking solution from the company in a third of its 75 vehicles.

According to marketing director Richard Croft: "From what we've seen from the pilot, this system looks fantastic." He adds that it should enhance customer service, as well as improving productivity. He says the company had evaluated a range of other systems, but all had shortcomings, such as being too expensive or not accurate enough.

The 25 vehicles operating from the company's Stevenage depot are being kitted out with the VSc's Mhub system, which uses GPS location and GPRS to transmit data back to base on each unit's location, engine performance/vehicle abuse, security information and historical trip data.

The company's 75 vehicles, predominantly Renault Masters, also operate from depots in Taunton and Pocklington, near York.

 

In VSc's native South Africa, its systems are said to be fitted on 4,000 trucks.

• VSC Solutions now offers scheduling and fleet management software from UPS Logistics Technologies under a deal between the two companies, and is marketing a Maple RFID-based access control system.