Jan/Feb 2006

Real-time proof of delivery scanning, using GPRS data transmission, is part of a wide-ranging new transport management system being rolled out by Palletforce, one of the top four UK pallet networks. It is due to go live in April.

The organisation has approached POD collection and management as an integrated function within a broader track and trace system, which is being built by Trans-aXion.

The overall solution covers order entry, shipment, depot and hub management, electronic proof of delivery with signature collection, scanning, track and trace, customer relationship management and billing.

A major feature of the project will be the introduction of integrated wireless warehouse scanning and weighing. This measure, when combined with real-time track and trace, is expected to save around 20 man-hours a day in handling discrepancies, as well as improving customer service.

 

The technology behind the project is based on a concept called service-oriented architecture (SOA), and has been built with the Progress OpenEdge business application platform and deployed on an OpenEdge database.

Integration is being handled by the Sonic ESB ("enterprise service bus"). This aims to connect, mediate and control the underlying services dynamically, and will help smooth the integration of the new system with PalletFORCE members' own internal systems.

When the new system is fully operational, companies in the network will have immediate access to information on a central database, which is mirrored between three Trans-aXion data centres for resilience and added security.