Spring 2006

Three different parts of the European TNT organisation are rolling out major new mobile computing solutions to staff.

TNT Newsfast is to equip 800 vehicles with a Masternaut "time alert" satellite tracking system, aimed at helping the organisation meet time-critical twenty-minute delivery slots.

Elsewhere in the UK, TNT Express Services is issuing up to 250 Symbol handheld computers for real-time data capture, management and monitoring of collections and deliveries by drivers. The value of this contract is £250,000.

Meanwhile, over in Italy TNT Logistics has allocated a million euros to a project to acquire 1,000 handheld terminals from Denso ID Systems, a Toyota subsidiary. They will be used in an electronic proof of delivery system.

 

The TNT Newsfast system incorporates a specially developed geofencing feature to help the company meet its twenty-minute time slots. Wholesalers receive twenty-minute "pre-alerts" of their delivery via SMS message. Staff at print centres, the head office and at the wholesalers can use the Internet to view journey progress and check for on-screen updates and alerts.

TNT claims that the Italian implementation is the first of its kind in the country. The handsets will be equipped for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPRS connectivity, and will include software specially developed for TNT.

The units are due to be used throughout the TNT Logistics Italy carrier network, and represent the first wave of such equipment, which will ultimately replace all previous terminals.

The Symbol MC9000 series handheld computers in the UK's TNT Express programme will also be equipped for GPRS connectivity, and will be used for real-time data capture, management and monitoring of collections and deliveries by drivers. They are said to represent part of a wider global programme to develop common systems across the whole business.

The handhelds are being deployed to drivers at Stansted, London Heathrow, Northampton, London City, Manchester International, Liverpool and Glasgow International. Job data will be downloaded to the terminals at the depot by local wireless network, but the units will then switch to GPRS when out on the road.

Nigel Barton, the company's director of operations, says the units "are future-proofed for electronic signature capture," and are inexpensive enough to be viable "even the smallest of depots."