Jan/Feb 2009

Several major transport operators including Asda, Tesco and Eddie Stobart have given their backing to an imaginative initiative by Isotrak, a leader in vehicle telematics and tracking, to make vehicle tracking information available on an inter-company basis, opening up the possibility of capacity-sharing on empty runs.

The system is called 3iS, which stands for 3rd Party Logistics Integration Service. As the company puts it, 3iS 'enables companies to exchange controllable real-time vehicle visibility and job information automatically with customers, partners and other vehicle fleets.'

According to Simon Pearson, head of central logistics for Asda and co-chair of the ECR Europe Sustainable Transport Roadmap3 project: 'In the current economic climate, working together to eliminate wasted miles has never been more important. 3iS could assist this significantly by providing shared visibility of plans and transport execution.'

3iS is an extension to Isotrak's existing Active Transport Management System, which is already in use with the pioneer 3iS users, as well as with many other leading transport operators such as Sainsbury's, Marks & Spencer, Tesco, Royal Mail and Wincanton.

Users become part of what Isotrak is calling an exclusive 'controlled visibility club', empowered to share details of transport plans and movements with other users as journeys take place.

If authorised, members can view another distribution fleet as if it were part of their own fleet, and can offer their customers flexible 'virtual fleet' resources. Members always retain control of what resources are visible to whom, and when.

Users don't have to invest in Isotrak tracking hardware. Feeds could be supplied from alternative GPS hardware, the company says. The system will also interface with many external transport-management systems, including Paragon's routing and enterprise products.

Over and above the obvious 'green dividend' gained from sharing under-used resources, Isotrak sees numerous benefits arising from the system. The company points out that there are opportunities for retailers and suppliers to save money, while carriers can pick up new business at marginal incremental cost.

We're not clear about the exact pricing, but Isotrak talks about 'an extremely low barrier to entry'.