NYK Logistics UK has implemented an extensive vehicle and product tracking and monitoring system from Spirit Data Capture, and says it has increased the efficiency of its operations, provided greater item traceability, reduced losses and saved the company money.

The system is built round Motorola's MC75 Worldwide Enterprise Digital Assistant PDA. This provides voice, data and GPS services, and has an integral barcode scanner and a high-resolution colour camera. NYK was already using Motorola handhelds at several of its 32 warehouses, and had good experience of the make.

Spirit's application on the MC75s is now being used for a wide range of tasks. Out on the road, the MC75 transmits GPS positions to NYK's existing transport management system, which automatically updates the company's route status board.

At the point of delivery, the time and the GPS location are captured, the delivery items are scanned and the serial number of the product is validated. In the event of a failed delivery, a report can be entered and pictures can be taken using the integral camera. When the driver returns to the depot, returns can be tracked and scanned into the warehouse.

 

Data can be uploaded at depots by a variety of means according to location, including Activesync, Ethernet wired connection, Wi-Fi or GPRS. Details of the driver and the route are verified via a PIN code, and the application then provides the driver with details of delivery and collection points.