GPS technology has revolutionized transport services, and logistics in general, by making supply chain management more efficient and by providing valuable data analyses impossible to know in the past, that are now letting us plan operations better and make accurate decisions faster.
In broad strokes, supply chain management involves designing, planning, executing, controlling, and monitoring all the activities of a company, looking to create net value for the corporation. It also aims to create a competitive infrastructure to support the operations, a comprehensive logistics process in sync with the market’s demand and offer, and a system to measure the performance of all its processes.
When a company manages all these functions separately, it makes it more difficult for us to manage the supply chain thoroughly, resulting in higher costs.
However, by introducing technology into the logistics processes we have been making process in connectivity and have been able integrate the whole logistics chain with better efficiency.
The introduction of the satellite navigation and location technology, GPS particularly, has disrupted the way we do business in our sector. GPS has enabled the connectivity of the different logistics needs and help achieve a better management and is in the transportation services where it has found more acceptance and where it has been put to better use.
In the world of logistics, transport is an area where products enter some sort of “black box” where companies might easily lose contact and control over both the shipment and the environment, putting at risk the whole operational effort of the company and its assets.
During transportation, cargo is exposed to delays due to traffic, security incidents, damages caused by accidents or bad driving, and other inefficiencies that, according to Trackimo, might raise the operational expenses of the department by 30%.
Technology enabling comprehensive security
The solution to lower and ensure delivery times, and to optimize fleet use, is to keep a constant tracking of units and analyze the data gathered from the trips to make better decisions. We can do this thanks to the incorporation of GPS devices to management software, which ensure control and safety on the supply chain.
This technology lets us track units from a control center so we can oversee the trips taken by drivers and, depending on the unit’s connectivity, know their location in real time, the way they drive, and any unauthorized detours.
Whether they are constantly connected to the internet via their cells or send updated information every time they connect to a Wi-Fi network, location devices yield a great amount of information on routes, travel times, and fuel usage. Analyzing this data helps us detect areas where we can improve the performance of units and save on operational costs.
On the security side of thing, GPS devices bring invaluable benefits for the logistics operation because we can use them to send alarms which trigger the established protocols and make it possible for us to coordinate a quick response to any threats or incidents faced by our drivers or cargoes.
Benefits for productivity and profitability
The following are some of the advantages of monitoring cargo and vehicles using satellite technologies:
- Route optimization and planning to reduce travel times, ensure deliveries, and lower fuel usage.
- Monitor the driving style of drivers so we can lower the risk of accidents and maximize fuel efficiency.
- Geolocation of drivers so we can detect unauthorized detours or unproductive stops.
- Detect traffic jams so we can direct drivers to faster routes to ensure on time deliveries.
- Prompt intervention on threats or incidents so we can guarantee the safety of drivers and cargoes.
- Complete visibility of the cargo during the trip from origin to destination.
Whether your clients are manufacturers or end consumers, ensuring the integrity of the cargo during transportation and meeting the promised delivery times will increase their loyalty and satisfaction.
A strategic partner
Besides the profitability of the operation, monitoring your supply chain has at least one other major goal: meeting your clients’ expectations. Solistica can help you achieve this.
Solistica uses the most advanced satellite technologies at its Control and Safety Centers, offering all kinds of information to make decision making easier. These are some of its services:
- Monitoring reports
- Real time tracking of units
- Route planning
- Alarm systems
Solistica’s Intelligence Center offers the comprehensive solutions you need to keep your cargoes safe. In addition, we have specialized staff and tools to serve you with excellence and boost your business’ profitability.
