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Asset Tracking – Forget it
The GPS system, which is mounted on the vehicle, would keep sending the locational information thru the communication network (GSM/CDMA/satellite) to the control center and the utility at the control center will plot the information. Once the locational information is captured, information such as speed of the vehicle, stop time, duration of trip and petrol consumption and consignment details can all be captured.
There are companies, which are also providing other services like two-way communication, in-vehicle navigation system, smart card interface, and simulator to capture vehicle health information. The technology seems very simple provided we have accurate and updated digital maps of the area of tracking. Otherwise the vehicle would start seeing in the field or in a nearby lake though the vehicle is very much running on the road giving false alarm to the transport owner. These solutions are found wanting in state run transport companies, private logistic companies, transport houses, BPO and Call center companies and also for tracking of school buses/ambulances/police vehicles/city cabs etc. With such a simple technology and a demanding market, the solution providers should have had a real good business and should have given a practical solution. But the reality seems to be quite different. The concern The system integrators who are claiming to have the logistic management solution are still wondering on how to position this solution. There are companies, which did start selling these solution very aggressively seeing the large potential, but have burnt their hands, and some have already closed down their shops. This decade old technology needs to be addressed more humanly not just as one of IT solutions.  |