Abstract
Map World Forum 2009

GIS-GPS-RFID Enabled Integrated Workforce and Fleet Management – Experiences and Learnings in the Indian Context

Krishna Vaidyanathan
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
EI LABS
INDIA
krishna@eilabs.com

Nalini Ramachandran
DIRECTOR-GIS
EI LABS
INDIA
nalini@eilabs.om

Sudhir R
TECHNICAL MARKETING MANAGER
EI LABS
INDIA
sudhir@eilabs.com

Narayanan N
DIRECTOR - SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT
EI LABS
INDIA
nnarayanan@eilabs.com

Devanathan R
DIRECTOR- HARDWARE
EI LABS INDIA
dev@eilabs.com


Abstract

Most attempts at solving optimal routing problem of BPO employee transportation have stopped at trying to find an optimal route of selected employees based on minimal distance for the trip, leaving the problem of vehicle assignment open, which is a major issue and the main cost driver. This paper describes a working GIS enabled software solution that simultaneously solves both the problems, while providing an integrated platform for optimization of transportation costs. It provides effective address geocoding using partial information, ancillary information like landmarks and the integration of real time geocoding devices in terms of GPS,RFID tracking devices and an interactive map based tool for geocode correction and update. Using heuristic methods coupled with a GIS back end, a near-optimal solution for automatic routing has been arrived at, in which the 5000 employees can be routed in less than 5 minutes on a normal desktop, compared to a traditional GIS solution that takes more than 100 hours. Optimal cab allocation algorithms, which use a GIS back end to calculate the reporting times, travel distance etc, automatically generate a back to back vehicle assignment and fleet roster. The paper also provides some analytical results from a practical deployment of this solution. It also touches upon the practical problems in rolling out an automated solution and the directions of research that will overcome this.