Last month, I spoke at the American Trucking Association’s conference, “Synchronizing Trucking’s Finance and IT Practices“, in conjunction with the Information Technology and Logistics Council. This event brings together more than 200 motor carrier, logistics and transportation service companies. It was a full house for my session, “The New ‘Normal’ – Next Generation Mobility”, where I co-presented with Con-way Transportation and Hewlett-Packard. So you may be asking, “What do you mean by the ‘new normal’”?
In my experience speaking with many trucking companies, the new normal is defined by the use of mobile technologies on the road or in the depot, where each worker within the logistics supply chain uses software applications and rugged mobile handheld computers in a connected, wireless world. In this new normal, we envision three areas where analytics and mobile technology play an important role: in the Cab, in the Trailer, and in the Hub.
In the Cab
Telematics software that provides analytic data from within the cab can greatly improve efficiencies of routes and driver activity. With cradle-equipped or fixed-mount, in-vehicle mobile computers, dispatchers can get analytics on driver behavior, revealing unsafe driving habits. Drivers that routinely speed and brake heavily can be better managed and counseled on how to develop safer driving practices that improve the safety of the driver, the truck and everyone in the vicinity of the driver, reducing risk — and insurance premiums.
Other telematics solutions can help enable analytics-driven fleet maintenance programs. Maintenance optimization becomes increasingly important as aging fleets drag down capital investment, with a 30 percent increase in tractor prices in recent years. Technology can ensure engines, brakes and other tractor systems are properly functioning, and send alerts when maintenance is needed.
Analytics can also capture and process Bills of Lading electronically. New advanced document capture functionality, paired with OCR (optical character recognition) and OMR (optical mark recognition) software can speed billing and provide higher levels of cross-dock utilization by separating the arrival of information from the arrival of physical goods at the dock.
In the Trailer
In order to optimize truckloads to reduce shipments and miles, logistics companies have been considering how to better load trailers to avoid empty, wasted space. The cost savings associated with real-time trailer loading can improve packing times, the quality of the loading, and when a trailer can be dispatched. In the future, mobile technologies and the data that is captured at the time of loading may help analyze poor packing techniques, inefficient packing and stacking, and load stacking quality to reduce damage. This is an important challenge for logistics companies to overcome, because the cost savings in truck use and fuel consumption alone can be enormous.
In the Hub
Mobile technologies can also assist with labor inefficiencies in the hub. For example, Workforce Management solutions use task management applications running on both traditional mobile computers and new innovative platforms like wearable smart badges to automatically assign jobs and responsibilities to the employee base. Today’s workforce management systems concentrate on labor requirements, the management of work assignments, payroll reporting, and even training. They can gather valuable statistics on how these activities are completed. With more efficient labor operations, hub operations can run to their full potential. And of course as the hub becomes more efficient, those benefits extend out into the yard and permeate into other areas of fleet and trucking operations as well. It is more than likely that you already are experiencing some form of “the new normal” in your supply chain space, so please visit www.motorolasolutions.com/logistics for more information on how Motorola Solutions can help you by pairing analytics in the cab, in the trailer, and in the hub with the latest advances in mobile and wireless technologies.
Every year, we look back at the blogs we’ve published and pick our ten favorites. Motorola’s Jenn Mesenbrink has the Top Ten in 2014 for Public Safety. Looking at our Enterprise blogs this year, there were some great topics covered by experts who provided some really insightful, helpful information. Instead of choosing ten blogs, however, I’ve decided to shamelessly ride the coattails of comedian Chris Rock’s new movie, “Top Five,” which is in theaters now and take a look at the Top Five blogs from Motorola’s Fresh Ideas in Enterprise Mobility in 2014.
1. Is Your School Safe? Have a Plan to be Prepared, by Mike Coleman
In September, we were delighted to have guest blogger Mike Coleman, Vice President of SchoolSAFE Communications, a Motorola Solutions partner, write about schools being prepared for active shooter situations. A disturbing trend, there have been 74 incidents involving guns in schools, since the Sandy Hook tragedy two years ago. It is indeed a sad reality, and Mike’s blog discusses what schools can do to put safety plans in place.
2. Making the Basics Better by Innovating Something Special, by Ben Ansell
Motorola Solutions recently released a new MOTOTRBO digital radio, the SL300, and it’s definitely something special. Motorola Global Marketing Manager for MOTOTRBO Ben Ansell interviewed the Director of Design LanTing Garra and Senior User Experience Designer Sanne Martens about what inspired them in their design work on the SL300. This radio has no glass display – LED lights beneath the rugged housing convey radio information like channel selection. It makes the device tough, yet ergonomic and sleek.
3. The 5th C of Land Mobile Radio: Capabilities, by John Kedzierski
John thinks radios are cool. We do too. This blog from back in February by John Kedzierski, Motorola Solutions’ Senior Director of Market Strategy & Operations for North America was the sequel to a blog John previously wrote about the 4 Cs of radios: coverage, capacity, cost, and control. Capability is what John calls the “game changer,” that includes purpose-built devices and radio networks, data applications for increasing efficiency and productivity, plus security, safety, and reliability features.
4. We Can Measure the Business Impact of Learning, by Claudia Rodriguez In February, Motorola’s Claudia Rodriguez discussed professional learning and how it is not just a valuable practice for businesses, but a critical part of success. Learn how Motorola Solutions developed a Learning Measurement Maturity Model and how the organization set its goals based on the goals of the company.
5. How Loud is Too Loud? Why You Shouldn’t Take Hearing Protection Lightly, by Nick Candotti
At Motorola Solutions, our business is communication, and safety. Protecting your hearing is serious, and as Motorola’s Director of Global Accessories and Energy Nick Candotti wrote in May, “even short term exposure to loud noise can cause a temporary change in hearing… [and] can also lead to physical and psychological stress.”
I hope you enjoyed looking back at our Top Five Enterprise blogs from 2014. Please let us know what you think about these blogs in the comments, and let us know what blogs you’d like to read in 2015 from Motorola Solutions. What are the communications topics and issues that matter to you and your business? We’ll be giving Fresh Ideas in Enterprise Mobility a new look and title next year, so please subscribe to get updates on our new blogs from industry experts and thought leaders. Thanks for a wonderful year, and we’ll see you in 2015!
Motorola Solutions has just launched a new software release for MOTOTRBO two-way radio systems. It’s focused at improving ease of use, with some new features and capabilities designed to make digital radio communications more dynamic and intuitive. So what do these new features actually deliver? Why should you care? Last week we looked at two of the major updates from release 2.4; now we’ll review additional features that have been changed for the better.
User-Selectable Audio Profiles:
MOTOTRBO radios are used in all sorts of places by all sorts of people. And they all have their own preferences on how the radio should sound. So we created this feature to give people flexibility.
Firstly, there are two ambience profiles: “Loud” and “Work Group”. They’re useful when you’re working in two different areas – like a loud factory and a quiet office – or outdoors in the howling wind, and inside in your quiet truck cab. Not just shortcuts for VERY LOUD and quite quiet volume, they also enable advanced features like Microphone Distortion Control.
Then there are the six personal profiles. With names like “Bass Boost”, they’re designed to change the tone of the sound. So if you work in a noisy factory, and prefer a “brighter” sound that cuts through background noise better, you can select “Treble Boost”.
Check out the demo video here:
Event-Driven Location Update:
Dispatchers are busy people. They need to keep track of all the mobile workers in the organization, and deploy resources to wherever they’re needed. That’s why MOTOTRBO radios have a GPS receiver built in, so dispatchers can see exactly where everyone is on their console map.
But we found a way to make it better. Using the accessory connector of the radio, you can connect it to another piece of equipment – and whenever that equipment operates, the radio will send an alert to the dispatcher to tell him what happened and (perhaps more importantly) where it happened.
So for example, a MOTOTRBO radio in a school bus can be configured to send an alert and GPS coordinates whenever the bus door is opened.
The radio on a utility worker’s truck can be configured to send a location report whenever the boom lift is raised.
And a taxi’s radio can be set up to send an alert wherever and whenever the driver picks up a passenger.
Check out the demo video here:
To learn more about the features, tune in next week for our next blog on the updates or speak to your Motorola Channel Partner. Ask for a demonstration of the new features in the latest software release, and see what they can do to help your business.
