RealTime - Spring 2008 - (Page 32)

“Increasingly, the end customer is demanding to be involved and communicated to in every stage of the delivery process,” said Chris Bowden, sales and marketing director at HDNL. “We required a solution that would offer this capability.” Informational transparency Although the company had a track-and-trace system in place, the previous mobile technology that HDNL used had come to the end of its life—too antiquated and unreliable to undergo further updates. Since its last system was implemented, a new generation of integrated technology has come to market, including optical scanners, Windows Mobile, GPRS and Bluetooth. This range of technology solutions has given HDNL the chance to increase its transparency to its customer base by implementing an integrated system to effectively manage customers’ expectations and deliver parcels quickly and efficiently. After conducting a four-month study of procurement options, HDNL chose the Intermec CN3—a small, rugged mobile computer with integrated WiFi, 3G WAN, Bluetooth, GPS, Microsoft Windows, scanning technology and a programming layer for controlling business processes. They combined it with the SMART Suite of mobile applications from Syclo. “ Increasingly, the end customer is demanding to be involved and communicated to in every stage of the delivery process. We required a solution that would offer this capability.” – Chris Bowden, sales and marketing director at HDNL One device for everything The company selected the CN3 based on its ruggedness, reliability and long battery life, and because it is waterproof. The CN3 lets mobile workers set aside the multiple devices they typically must carry and maintain—mobile phone, GPS unit, pager, laptop, camera—for a single instrument. Prior to fully deploying the mobile computers over the entire network, HDNL first conducted extensive trials with 700 drivers. After the successful trials, HDNL implemented the new system over a period of several months to ensure a smooth transition to the new technology. By January 2008, the full complement of 4,450 devices was fully integrated into the network—a great achievement given that it was the peak Christmas trading period. 32 realtime / 2008

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RealTime - Spring 2008 Contents View Intermec News Profile: Chris Johnston Miles Ahead Partner Profiles Raising the Roof Intermec 2008 Conferences Signed, Sealed, Delivered Keep It Flowing Alarmingly Effective Events Coda: Terminix

RealTime - Spring 2008

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