Trucking Technology Alert - Sept. 25
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Both the online report and e-mail are sponsored by @Track Communications, a supplier of wireless communications and dispatch services.
Today's Technology Headlines:
- FCC to Expand Wireless Access
- Using Technology to Track Workers
- Supply-Chain Software Appears to be Safe
- Distributors Aggressively Promote Web Services
FCC to Expand Wireless Access
The Federal Communications Commission intends to expand access to airwaves in the range of 2500 megahertz to 2690 MHz to be used by third-generation services such as high-speed Internet access or music downloads.The move will not take away wireless spectrum currently used by schools, health-care operations, Worldcom and Sprint, among other companies. The commission, as well as the Commerce Department, had considered shifting spectrum to commercial operators from the government, before expanding access to airwaves.
Using Technology to Track Workers
Following the recent terrorist attacks on the United States, companies used tracking technology to ensure their workers were safe.A number of companies, including truckload carrier Schneider National, used messaging and tracking technology to locate drivers and find out if they were in one piece after the attacks. The firms also used the technology to keep their workers up to date as events unfolded.
Steve Mathews, chief information officer of Schneider National, said his company used its Qualcomm tracking technology to locate 18 employees in Manhattan, and George Dunn, vice president and general manager of North American operations for Qualcomm's wireless business solutions unit, said his company was extremely happy that its technology could be used in this way.
Dunn added that his company had invested a lot of money in redundancy, such as backup frame relay, lease lines, hubs, and transponders. He also said that while Qualcomm's communication technology was not specifically designed to deal with emergencies, the company did make sure that in the event of an emergency it could minimize or eliminate the impact on customers.
Dunn also said that his company's wireless tracking technology had been used by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Red Cross to find people in other emergency situations. Qualcomm's OmniTracs system is satellite-based, Dunn said, and it was not affected by some of the communication systems problems experienced by mobile phone users on the East Coast following the terrorist attacks.
I>Traffic World (09/24/01) Vol. 265, No. 39, P. 22; Hickey, Kathleen
Supply-Chain Software Appears to be Safe
While supply-chain software is not at risk right now from hackers or terrorists, further study is required. According to Steve Banker, director of supply-chain research for ARC Advisory Group, companies have no need right to worry about their supply-chain software being subjected to attack.Adrian Gonzales, a senior analyst at the same company says there is also no danger at the moment to advanced planning and transportation management systems. Nevertheless, Banker says, the fact that more and more firms are doing business over the Internet means they are also becoming more vulnerable.
Karen Peterson, research director at Gartner Group, says firms do not need to do anything differently as far as technology strategy is concerned. What they need to do, Petersen says, is use the technology to acquire an understanding of the impact, particularly when it comes to tactical planning and strategic planning.
I>Traffic World (09/24/01) Vol. 265, No. 39, P. 21; Hickey, Kathleen
Distributors Aggressively Promote Web Services
Wholesale distributors are aggressively promoting their Web services and product-configuration software to safeguard their positions in the supply chain as more businesses launch their own e-procurement software.Distributors must be prepared to meet a wide-range of customer needs, including engineering, final assembly, and repackaging, to ensure future profits. LP Corp., a maker of building materials, expects to slash 75% of costs incurred from buying procurement machinery through the integration of Applied's e-commerce tools with Lawson Software's financial system. In addition, the company plans to launch a Web catalog that will list 300,000 parts manufactured by 1,400 companies.
Meanwhile, distributor Airgas plans to launch a Web channel able to connect its various systems, which will allow customers to check scheduled delivery dates. Airgas chose Oracle's 11i E-Business Suite to consolidate its financial operations for the new system.
I>InformationWeek (09/17/01) No. 855, P. 105; Konicki, Steve
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