Trucking Technology Report - Nov. 16
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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:
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Meeting the E-Fulfillment Challenge
Fulfillment is essential for successful e-commerce, whether it be business-to-business or business-to-consumer. E-fulfillment has radically altered the way in which the purchase of goods is conducted, placing the customer at the top of a demand- rather than supply-driven hierarchy. In this hierarchy, the customer may be a large company paying through a traditional purchase order or an individual consumer ordering goods with a credit card. Firms must be able to process either kind of transaction.
Online retailers should be prepared to institute real-time inventory management to allow customers to track their shipments online, and to enable customers to receive goods from multiple distributors at the same time.
E-fulfillment also extends to the issue of product returns, or reverse logistics. While consumers will expect returns to be free of charge, this may not be practical. However, e-retailers must make the process as inexpensive and convenient as possible. A possible solution is to provide returns through a brick-and-mortar outlet or partner, as supermarket Winn-Dixie has established with The Return Store. Supply Chain Management Review (11/00) Vol. 4, No. 5, P. 64; Peters, J. Eric
Nabisco Proves to be One Smart Cookie With Logistics
Nabisco (NA) began establishing itself at the forefront of collaborative logistics last year, when it began pilot tests with other companies to share space in trucks and reduce empty miles. Those tests helped California grocer Lucky Stores reduce inventory costs by $4.8 million and get price reductions on goods from some suppliers.Now, Nabisco, General Mills (GIS), Pillsbury, and eight other companies are testing online collaboration, using a Nistevo Corp. collaborative logistics network. Companies meet through Nistevo.com to buy and sell space in trucks, passing the savings around to everyone. The system is sure to help Nabisco improve truck routes used by different divisions within the company that once communicated little with one another. Business Week (11/20/00) P. EB 120; Keenan, Faith
Knight Upgrades Access Control System
Knight Transportation Inc. (KNGT) recently upgraded its 10 year old access control system. Company officials wanted to continue utilizing the existing HID proximity cards and readers, and eventually want the ability to add readers in the future. Other objectives sought by Knight included the automation of the truck wash; the integration of the old system and payroll system; and being connected with branch offices nationwide.Arizona Lock & Safe, along with Access Specialties, Inc. created a custom truck wash application for Knight. The system featured customized access control, which was specially developed to be user-friendly. The trucking company then installed or upgraded the system within its Indianapolis, Phoenix, and Katy, Texas offices. Plans are already underway to expand the system in Salt Lake City, Southern California, and Gulfport, Mississippi.
In the meantime, Knight has ensured the company will reap benefits from the large upgrade. Security Management (10/00) Vol. 44, No. 10, P. 71; Otteson, Lisa
Staying Wired on the Go and Doing More Work
Gadgets for workers who are frequently on the move continue to grow in popularity as they become smaller but more powerful. With users less likely to work from a PC, laptops are now the focal point of the mobile office. Mobile workers can choose from several new models, including the IBM (IBM) ThinkPad, which is only 4.7 pounds, Sony's Vaio, which features a digital-video camera, and Apple's iBook, which offers a DVD drive for mobile entertainment.Those seeking smaller devices might consider the new Visor Prism, which features a GPS receiver and an MP3 player, or the BlackBerry portable email device. Nokia has introduced Web-enabled cell phones, while Visor users can now purchase a cell-phone attachment for their handheld devices. Numerous portable attachments allow mobile workers to print or scan documents, while RoadWired offers a 36-pocket over-the-shoulder carrying case to hold many of these gadgets. New York Times (11/16/00) P. E9; Biersdorfer, J.D.
Verizon Buys Cellular One
Verizon Wireless has purchased Price Communications, which provides telephone services under the Cellular One brand, for $1.5 billion in stock. The company also agreed to take on $550 million of Price's debt. But the deal is contingent on Verizon Wireless conducting a initial public offering by Sept. 30. A failure to meet the deadline will enable either company to void the deal.According to the terms of the agreement, Verizon will gain 500,000 wireless customers located predominantly in Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, and Alabama. Verizon currently has 26.3 million users of its voice and data services, which makes it the biggest wireless carrier in the United States.
If completed, the deal will allow Verizon to fill some of the holes in its national coverage without relying on acquiring spectrum in the FCC's upcoming auction of wireless spectrum. Many industry observers are worried that telecom companies have been bidding too high in recent auctions.
Verizon spokesman Brian Wood said his company will construct a new network adjacent to Price's current network, to which Verizon hopes to switch customers. The change is necessary because Price uses a different communications standard than Verizon. Washington Post (11/16/00) P. E3; Stern, Christopher
IBM Mobile PCs to Offer More Wireless, Ease of Use in 2001
IBM (IBM) intends to introduce greater wireless communications capabilities to its notebook PCs and handheld devices in the coming year, according to IBM mobile systems worldwide product marketing manager Leo Suarez.Already, IBM's iSeries notebook PCs include an antenna embedded around the display case for wireless LAN access and within a year will support both the Bluetooth and IEEE 802.11 wireless networking standards, Suarez says. Somewhat further over the horizon is IBM's plan to add Bluetooth wireless connectivity and voice-over-IP capabilities to its WorkPad handheld devices, which are manufactured by Palm (PALM).
IBM will not be using the highly anticipated Transmeta Crusoe CPU in its notebook PCs, Suarez says, as IBM believes the chip's battery-saving capabilities are too limited to prompt the company to abandon the industry-standard Intel (INTC) CPU. Computer Reseller News Online (11/14/00); Kovar, Joseph F.
The Cell Phone Crusade
Wireless carriers have to find a middle ground between warning their customers about the potential dangers of mobile phone use while driving and their own economic interests.Lately, more communities are considering passing bans on mobile phone use while driving. In response, some carriers are striking back at communities taking part in such bans.
Sprint PCS filed a lawsuit against the Township Council of Marlboro, N.J., when the town's legislative body passed an ordinance prohibiting mobile phone use while driving. But the lawsuit was abandoned later, when the New Jersey state senate said it would create a task force to examine the issue.
Carriers often argue that cell phones are no more distracting than a lot of other activities that drivers engage in and that if each community is allowed to make its own laws regarding the issue, drivers will have no way of knowing when they are violating a cell phone ban when traveling through certain communities.
Some carriers, such as Cellular One and Verizon Wireless, have promoted safety tips for using cell phones when driving. However, Verizon also indicated that it may support legislation banning certain kinds of cell phone use if prohibitions are enacted by states, not local communities. In addition, Verizon wants emergency calls exempt from such restrictions. America's Network (11/01/00) P. 18; Levine, Shira
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