Aeris has published its top 10 tips guide for efficient asset tracking, intended to organisations exploring how the Internet of Things (IoT) can help manage the movement of their assets.
Due to developments in connectivity and greater IoT adoption, IoT is increasingly being used by the asset tracking sector, helping to drive sector growth; the global market is predicted to reach $32bn (£24.7bn) by 2024, growing at 14.9% CAGR.
There are other factors driving asset tracking too, including the growth of cold chain supply chains, which means that asset tracking is increasingly needed by food. Asset tracking is also a key enabler in Just-in-Time production; real-time updates ensure better visibility of the process, ensure speed and efficiency, and ultimately improve customer service.
Aeris, which provides fleet management connectivity to 2.1 million commercial vehicles, which represents 15% of Aeris’ 14-million-device customer base, advises of 10 ways to ensure efficient asset tracking:
- Ensure the availability of readily available best practices documentation and experienced technical experts to optimise overall solution architecture for maximum success.
- Check the availability of pooled charging models, which can help minimise costs. In addition, ensure that a flexible rate plan is configured to allow management of SIM charges to minimise costs.
- Make sure end-to-end visibility into solution communication behaviours is available, from the device and its context through the cellular radio network, the mobile core, IP transit, and into the application service provider’s cloud — to validate correct device behaviour and communication endpoints at the outset and over time.
- Have programmatic, near-real-time access to smart reporting on end-to-end performance metrics to catch suspected anomalies quickly.
- Recognise the availability of rapid, expert organisation response to isolate root causes and help resolve issues when they occur, anywhere across the complete end-to-end solution.
- Have consistent, reliable coverage to ensure operational benefits are achieved throughout the driver’s journey.
- Ensure affordable high throughput, to support bandwidth requirements much higher than typical vehicle telematics without breaking the business case for the solution — in other words, high data rates at low cost.
- Careful device configuration to ensure close coordination with the radio access network, to minimise latency in both data and connection throughput.
- The security of your assets is critical. Ensure there is no unauthorised access to mission-critical assets.
10.The ability to plan asset transport jobs through the most efficient routes; monitor job ETA and status; communicate route instructions; share in-route asset status with customers.
Mohsen Mohseninia, VP of market development, Europe, Aeris, said: “Asset managers are being challenged to increase reliability and lower operational costs with fixed resources. Demands are evolving from basic data needs to mission-critical requirements, such as reliability, long-term connectivity, and innovative market differentiation. To meet those demands, asset telematics increasingly is seen as a necessary tool to operate large numbers of assets efficiently.
“As one of the largest global IoT solution providers, helping multiple companies connect and manage millions of devices, Aeris is adept at delivering innovative, customised IoT solutions that help differentiate organisations from the competition, stay on top of technology investments, and provide more value to IoT customers.”
