Technology - May 2005

GPS-Enabled Mobile Phones

Helping Businesses Track, Locate and Navigate

by Bob Halcrow

In the beginning, GPS (Global Positioning System) technology was used only by the military, as well as the aviation and marine industries, and later became available for navigational purposes in luxury automobiles. We have come a long way since then, reaching the point where GPS technology on mobile phones is increasing efficiency and productivity for mobile workers throughout Nevada.

A mobile phone can now do far more than take pictures, play video games and deliver news headlines. This compact tool provides advanced applications, such as wireless Location Based Solutions (LBS) that allow distribution-based businesses to increase productivity and efficiency through built-in GPS receivers that can pinpoint driver locations in seconds, streamline delivery routes, reduce overtime and unauthorized mileage, and remotely access vehicle repair history.

GPS-enabled mobile phones equipped with LBS do more than allow drivers to shorten delivery times. The tracking capability gives dispatchers the ability to have an immediate view of where their fleet of drivers is located at any given time, which is helpful in the event that resources need to be re-allocated. Furthermore, they are able to see exactly what inventory is in every vehicle and warehouse.

This LBS technology works as a hosted technology service that requires zero hardware or software installation at the customer site. A company’s mobile workers can use the service on their mobile phones to record and transmit information, including hours worked, job numbers and project details. That data, along with the location of the worker, is captured by the GPS receiver in the phone and can be accessed over the Internet or on the company’s Web site. As a result, office managers and fleet dispatchers have access to real-time data, as well as an electronic record of mobile worker activity.

LBS technology can be integrated into every facet of the supply chain, allowing each GPS-related function to communicate in real-time. With tracking inventory, it really is as simple as using a mobile phone to facilitate collaborative planning, forecasting and replenishment capabilities for the entire supply chain.

Using a mobile phone equipped with a barcode scanner attachment, production managers have the ability to view materials inventory, monitor inventory levels and signal suppliers when a delivery is needed. Seconds later, an alert that more materials are needed on the production line is sent directly to a supplier’s mobile phone to immediately dispatch the next shipment. This type of real-time access to current inventory levels helps businesses maintain a tighter inventory environment and reduce costs associated with inventory surpluses or shortages.

As competitive and economic pressures continue to squeeze profit margins, companies need to evaluate the most cost-effective way to become more productive and efficient operations in order to maintain their relevance in the marketplace. Without making a large investment, it is possible to link every aspect across the supply chain – sourcing and procurement, order fulfillment, inventory and the transportation and distribution of goods – and then synchronize all the corresponding data with existing enterprise systems. This information can then be accessed and updated in real-time by production managers, logistics managers, dispatchers and drivers in the field simply by using a GPS-enabled mobile phone.

By having an instant view of their mobile assets, companies will be much better equipped to react to changing conditions that range from unforeseen spikes in customer demand, to a shortage of raw materials, to a delivery fleet experiencing mechanical problems. A simple tool – a mobile phone – can have a powerful impact across a company’s entire supply chain.

Bob Halcrow
Bob Halcrow is vice president and general manager at Nextel Communications, based in Las Vegas.