There is a growing call for efficient but much cheaper approaches to track and trace and on-the-road communications. Technology developments in Smart Phones are quite remarkable and the latest models have considerable computing power. This means that major operators, including 3PLs, retailers and manufacturers, can now recruit the services of smaller sub-contractors who were often ignored because of their lack of telematics capability. At Deltion we are launching CarrierNetMobile – an Android based app which provides  electronic PoD capability; fleet tracking; and satellite navigation. This is all linked through CarrierNet and integrated with traditional telematics output to provide a total fleet and order track and trace capability. And how much do you have to fork out for SmartPhones? The cheapest Android model we have found cost the grand sum of £35 – including VAT. The mobile revolution is rolling. They will become more agile and powerful and even more suitable for the modern lean logistics operation.

I have just finished attending The Logistics CIO & Supply Chain Technology Forum organised by EyeforTransport in Amsterdam. Once again the big discussion point was Visibility and Collaboration in the supply chain. There were represnatives from most industries – with the glaring exception of retail – from most European countries. It was the virtually unanimous view that supply chain visibility was key to collaboration and that these were the key to substantial efficiencies, customer service improvements and lower costs. Also more-or-less unanimous was the view that the Internet and Cloud Computing are the only way to achieve this.