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Solutions > Container Tracking Solution Partners: Software solution by ITC Infotech, GPS & GPRS Solution by EI Labs

Container Tracking

Introduction
Our Solution
Solution Overview

Business Need

Typical business challenges that arise of this situation are:

  • Bottlenecks in real-time location of Containers, leading to inefficient business processes.
  • Inoperable planning, resulting in heavy congestion in the container terminals causing delays.
  • Underutilization of the terminal capacity due to lack of visibility of empty storage slots leading to loss of revenue.

Business Benefits

  • Greater Visibility and Control over Terminal operations.
  • Improved Terminal Operational Efficiency by about 40% in terms of asset turnover and labor productivity.
  • Real-time container tracking.
  • Optimal utilization of terminal capacity.
  • Online seamless access to End Customers.
  • Terminal Dashboard as value addition.

Search Tool and Report generation

  • RFID-based automatic tracking system can identify and keep track of containers that are located anywhere in the warehouse.
  • The amount of idle inventory tied up in storage can be greatly reduced through effective use of the information provided by the system.
  • RFID solutions can also reduce the time and cost for counting stock as it enters the warehouse by collecting the data automatically and virtually eliminating the need for manual intervention.

Container Management Solution by N-NET

CONVERTING DREAMS INTO REALITY (IMPLEMENTATION STEPS)

The proposed and implemented solution is based on the concept of online, real time tracking of containers at CFS by integrating Passive RFID system along GPS/GPRS device. The integrated solution works at 865 - 868 MHz.

The Container tracking and management system uses Passive RFID system to identify the container; GPS is used to determine the location of the container within the yard and GPRS/GSM to transmit the information to the server.

  • Commissioning of Tags- When a container enters the yard a passive RFID tag is attached to the container. Each tag has a unique factory programmed ID (UID).The tag ID is then associated with the container.
  • Hardware Installation- GPS device is integrated along with Long range RFID reader.
  • System Integration- When the crane picks up the container the RFID reader reads the RFID tag. The information along with the location is transmitted through GPRS/GSM to the server.
  • Reporting- A web portal has been designed for customers to locate the containers within the yard.

HARDWARE REQUIRED

  • RFID Tags: Electronic Tag is a reusable magnetic-attached tag specially designed to adapt metal environment of container productionline and yard.
  • RFID Readers: Integrated Reader with GPS and GSM is resistant to the harsh environment of container yard and designed to be integrated into reach stacker and Gantries.
  • Networking Infrastructure: GPRS/GSM

(RFID based Container Tracking)

After containers leave factory, it is difficult to keep real time tracking of their location and condition; it is also a time-consuming and error-prone process to locate specified container in the container yard; container yard is not fully utilized because of the incapability of realtime tracking the quantity and location of containers inside the container yard. Container tracking solution fits best for corporations with large fleet of containers and vehicles which require some sort of system to determine where each container is at a given point of time.

Problem Areas:

  • Upon entering the yard the container's location has to be noted manually by official once it is kept in the lay down area.
  • The exact location of the container that has to be moved or delivered is not known to the crane operator hence the crane has to move around the yard which means an increase in operating expenses.
  • Most of the time the client has to direct the crane operator towards the container.
  • Human intervention results in issue pertaining to integrity of data/delay in service/low turnover ratio of containers.

Benefits of using RFID Systems:

  • Track the location of containers within the warehouse.
  • Notify management and security when unscheduled movements occur.
  • Reduce costs and time for check-in and check-out as containers and pallets enter and leave the warehouse.
  • Reduce time simply looking for assets and time wasted manually recording the movement and location of assets therefore impairing mission readiness.
  • Increasing accuracy of command level visibility to the location of critical assets of all types, and all times..

Technology Comparison

Barcode or paper-and-pencil
inventory system.

  • Increase in time and financial
    costs.
  • Less reliable, more labor
    intensive method
  • Barcodes can be damaged or
    become unreadable
  • Pencil-and paper requires
    multiple handling of data, which
    can be lost or damaged even
    before it is entered into the
    system.
  • With read ranges of only a few
    inches, employees are
    sometimes climbing on
    containers scanner in hand to
    reach the target-a dangerous
    practice.

ROI Considerations

  • Reduction of the
    total pool of assets
    as a result of the new
    visibility.
  • Reduction in labor
    associated with the
    automated
    management of the
    pool.