How Fleet Managers Keep Can Keep Their Drivers Safe And Reduce Overall Fleet Costs With Advanced Mobility Reporting (VIDEO)

Purpose-built for mission critical mobile use cases, the XR Series Solution from Sierra Wireless delivers extensive telemetry, data collection and reporting capabilities. In this 3-minute video, see how Advanced Mobility Reporting (AMR) delivers best in class vehicle analytics that enable organizations to have a 360-degree view of their fleet of vehicles.

Keep in mind that the critical foundational piece to the success of any IoT application and its ecosystem is network quality. That said, we are uniquely positioned to source the right IoT solution for any IoT application whatever it may be.... including sensor technology, network connectivity, data analytics, and more. We can even help with the network design and security effort. All at ZERO cost to you. Simply ask us.... it's as easy as 1, 2, 3.

IoT Network Solutions

How Fleet Managers Innovate With IoT Technology To Track Anything, Anywhere (VIDEO)

With the help of IoT technology and the infrastructure to support it, a company can step into a new age of business and become a pioneer in their industry while increasing both productivity and profits.

To illustrate just such innovation.... watch this video to learn how using IoT technology can help you track your fleets, cargo, pallets, bins - practically anything that needs to be tracked - virtually anywhere in the world. Delivering critical asset tracking data back to fleet managers who will use it to plan their operations.

Keep in mind that the critical foundational piece to the success of any IoT application and its ecosystem is network quality. That said, we are uniquely positioned to source the right IoT solution for any IoT application whatever it may be.... including sensor technology, network connectivity, data analytics, and more. We can even help with the network design and security effort. All at ZERO cost to you. Simply ask us.... it's as easy as 1, 2, 3.

IoT Network Solutions

CONVERGIA IS MAKING THEIR IOT SMART ASSET TRACKING SOLUTIONS EVOLUTIVE

 Convergia is a Virtual Network Aggregator (VNA). With more than twenty years of experience in the industry, they have developed important strategic alliances with numerous leading technology companies worldwide. With Convergia’s Smart Asset Trackers solution, you can track anything from anywhere at any time. You can make informed decisions about your business with their Asset Tracking service; it will allow you to have information on all your assets-hardware and software throughout its life cycle.

Their asset management module has incredible features, including asset scanning methods, agent-based, and agent-less methods, barcode scanning, work network scans, and many more to import all your assets. Their management module also integrates with other ITSM processes, including incidents and management changes, to help you track all the tickets associated with your assets. When it comes to their Smart Assets Trackers solution, they have many flavors, but their most attractive package is their LPWAN solution, which includes:

• LP WAN (CAT-M-NB-IoT Module)
• IP-67 (water and dustproof)
• 8 years Battery Life
• Global SIM Card
• GPS and Cell Tower Location
• Sensors Information

Convergia makes their solutions evolutive; there are many options included in the unit to meet your specific business needs:

• Lumens sensor
• G-force
• Geofencing
• Temperature Sensors
• Humidity
• Impact Sensor
• GPS

CXC IOT APP FACTORY

Convergia’s CxC IoT App Factory combines a visual environment for the rapid design, integration, and development of applications with a scalable, secure, and robust runtime. It is compatible with all major IoT data platforms like IBM IoT, Azure IoT, AWS IoT, and many others to accelerate your industrial and enterprise IoT Digital Transformation.  Below you can view an example of the CXC IoT App Factory Platform, which includes pure information from one of their sensors.

To learn more about Convergia and take advantage of a comparison of 100s of other IOT solution vendors ... including FREE network design and sourcing support ... simply ask at FreedomFire Communications.

Supply Chain IoT Needs Blockchain To Fully Mature

For supply chain managers, tracking and tracing products is a nagging preoccupation. Manufacturers may ship their products across the globe, but they lack key data about shipment location and status as packages move from sea port to port.

Still, connected devices can’t help an industry whose data is largely paper based. For tracking and tracing to be fast and accurate, it needs to be digitized. That’s why supply chain observers say that IoT needs blockchain to usher the industry into the modern era.

Supply Chain IoT Needs Blockchain To Fully Mature

Keep in mind that the critical foundational piece to the success of any IoT application and it’s IoT ecosystem is network connectivity. That said, this FREE resource is uniquely positioned to source the right IoT connectivity solution for any IoT application whatever it may be....wired or wireless. They can even help with the network design and security effort. All at zero cost to you.  Simply ask....it's as easy as 1, 2, 3.

IoT Connectivity

Leveraging Technology In The Retail Supply Chain

By leveraging technology in the retail supply chain retailers can create a complete picture of their business operations....from the back office, to the production center, to the sales floor.

Read this article to learn how it’s done...

Leveraging Technology In The Retail Supply Chain

To learn more about how the Internet Of Things (IoT) can benefit your supply chain operations (e.g. asset tracking)....and what the best solutions are integrating IoT seamlessly into your existing business model...simply ask us at the following link. The assistance is free.....and it's as easy as 1, 2, 3.

IoT Connectivity

IoT-Enabled Asset Tracking Is Driving Business Innovation

Knowing the location and monitoring the health of your most valuable assets is critical to business operations. Thanks to Internet of Things (IoT) technology, remote tracking of everything from heavy equipment to fleets to luggage, patients, pets and kids can reduce risk, minimize inventory, save money and create new revenue streams for businesses, in addition to making life easier for consumers.

To learn how to take advantage of what IoT can do for your global supply chain and logistics ecosystem read this article.

IoT-Enabled Asset Tracking Is Driving Business Innovation

To learn more about how IoT-enabled asset tracking will benefit your business....and what the best solutions are for your industry to integrate tracking technology seamlessly into your existing business model. ....simply ask us at the following link. It's as easy as 1, 2, 3.

IoT Connectivity

Tip....How To Determine Network/Bandwidth Requirements For Supply Chain Management Systems

Following is a list of information packed articles to help you solve your bandwidth issues with a supply chain management system network design and installation. You'll get tips on what to look for, what to ensure is part of any design package, how to compare providers for any solution you decide upon, and where to find the best deals so you have the best chance at the most cost effective solution.

* What Bandwidth Solution (T1, DS3, OC3) Makes Sense For A Supply Chain Network?

“A company's supply chain network can be a complicated animal. To service this network of constant data sharing and storage requires a high performing reliable network backbone. An important part of the design is the right level of bandwidth support .... T1, DS3, or OC3 bandwidth circuits to be exact. Making the right decision on what circuit to choose means navigating a number of issues.”

* Meeting Your Bandwidth Requirements For Supply Chain Management Applications

"Deploying an Supply Chain Management (SCM) solution that provides the intended return on investment requires that the applications, servers, and enterprise network infrastructure work together seamlessly. This is easier said than done and will necessitate a thorough evaluation of your bandwidth needs to meet the demand."

* More On Meeting Your Bandwidth Requirements For Supply Chain Management Applications

"The key to a successful SCM implementation is a clear understanding of the business objectives and business requirements of the company the SCM primarily supports. This often includes a number of legacy systems which need to be integrated into the solution. From this will come the technical objectives to be met and the technical requirements that frame the solution. Only then will the communication requirements for bandwidth capacity, reliability, resiliency, latency, security, and expandability be meaningful."

IoT-Enabled Asset Tracking Is Driving Business Innovation

Knowing the location and monitoring the health of your most valuable assets is critical to business operations. Thanks to Internet of Things (IoT) technology, remote tracking of everything from heavy equipment to fleets to luggage, patients, pets and kids can reduce risk, minimize inventory, save money and create new revenue streams for businesses, in addition to making life easier for consumers.

IoT-enabled asset tracking is playing a greater role in the modern economy than ever before. A recent study found that an estimated $1.9 trillion of economic value could be created by the use of IoT devices and asset tracking solutions in the global supply chain and logistics sector. But in order to compete for a piece of this emerging, profitable market, you’ll need to know which IoT technology will benefit your asset tracking application and how to build a system that works seamlessly within your existing business model. By building a flexible, customized tracking system, you can reap the benefits of asset tracking without having to make significant changes to your business, saving you both time and money. A number of industries have adopted IoT-enabled asset tracking already, paving the way for the creation of new business opportunities and more efficient operations. 

Industries That Rely on IoT-enabled Asset TrackingIoT-enabled asset tracking can benefit more than just fleet managers or tracking-focused products. The following industries have had immense success and are continually innovating and adding new applications: 

• Travel: Luggage tracking 
• Agriculture/Conservation: Livestock and wildlife tracking 
• Consumer: Pet tracking, Child communication and tracking, bicycle location
• The “Sharing Economy”: Scooter and car sharing
• Vehicle Fleet Management 
• Industrial asset tracking
• Supply chain efficiency (from parcel, pallet, crate, to container tracking)

Each of these industries uses tracking solutions differently, but they all have something in common: they use wireless technology to get reliable data that they can use to provide valuable services related to the asset’s supply, or asset’s usage. By customizing their tracking solutions to meet the unique needs of their customers and their industries, these businesses can leverage more competitive advantages because they have all the data that they need to make intelligent—and fast—decisions. IoT-enabled asset tracking can be used broadly to engage new customers and improve business operations. 

Creating New Business Opportunities 
Today’s customers expect reliable, efficient tracking features for nearly all their connected devices, even those that serve another purpose. For instance, a child’s walkie-talkie will be more appealing to parents if the device includes an embedded GNSS tracker that tells parents where their children are located. Likewise for a dog collar that can perform heath checks and pin-point a beloved pet’s location if he goes missing. 

Using the latest cellular modules and Smart SIM cards, it’s easy to include worldwide connectivity as an add-on to an existing device, enabling new business models based on usage and not anymore based on ownership. A rail wagon equipped with a tracker can be sold as a service (lease on distance and time basis). Standard Low Power Wide Area (LPWA) technologies make cellular connectivity ideal for these types of solutions because they can deliver the key 3C’s  (low Cost, broad Coverage and low power Consumption). Even if your business isn’t centered around tracking technology, you can still use it to improve your product. A bicycle manufacturer might embed a small tracking module into the frame of the bike that customers can use to locate it if it’s stolen. By offering these tracking options to your customers, your product stands out against the competition.

Improving Business Operations
Beyond attracting more customers, IoT-enabled asset tracking can also improve the way your business works on a daily basis. Here are just a few benefits to IoT tracking that could save you time and allow your business to operate more smoothly: 

Cost Reduction: You can embed trackers into your products or shipping containers to avoid losing shipments, minimize inventory and invoice accurately for Demurrage & Detention. If an item is lost or stolen, you can immediately see where it’s located, allowing you to recover it. This saves replacement costs and time spent tracking the items down by phone or in-person. 

Faster Response Times: You can set up notifications for major events and respond to them quickly. For instance, a tracking device would notify you that one of the vehicles in your fleet hasn’t reached its destination on time, allowing you to immediately contact the driver and the intended recipient to work out a solution. You can even monitor whether your assets are used properly and take appropriate action if needed. 

Streamlined Operations: IoT-enabled asset tracking allows you to manage thousands of assets around the world from just one location. You can also reroute vehicle fleets, recall defective products or replenish new supplies to customers on the fly. And last but not least, you can plan maintenance when needed: no need to plan maintenance on a wagon, if you are aware that the wagon has not been used over a long distance.

More Detailed Data: How often do your customers use a certain feature on your device? Is the solar panel on your outdoor light working properly? How much time did it take to get your product to your distributor? Normally, these statistics would be difficult to track, but when you use IoT-enabled asset tracking, you can do so automatically. Insight into data like this could help you find areas where you can cut costs or improve your product. 

Building Your Tracking System 
IoT-enabled tracking will have a positive impact on your business operations, but designing an effective solution doesn’t have to be a challenge. 

Your solution can be customized to your needs. A local farmer might need reliable connectivity in rural areas for his livestock’s tracking collars, whereas a luggage tracking company needs global connectivity to track their devices anywhere in the world. That’s why it’s important to have the power to pick and choose the right technology that you need for your tracking system and use products that are purpose-built for the IoT. The components of your solution should include: 

Embedded Wireless Modules with integrated GNSS: Connect an existing device by adding a wireless module or gateway. 

Smart SIMs: Embed a SIM card into the tracking device to ensure you have resilient global connectivity and superior data service quality everywhere your tracking device goes. 

AirVantage® Platform: Build and deploy complete IoT tracking solutions. Connect all your devices to the cloud to keep your service running, manage your data and track locations, delivering an amazing, always-on user experience to your customers.

Hopefully You Attended the Expert Panel Webinar, "How IoT Enables the Tracking of Assets" on October 5th, 2017 to learn more.

To learn more about how IoT-enabled asset tracking from Sierra Wireless will benefit your business....and what the best solutions are for your industry to integrate tracking technology seamlessly into your existing business model. ....simply ask us at the following link.  It's as easy as 1, 2, 3.

IoT Network Management 

by Benoit Tournier, Director of Marketing, Transportation, Sierra Wireless