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Where on earth are my assets?

Do you really get maximised value and return on investment from your asset tracking system? Hi-Tech Security Solutions asked industry what systems are available, whether they are worthy of their cost and whether they actually do what they are supposed to do.

There are a number of technologies used in asset tracking systems, including GPRS, GSM, 3G, RFID, NFC and even WiFi. While the choice of technology is often based on personal preferences, the underlying decision-making is dependent more on reliability, speed of transmission and continuity of signal.

Nellis Basson, MD of Instacom, said that the company has developed an holistic solution (Toughshield) that embraces all the above-mentioned technologies. Deon Bayly, MD of Electronic Tracking Systems, said that his company uses GSM (Mtrack), GPRS (MtrackPro, MtrackFleet), GPS (MtrackPro, MtrackFleet) and RFID (Mtrack and MtrackTag) technologies. In most cases, these products combine some or all of these technologies to give the client the best possible solution for their needs. WiFi is really only used for communication and macro positioning.

Hennie Ras, MD of Authentic Traceability, said that the market wants a business solution with traceability as the key enabler. “Different technologies are required in different environments. Another distinction that needs to be made is between data capturing and the information management components. These elements need to be considered separately in order to guarantee an effective system.”

Ras continued that with regard to data capture it is definitely a case of ‘horses for courses’. “It is a good idea to adopt a diverse portfolio and then to mix and match the correct elements for best customer fit. Information management should be performed as a separate function on a dedicated information platform. For example, using the FACTT Authentication Platform (FAP), one can take the information from barcode readers, RFID readers, biometric fingerprint readers and other sources to track people and assets. This allows for complete operational visibility and, in addition to the security benefits, lets the client view both productivity and utilisation of assets in real-time.”

Ras said that the company employs a number of technologies and typically utilises WiFi in warehouse applications when mobile devices are used for scanning barcodes.

People

Basson pointed out a number of challenges facing the modern day security industry. “These include tracking remote staff time and attendance, the communication stability of traditional two way radios, high costs of guard patrolling tools and the technology to streamline these procedures. Being able to combine all these functions together and coupled with Push to Talk technology, Instacom’s Toughshield may be the perfect solution. Best of all, without the need for repeaters business development and communication expansion has never been easier.

“With regards to staff time and attendance, we are able to accurately record and monitor this interaction using the latest in Near Field Communication technology. When a guard arrives at a scheduled location, he will be requested to sign in by scanning a recognition tag. Once the 'start shift' prompt has been selected the Toughshield device will request the guard to scan his identity card and include a self-shot photograph of himself to ensure all is in order with the right person being at the right location,” Basson explained.

With regards to guard patrolling, NFC provides a great platform by allowing companies to insert recognition tags at predetermined locations around a given site location. Guards can then patrol the site and report at these locations by scanning additional recognition tags. “Using our latest smartphone device, a GPS location signal will be sent to the supervisor or control room identifying a presence at that location. Predetermined command prompts will then guide guards through any actions required at that location thus ensuring accountability for the security service provider. All incidents are immediately recorded and stored for reporting when necessary,” Basson said.

Processes

Ras said that the FAP system allows a great deal of mobility. “Companies should be concerned not only with the physical movement of their assets, but also with the accountability of people handling the assets at any specific time, for example handovers, dispatch and receive, inspections, collection, loading, offloading at delivery point. This allows for a chain of custody monitoring and reporting. The unique item level identifier code on each item means that duplication is eliminated for precise traceability.”

According to Ras, FAP is not only useful from a security perspective, but also plays a role in making operational processes more efficient. “The client’s workflow layout and business rules determine how the traceability and visibility solution is configured and govern the underlying information system. In this manner, the system bridges the gap between the people at the workface, the managers and the clients.”

So what is different?

Ras said that his company does not sell traceability but rather a business solution based on traceability. “Operations visibility is extremely important so we have determined to configure the solution around a client’s business and provide visibility on all item flows and handling events.”

Basson indicated that there are other solutions on the market. “These solutions come individually wrapped with individual price tags which result in high costs and logistical frustration. Instacom’s service offering combines the entire package into one more affordable rugged military-spec device.”

“Electronic Tracking Systems is industry-focused rather than product-focused in its approach to finding client solutions. We believe in providing customised, rather than boxed solutions,” said Bayly.

Where is the ROI?

“I believe that when individuals request an asset tracking system, it is predominantly for insurance compliance reasons and ROI is less important. When a commercial client considers asset tracking, they are focused on acquiring a suitable return on their investment. Our product, Mtrack, is a wireless device that can be covertly placed in cargo to ensure that not only the transportation vehicle (truck) is monitored and tracked, but more importantly, all of the assets are tracked, even when they are under cover or inside buildings,” said Bayly.

“Using the system, one can also track the workforce responsible for the assets to ascertain whether they are working according to predetermined schedules or whether they are wasting company time. Daily, weekly and monthly reports will highlight trends and allow management to take remedial action,” he added.

Basson agreed, adding that one can set up an appointments schedule via the device. “This translates into the system becoming a workflow solution that allows one to integrate job cards and invoicing via the GPS position of the sales person.”

“In order to provide maximised ROI, it is necessary to work closely with clients to determine their specific process and business needs. While there are a number of systems on the market, many do not have visibility as a standard. In addition, any system needs to integrate seamlessly into a client’s own business environment. Unfortunately, many businesses adopt the point solution approach. This means that the system operates at only a specific step in the business process. The ideal solution is geared towards saving the company money and making it more competitive,” Ras said.

“The value of vehicle tracking is not necessarily apparent in the possible loss of the vehicle but rather in the organisation’s operational effectiveness. Security of the vehicle should not be the primary concern for companies, since insurance is instituted for that very reason. Business efficiency should be the foremost factor when adopting a tracking system. A question businesses need to answer is whether there is a governance framework in place to manage the huge amounts of visibility data. Solutions of this kind are designed to operate enterprise-wide in order to be totally cost effective,” he continued.

“If you decide to track people’s involvement in all item handling events, you need to institute accountability for the assets and the handling of assets through chain of custody monitoring and reporting, for example, during physical visits to client sites. You need to add people to the physical asset tracking for comprehensive visibility of field work in, for example, execution of service level agreements,” said Ras.

“By having all your assets marked with a barcode or similar unique identification system, one can request the field engineer, for instance, to scan the barcode and use his fingerprint on a biometric scanner, which then provides management with the time and location of both a maintained product and the service technician. One can then construct a service level agreement (SLA) profile that tracks both the service staff, replacement components and the maintenance event itself,” Ras added.

System talk

So now we have all these solutions, but can they be integrated into other existing infrastructures? Bayly said that Mtrack utilises an API (application program interface) that allows it to integrate with most other systems. Basson similarly said that Toughshield accommodates the majority of platforms.

Ras said that FAP uses standard interfaces and is hosted in the cloud and is accessed via a browser. “This allows it to exchange traceability data with existing systems via web based standards and protocols.”

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