printer friendly version

Optimum fleet solutions

DigiCore’s New C-track range of Optimum GPS/GSM fleet management systems are based on the latest world-class technology providing the most comprehensive realtime vehicle management, mobile workflow solutions, tracking and operations monitoring systems available.

New C-track is based on two newly developed hardware platforms both utilising the global positioning system (GPS) to provide vehicle position with 10 m average accuracy and the GSM (MTN or Vodacom) networks to transmit information realtime 24-hours a day, all year round.

DigiCore's New C-track range is powerful and flexible, providing users with unprecedented visibility and control over their vehicles, engaging advanced techniques to maximise the amount of data that can be transmitted, while minimising the costs and communication load.

New technology provides a company with five main opportunities:

* The first is to reduce costs.

* The second to improve reliability.

* Then efficiencies.

* The fourth is to improve maintainability.

* The fifth allows increased functionality to be introduced.

Focusing on these five areas has led to two major developmental programmes within DigiCore, supported, of course, by its strategic partners. Firstly, a new mobile technology, appropriately called 'SOLO' has been developed that promises to put DigiCore once again in a category of its own. Secondly, DigiCore is upgrading its acclaimed C-track 2000 control room application using the latest development tools, IT technologies and standards.

These two technology programmes form the basis of DigiCore's new products and provide DigiCore with the flexibility to expand and adapt to new market directions very quickly.

Standards approvals

According to Digicore, the SOLO technology had passed its first tests with flying colours. During August 2002, it received full GSM type approval and the 'E' and 'e' certification for use in Europe. For those unaware of the new certification requirements, the EU has replaced the ineffective CE mark with a controlled and mandatory certification process for all electronic automotive units. Without this certification it is illegal to sell or install an electronic unit in a vehicle in Europe.

The SOLO technology is scaleable and allows for the cost-effective implementation of a small track-and-trace unit as well as fleet management units such as the current Co-Driver and C-Track applications. It also supports logistic and supply chain management systems and has specific features for enabling workflow and workforce management.

Finally, it provides a mobile communication gateway on the vehicle for customised operations support using PDAs, GSM/GPRS, Bluetooth, Satellite, Mobitex and Internet-enabled applications.

The first products have been very extensively field-tested during 2003, and DigiCore will soon start announcing products based on the new technology.

DigiCore's latest products boast extremely low power consumption of the SOLO units. Compared to the latest published power specifications of competitors' units, a SOLO unit draws approximately 10% of the typical power in idle mode. Other advanced power modes developed by DigiCore allow the units to operate for months in untethered applications, only drawing power from its internal battery.

Adding to this, GPRS networks promise to reshape the fleet management, workforce automation and supply chain industries based on significantly reduced communication costs and the always-on concept. DigiCore has been evaluating GPRS-based communication with Solo-based units and will release GPRS-based products during 2003, when it is confident the potential of this new technology can be fully realised.

The C-Track control room

The use and integration of tracking and wireless communication technologies in the logistics and workforce automation industries makes it essential that the information gathered on the vehicle is efficiently passed onto all the stakeholders in the company. While the original C-Track application was aimed at the needs of fleet and security managers, the upgraded version now adds to the list the needs of the logistic and operations managers.

The new C-Track control room application will have optimised route planning and monitoring built in and will support more database systems. An important design criteria is to ensure C-Track easily integrates with management information systems like JD Edwards and SAP, while supporting 3rd party tools. The upgrade is done using the latest .NET and C# development tools from Microsoft, improving scalability and remote maintenance and support of the application.

Share this article:

Further reading: