Cloud Connectivity in Transport Delivery

An Industry Insight by RedPrairie

Ubiquitous and universal ‘cloud’ connectivity will soon generate huge changes in the movement of goods within supply chains. Mobile 2.0 technologies promise the availability of automatic and continuous device connectivity not available in today’s point-to-point communication infrastructure. Drivers and equipment will be connected at any point in the transport journey allowing for continuous, real-time visibility and the opportunity for collaborative services and plan adjustments along the route. Additional capabilities of cloud computing will enable sophisticated transportation delivery with dynamic combinations of loosely coupled cloud services working together in unique ways to bring real-time information, processing and collaboration to transportation planning and execution applications.

Advanced transport planning and execution systems already connect with corporate fleet drivers and equipment to provide continuous GPS updating of a truck’s position to the delivery plan, allowing drivers to receive turn-by-turn directions and updates. More advanced collaborative applications on mobile devices will enable additional services such traffic updates (including traffic congestion images); interaction through online wikis/blogs with fellow drivers, headquarters and customers; relay status updates on in-transit inventory levels; monitor and forward real-time updates on the temperature of pallets containing high priced refrigerated products such as premium meats; and communicate the tamper status of expensive electronic products from secure trailer locking active RFI tags.

The dynamic linking of cloud based services and communication between shippers, drivers and customers promises intriguing possibilities. For example, 10 miles from the customer’s facility the truck’s GPS position and contents could be automatically transmitted via Wi-Fi or cell to the customer, invoking a local web service to evaluate the pending arrival, and direct the driver to the appropriate receiving dock. As the truck unloads, the position is again communicated to the planning system and based on remaining in-transit inventory, proximity of potential next customers and other cloud based input on traffic congestion, weather and road conditions, a plan for the next delivery is created and communicated to the driver’s in-cab mobile computer.

Cloud computing will enable sophisticated delivery optimizations with full consideration of real-time environmental conditions. Transportation planning systems will be capable of reaching out to an array of cloud data sources and content not readily available to today’s enterprise IT infrastructures. With next generation cloud linked infrastructures, applications will have access to internal and external knowledge resources that will evaluate real-time environmental information in planning transport delivery options. Shared cloud applications will provide up to date traffic conditions, information on the nearest restaurant or hotel, locate the cheapest diesel source within the next 100 miles, alert drivers to changing weather conditions, and identify the location of accidents along the planned route. Access to this type of dynamic information will be just a touch-screen away in the driver’s cab.

Even more advanced, onboard fleet monitoring devices will monitor the engine idling time, braking time and take measurements of combustion gas emissions. It will be possible to calculate how green the vehicle performance is in real-time. Today, real-time positional data is already being communicated back to planning systems to overlay with the original route and dynamically recalculate predicted arrival times. With an expected variance to plan that will result in late delivery, customers can be automatically notified of the impending situation, and alternative delivery arrangements can be made to meet the original commitment, including diverting nearby in-transit vehicles to the high-priority customer.

Availability of images and video streams through web connectivity to mobile devices will provide additional value. Drivers could attach pictures to in-transit communications that capture loading configurations, damage for claims processing, or of receiving satellite images to provide birds’ eye views of congested areas to better assess driving alternatives.

Ultimately, cloud computing will provide many dynamic options for planning, visibility and collaboration that will bring unexpected value to the transport delivery process. The next several years will see exciting innovation with significant benefits to the processes of delivering goods in the supply chain.