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What's Happening
With Wireless? |
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Another application which new wireless
devices can support is GPS or Global Positioning System http://www.gpstoday.com/aboutgps.htm>
which have many potential supply chain functions. One of these
is the identification of current location for employees, assets
or equipment within your supply chain. Secondly, GPS can be
used to provide relevant directions and map information to roving
users or delivery drivers. And finally, remote users can also
use GPS technology http://www.comm-nav.com/tech.htm>
to mark specific physical locations electronically for later
location or retrieval. |
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| Last but not least in our review
of supply chain applications for wireless technologies is Microburst
Wireless http://www.aeris.net/sitev2/technology/F_technology.htm>.
Developed and marketed by the firm Aeris.net http://www.aeris.net/>,
this low cost wireless technology allows for the utilization
of the cellular network backbone to send out 8-bit microburst
packets which are then communicated through the internet directly
to supply chain management applications for tracking/connectivity
purposes. This in effect has the potential of extending real
time asset tracking and supply chain management to all areas
covered by a wireless network. |
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| Most of the discussion to this point
has focussed on the functions and applications of wireless technology
networks, but the supporting hardware is also evolving and converging
at the same time. Effective and useful wireless connectivity
can come from a number of unit types ranging from tiny Pager
Type devices, to advanced cell phones, personal digital assistants,
palm top computers |
| http://palmtops.about.com/compute/palmtops/mbody.htm
Windows CE |
| http://palmtops.about.com/compute/palmtops/msub65.htm
devices and finally sub or traditional notebook computers. |
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| These advances and the explosion
of wireless is being further fuelled by improving (larger) screen
sizes and resolutions on these devices, integrated barcode scanning,
as well as dropping hardware costs. Additionally, the ability
of these units to now connect to remote applications through
the web means even more complex functions and applications running
on remote servers can be easily and effectively accessed, updated
and interacted with. |
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| Convergence
http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-200-328134.html?st.ne.fd.mdh
in functionality is also happening at a rapid pace with the
capability of one device to replace the need to have a seperate
pager, cellphone, message recorder and personal digital assistant
with one "swiss army knife" device. The Nokia 7110 < http://www.nokia.com/phones/7110/index.html>
to be released early in 2000 is only one example of what's in
store. Companies involved in the hardware side of wireless can
be found in this listing from Brian Newman our About.com Guide
for the Wireless Communications Industry. |
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| Due to the speed of development and
growing complexity of the wireless field, it is important for
Logistics and Supply Chain Professionals to have at least a
basic understanding of the types of tools which are available.
This knowledge will allow you to formulate your needs and talk
intelligently with IS and other industry professionals as you
jointly design and deploy wireless applications and hardware
which will no less than revolutionize the service, quality and
communications provided to both customers and partners throughout
your extended supply chain. |
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| Source: http://logistics.about.com/library
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