The sole value added distributor of Intermec's range of bar code scanners, RFID products, handheld computers and printers, ProScan Systems, has deployed over 230 Intermec CN3 mobile computers at Dawn Wing, in response to the company's drive to complete the automation of its tracking systems.
Dawn Wing, a member of the Laser Group and part of GeoPost, has been one of South Africa's leading domestic courier companies for almost 15 years and provides a host of express delivery solutions locally and internationally.
The automation of Dawn Wing follows the successful use of Intermec handheld computers for numerous years at GeoPost UK, one of the UK's leading parcel carriers and owner and operator of Interlink and Parceline, where it delivers more than 50 million parcels per year.
"Dawn Wing has a national footprint servicing the whole of South Africa through distribution hubs in all the major centres," says Ashen Govender, national IT director at Dawn Wing. "With a staff complement of 420 employees servicing 231 routes daily, we realised our track-and-trace procedures, previously managed on a manual basis, could be far more effective if automated.
"Dawn Wing has invested heavily in its online presence, virtual private network and mobility systems, but the track-and-trace system was maintained predominantly through the Internet and focused on client reporting and follow-through of shipments.
"Once the CN3 mobile computer features had been demonstrated, we realised the true benefits it would bring to both the staff and clientele of Dawn Wing as a whole."
ProScan Systems' Peter White, channel director at the company, says the CN3, introduced locally in March this year, is feature-rich and offers the high levels of durability demanded by customer-centric organisations like Dawn Wing. "Designed to meet the needs of workers performing critical tasks, the CN3 mobile computer delivers a powerful combination of communications technologies in a compact, rugged package."
White says until now staffers at Dawn Wing were responsible for the safety and maintenance of a variety of devices, like cellphones, GPS units, pagers, laptops, scanners and cameras in order for them to effectively track parcels on the move.
"The introduction of the CN3 units has rendered the need for multiple devices redundant. Built to survive the rigours of the road, these units meet rugged, standards-based environmental specifications providing features that meet the needs of mobile workers."
With standard WiFi, Bluetooth and a choice of integrated, network independent GPS receiver and WAN voice and data services, the CN3 enables Dawn Wing to stay connected with its mobile workforce in real-time, driving improved efficiencies and increased asset visibility across its operations.
The mobile computer provides access to information at the point of work, allowing Dawn Wing to dynamically deploy the right resources to the right location, and enabling their mobile workers to tap into the information they need to work most effectively.
"With mobile intelligence at our fingertips, we can increase customer responsiveness while also reducing inventory and transportation costs," says Govender. "The CN3 also promises to show a high return on investment as productivity has already seen a boost, with the reduction in human error and the streamlining of operations."
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