Gamma Solutions and Interdev ink deal with Coastal Midwest Transport

The transport company recently undertook a series of pilot studies to determine the best way to improve delivery accuracy and efficiency.

The partnership means the two companies will assist Coastal Midwest Transport in monitoring its warehouse and trucking operations. Clients will also be able to track their deliveries, from despatch to arrival.

"One key area was the tracking of our freight logistics as they entered and departed out of our particular depots," " said James Olson, financial controller, Coastal Midwest Transport.

"The installation of the Transporta dispatch system and implementation of Intermec CN3's via Gamma Solutions technology has allowed us to increase the overall efficiency of our fleet usage, a vital area of our logistics operations.

"By using electronic data which can be then forwarded to clients, it provides us and our clients with a range of real-time tracking solutions," he added.

Key members of the Coastal Midwest Transport staff including all freight delivery drivers, operations personnel and members of the dispatch staff will be utilising the new freight logistics technology.

Customers in remote areas will also be able to use the technology, enabling them to track the progress of their delivery.

Prior to the installation of the Interdev freight monitoring technology application, there was no system in place.

The timescale of the pilot installation was split into five different stages over 12 months.

"The initial pilot project stage consisted of implementing the technology solutions into areas where specific large customers would see the greatest benefit," said Olson.

"These areas included our warehousing locations and our various despatch operations.

"The second stage consisted of undertaking installation work throughout the Perth area, including aspects of our pickup and delivery network.

"The third stage saw a detailed GPS system being installed, allowing for all trucks to be located with the use of the Google Enterprise Maps application.

"The final two stages of the project pilot saw the large client on site scan off and then a trace of all items," he added.

One of the reasons why the transport company employed Gamma Solutions and Interdev's technology was their ability to offer synergy between different technology tools; such as a legacy accounting and transport package, 'Freightmate' which was being used by Coastal Midwest Transport independently and has now been interfaced with the XMotion technology.

Gamma Solutions has deployed Intermec CN3's GPS enabled device as a hardware solution for Coastal Midwest Transport to assist in the scanning of barcode and assignment notes and different proof of delivery signatures.

By being able to offer a level of synergy between Interdev's XMotion product and the Intermec CN3, Gamma Solutions was able to offer a solution which was durable, high quality, reliable and cost effective.

"Different personnel will be able to use the technology at a number of specific stages. From identifying various freight items to creating manifests," said Olson.

Since the project was undertaken, a number of Coastal Midwest Transport's larger clients have requested the same technology to be interfaced with their own systems.

Ongoing technical support will be provided by Interdev and Gamma Solutions for the new freight distribution technology application with Gamma to assist in further streamlining Coastal Midwest Transport's delivery operations. 

Gamma Solutions is an Australian owned company, based in Melbourne, with offices in Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.

Founded in 1992, the company provides all the components of a mobile computing, RFID and data collection systems such as portable terminals, scanners, printers, wireless networks, middleware software and implementation services. 

Gamma Solutions is an Intermec Honours partner, a Cisco systems registered partner and a member of the Oracle partner network.