Mobile computing solutions help meet Covid challenges in transport and logistics operations

Simon Grisdale, managing executive of Bidvest Mobility, mobile computing and barcode specialists who provide solutions to the large players in the T&L and other sectors, commented: “The T&L landscape has shifted since the start of the pandemic, and operations are having to face different challenges, from new supply chain demands, e-commerce pressures, customer demands, to safety and health requirements.

“What’s been imperative is to include features in our T&L mobility solutions that efficiently manage social distancing, cleaning procedures and device traceability, while at the same time ensuring the operations can maintain service levels and get on with the T&L tasks at hand,” he said.

T&L operations use mobile computing and barcoding devices, such as barcode scanners, mobile computers and barcode printers to automate and efficiently manage the movement of goods through the supply chain. These mobile devices are used frequently throughout the day by many different operators, working on a shift basis, which makes it imperative to include processes such as the cleaning before and after usage, as well as a chain of custody to track mobile users to ensure Covid levels of safety and reporting are maintained.

Grisdale added: “To meet these new needs, Bidvest Mobility has partnered with Honeywell and FarEye to introduce a complete customisable T&L solution comprising specialised hardware, software and services that can help transform operations, increase accuracy, productivity, and efficiency to meet the needs of today’s world.”

Part of this customisable T&L mobility solution is the Honeywell Operational Intelligence software, a remote asset management platform that assists operations to keep their mobile-equipped employees productive, while helping them respond to local site health and safety compliance requirements. Features include asset check-out/check-in, remote control and device system wipe, device cleaning manager and social distance proximity detector.

“Equally important,” said Grisdale, “is to ensure that companies stay connected with their employees, particularly relevant during pandemic conditions. “We have added Honeywell Smart Talk, a unified workforce communications app that can be installed on all the mobile devices, so that an operation can enjoy the benefits of their employees being always connected and able to access critical information from the company headquarters and operational dispatch while out on the road making deliveries. Included is enterprise-grade security for voice calling, text and media messaging, and user presence – all from one mobile device.”

For more information on how Bidvest Mobility is helping leading T&L operations shape their future with mobile solutions, visit: https://www.bidvestmobility.co.za/honeywell/transport-logistics/

About Bidvest Mobility

Bidvest Mobility, part of the Bidvest Group, has years of expertise in providing mobile computing and barcoding solutions that harness the power of mobile technologies to meet the most demanding business challenges whilst driving transformation throughout the supply chain.

By combining the best-in-class enterprise mobility components – the right mobility platform, application software, mobile technologies and a range of support services – Bidvest Mobility ensures the seamless planning, development, integration, implementation and management of mobile applications to world-class standards. Their solutions are deployed across the supply chains of leading FMCG, retail, transport and logistics and industrial companies throughout South Africa.