United Parcel Service introduced a new wireless package tracking system, created in conjunction with Motorola Inc., that uses American Mobile Satellite Corp.’s Ardis packet data network.
The system is the third generation of UPS’ Delivery Information Acquisition Device, called DIAD III. The new device features an embedded wireless radio modem that automatically transmits delivery data directly from the input device to the AMSC network, ending at UPS’ Data Center. The old version of the system required drivers to dock the device into a communications cradle inside the delivery truck to transmit tracking information and receive dispatches over circuit switched cellular networks.
“Before a driver walks away from the point of delivery, the information has been sent to the UPS Data Center for worldwide availability,” said Dudley Land, vice president of customer automation for UPS. “As soon as the delivery information is entered, that data is sent on the spot.”
Land said UPS averages 12.5 million package deliveries a day. Each have to be tracked, meaning the driver has to transmit a record of each delivery back to the UPS Data Center. The company receives 800,000 tracking requests a day.
Land said with that much data to transmit daily, the packet-based solution offered by AMSC is much quicker and cheaper. Drivers spending most of their day in a single office building or shopping mall have improved their response time to pickup requests by 30 minutes as a result of the solution, he said.
However, some analysts expressed concern at the $100 million price tag attached, which includes the solution’s development, devices and ongoing implementation to all 50,000 UPS drivers.
DIAD III also allows drivers and dispatchers to communicate. A light indicator on the device alerts drivers a message is waiting, which they can read/respond to when ready.
The solution was launched in 13 metropolitan areas last week. In areas where the company has not yet launched the solution, or where there is no Ardis coverage, drivers will continue to use the cellular docking cradle in the vehicle. Additionally, in areas where no cellular service is available, an internal acoustic modem and automatic dialer in the device allows drivers to transmit the data through a normal phone line.
UPS said it will roll out DIAD III in Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Miami, Minneapolis, New Orleans, New York and Philadelphia, as well as Fullerton and San Francisco, Calif.; Sarasota, Fla.; and Woodbridge, N.J. Additional markets will be added weekly, the company added.
