TNT Express today announced plans to install 14,000 extra ‘Mobile Worker’ communication units indelivery vehicles across its global network over the next two years.
The handheld units – which enable delivery drivers to send and receive delivery information inreal-time through one smart scanner – are already operational in 25 countries and will beintroduced to depots in countries including China, South Africa and Italy in Q2 and Q3 2006, and inan additional 17 countries by the end of 2008.
“The decision to introduce the units in vehicles worldwide followed successful trials inFinland, UK, Italy and Singapore and will significantly improve the speed and efficiency of ourglobal delivery operations,” said Shwan Moubarak, Director of Information and CommunicationServices, TNT Express. “‘Mobile Worker’ consolidates seven different communication systems into oneunified and multi-functional solution and, in doing so, enables customers across the world to tracktheir shipments within five minutes of pick up. This is particularly useful for those operatingtime critical businesses,” he continued.
The in-cab ‘Mobile Worker’ units communicate directly with TNT’s main server in the UK. Thisenables hi-speed wireless communication of large quantities of data between depots and drivers,which improves driver efficiency and productivity. By implementing this ‘single system’ solution,TNT Express can deploy ‘Mobile Worker’ technology across the globe without the need to install andmaintain a server infrastructure in each participating country. Thus the introduction of ‘MobileWorker’ will create savings of up to 70 per cent in software and technology upgrades in the future,as there is no longer a need to upgrade seven different operating systems.
The significant expansion of the ‘Mobile Worker’ communications system follows the recent launchof TNT Express’ Enhanced Tracking service, which allows customers to track and filter multipleshipments at every stage of the delivery process with one click of a mouse.
