Global Freight Tracking – Industrial Internet of Things (IoT) tracking and monitoring devices

Supply chain professionals know the cost of cargo loss isn’t just limited to theft and dam- age. Lots of other financial costs manifest in the form of higher insurance claims, replacement shipments and lost revenues from cancelled deliveries.

In 2004, The National Cargo Security Council (NCSC) estimated that the global financial impact of cargo loss exceeded $50 billion annually. Rather than decreasing, that number rose to around $55 billion in 2015 according to a report by BSI which can be read here.

While several companies use enhanced security features like satellite tracking and metal locks, GPS can be ineffective if indoors or stacked beneath other containers. Locks are often made with a brittle cast iron material that can be broken within 30 seconds.

In order to curb these losses, logistics managers would benefit from the use of an Industrial Internet of Things (IoT) tracking and monitoring device. If cellular enabled, a device can provide world wide coverage and work in any location without worry about signals becoming blocked by buildings or stacked containers, a typical drawback with GPS.

Third party logistical providers who commonly have an issue with recurring physical dam- age to cargo can have a sensor attached to the cell-id enabled device that will monitor movement, temperature or humidity. When a predetermined threshold has been reached, an alert will be sent to the appropriate administrators who can then take immediate action to remedy the situation.

The introduction of IoT-enabled technology into highly interdependent logistical networks will have far-reaching payoffs for many players along the value chain.

IoT Solar Systems: Delivering optimal energy storage with remote battery maintenance

An increasing number of commercial and industrial businesses are turning to solar as a means of reducing electricity costs. Solar power needs are as diverse as they industries they serve, and renewable energy providers can find themselves installing panels in remote locations where power and electricity are lacking.

Battery banks are one of the most complicated and costly components of a renewable energy system installation. Connected with parallel wiring, multiple batteries work together as one large battery to operate at a required voltage and amperage.

Most companies use flooded lead-acid batteries over AGM and gel batteries which are more expensive. Even though wet batteries have higher maintenance needs, their history of proven performance and industry acceptability creates a favorable benefit cost ratio (BCR).

The proper care and maintenance of solar battery systems are essential for maximum energy storage. While keeping up with regular yearly maintenance for private residential use can be a relatively simple process, large renewable energy solutions providers have hundreds of installations that need to be monitored.

As part of the maintenance package for customers, solar solutions providers send out drivers on a regular basis to service the large battery systems needed to power the installations.

 

To prevent failure and preserve the life of wet cell batteries requires the periodic addition of fluid to maintain optimal levels. A dry cell can ruin a very expensive battery and the challenge is optimizing service schedules to prevent cells from drying out but also avoiding unnecessary labor from dispatching service checks prematurely.

By utilizing Internet of Things (IoT) technology, companies can create a system for automated remote service verification.

Using a small device attached a sensor, fluid levels can be monitored from any web enabled phone, computer or tablet via a dedicated IoT platform from companies like GeoTraq. Each device attached to a battery can be programmed to check fluid levels at timed-intervals in addition to sending specific alerts should fluid levels drop below a predetermined threshold.

Through use of remote monitoring, solar solutions providers can gain up to a three- fold benefit in saving on labor costs, extending the life-cycle of inventory and providing exceptional service to their customers.

An Education in Efficiency: Using Cellular IoT & USSD Network for energy monitoring in statewide school systems

Across the country, school districts are dealing with shrinking budgets. Increasingly, important funds are being diverted to rising energy bills, often the second largest annual budget item behind salaries. In the face of escalating operating costs, many districts have to o set costs in other ways, like reducing maintenance and other resources that affect facilities.

On top of dealing with reduced upkeep, many school buildings are decades old and not energy efficient. Since most schools can’t afford to rebuild entire campuses with energy efficient buildings, districts and departments of education are often looking for other ways to save money and reduce utility costs.

While not widely advertised, there are a number of state and federal programs that provide energy incentives in the form of rebates, grants and loans. The purpose of these programs is to support new technology for energy efficiency and ultimately reduce the cost of operating facilities to save money in the long term.

Since school’s cannot operate without lights, heating or cooling, the creation a smart energy solution with a company like GeoTraq can help education departments develop a statewide energy monitoring system.

Experts in long-range, wireless cellular connectivity, GeoTraq technology allows energy systems to be monitored statewide from any web enabled device. Independent of Bluetooth and WiFi, districts will also benefit from the substantial savings that sidestep the added expenditure of additional infrastructure like routers, gateways or antennas.

Using GeoTraq’s cellular IoT network, sensors can be used in devices set to alert administrators when mold is detected, asbestos, gas and water leaks. Excess or insufficient wattage for heaters, air conditioners, refrigerators and freezers can also be monitored. Light and temperature sensors can be used to maintain the appropriate amount of light for learning and keep indoor climates within the 67 ̊- 74 ̊F range, which is optimal for facilitating reading and math skills.

Remote energy monitoring will keep costs down by reducing operational expenditures in the form of utilities and labor. The benefit of less money going out means more resources can be used towards classroom instruction and the provisioning of a safe and comfortable environment for learning.

Home Health Care – Managing Medical Costs with Remote Patient IoT Monitoring

Due to the growing population of aging adults who are in continuous need of more home-based services, many home health agencies are facing staffing challenges. The reasons vary from finding people who are willing to travel long distances in inclement weather to problems that come with an aging workforce who lack strong computer and documentations skills.

Faced with a limited number of staff and a small inventory of expensive medical equipment, agencies can make the most of their human and physical assets with resource optimization. Applying Internet of Things (IoT) technology to the home healthcare industry can pave the way to more effective and efficient care.

Patient Monitoring: Ideal for non-critical chronic care, GeoTraq connected devices can transmit daily treatment results and device usage data to medical providers using remote verification. This information will increase the accuracy of patient monitoring by allowing the progress of treatment regimens to be easily tracked by doctors.

Patient Benefits: Home Health agencies will also save costs on labor and transportation for home visits. The benefit of labor avoidance is that it will allow quality of care to increase as more staff becomes available to spend time at home visits that require additional time for skilled care and complex treatments.

GeoTraq enabled devices will also be able to provide location updates to ensure medical equipment is located in an appropriate place and generate an alert if it malfunctions.

Care Provider Benefits: In addition to the above benefits, using connected devices will also allow home health agencies to be more competitive. Coupled with the reduced cost of care, agencies will be able to charge less for the use of medical equipment, attract more customers and ultimately generate higher pro ts for a significant ROI through the use of GeoTraq technology.

Use Case: Smart Shipping Boxes helps provide Fresh Fish using IoT technology

GeoTraq is working with a packaging is a company that specializes in the distribution of fresh meat, seafood and produce. Since every product being shipped and consumed must be packaged, they are often approached by companies looking for unique solutions to transport perishable products.

Our newest client, a seafood product distributor, has been delivering freshly caught seafood from the eastern US coast to specialty restaurants and grocery chains for decades. To capture a new market segment, the distributor has decided to add a new service to their business model that involves shipping fresh seafood directly to customer homes within 24 hours of being removed from the ocean.

Dedicated to ensuring a traceable supply chain, the seafood distributor is adamant about maintaining a reputation for consistency and delivering the freshest possible goods to their customers. Eager to comply with federal regulatory standards, they know that from the moment sh lands on their fishing vessels to the moment it reaches the customer’s doorstep, it is their responsibility to remove hazards that would compromise the product and ultimately the customers health.

 

In order to help their clients provide next level service, the packaging company has decided to incorporate GeoTraq’s Cell-ID technology into the framework of their boxes. To achieve this, the packaging company will build a permanent compartment into each seafood box for a device that will monitor the internal temperature of the box as well as its location and report the exact temperature of the box when its opened at its nal destination.

This smart shipping container will not only allow the seafood distributor to negotiate lower insurance premiums due to the reduced likelihood
of spoilage and potentially food-borne illness, they will readily be able to address any disruptions in quality along their supply chain. This new way of providing ocean to table quality ensures an exceptional level of customer service and adds a highly e ective layer of quality control.

As a high demand necessity, packaging must increasingly satisfy many demands relative to safety, convenience, efficiency and identification. Moving forward, the packaging company will be able to o er Internet of Things (IoT) enabled smart boxes as part of their menu of service offerings to new and existing clients.