PalletForce, a distribution network that transports
goods to companies across the UK, is installing a cutting-edge
tracking system based on a service oriented architecture
(SOA).
PalletForce, which operates 2,500 vehicles, will use SOA-based
software, broadband links and wireless systems to track and trace
pallets, and manage their transportation and delivery. It will also
use a wireless network to automate the scanning and weighing
process in its warehouses.
The Transport Management System (TMS), will automate order
entry, shipments, depot and hub management, customer relationship
management, billing, and electronic proof of delivery, which will
allow signatures to be collected electronically and transmitted via
GPRS.
The various processes are orchestrated and controlled by Sonic
Software's Sonic enterprise service bus, a central application
built on an SOA.
TMS, which is due to go live in April, includes software from
Trans-Axion. The supplier will host TMS at three datacentres in
London, Southampton and Belgium, providing resilience and disaster
recovery capability in the event of a system failure.
UK depots will be able to access the application through
broadband connections from their PCs. Staff will then be able to
access information stored on the central Progress Openedge database
to track pallets at each step of their journey.
"TMS facilitates a massive leap forward, enabling us to grow the
size of the network without compromising service, and provide
real-time systems visibility to our members and their customers,"
said Jayne Hawkes, who led the PalletForce IT project team.
Capitalising on SOA