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What You Should Know about Multi-Compartment Routing

September 25, 2019 by admin Leave a Comment

Data-Driven Logistics

Multi-compartment route optimization can save 20% of your total transportation costs by creating smarter routes and using more of your trucks’ capacity.

If you deliver bulk products and have more than 10 trucks/depot and don’t use multi-vehicle/multi-compartment routing, you’re missing opportunities to improve operational efficiency and customer service.

Multi-compartment routing allows you to define capabilities and a compatibility matrix so the optimization software can build the lowest cost routes, use the least amount of trucks and still meet customer delivery constraints like service hours.

There’s a lot wrapped up in this statement, so let’s outline what the optimization process does and how you use a multi-compartment routing solution.  Our solution differentiates itself in multi-compartment routing, especially with products like lubricants where combo trucks have a variable number of compartments.  There are 3 keys to our multi-compartment routing solution:

  • Compatibility matrix
  • Capabilities and calendars (service windows)
  • Route optimization

Step 1 – Compatibility Matrix

The first step of the configuration is to set up trucks and trailers with compartments and compatibilities.   For example, a tank-wagon may have 4 fixed compartments plus 2 slots for pallets.  Or a combo truck may have 10 slots that are all variable, where slot 1 can contain a pallet today and a bulk tote tomorrow.

For each compartment, you define the allowed products (compatibility matrix), filling requirements, volume and total weight.  These will be factored in to prevent over-filling as well as being over-weight.

Our solution has service capabilities per compartment, along with filling requirements.  An empty clear diesel compartment can take dyed diesel, or a 0W20 can take a different lubricant if the compartment is washed. This applies to all bulk products, so you can have the same filling compatibility whether you are filling organic milk on top of regular milk, 0W20 on top of 5W20, or 8% bleach on top of a 12% bleach.

The optimizer understands variable compartment layouts where slot 1 contains a 500 gal tote today but tomorrow contains a 330 gal tote.  The compatibility matrix is a key part of the setup.

Step 2 – Capabilities and Calendars

In the optimizer, you can define capabilities on any resource, including trucks, trailers, drivers, customers, etc.   A capability is a user defined feature such as “metered vehicle” or “high speed pump”, so you can match truck capabilities with customer or product capabilities.  For example, you can state that bulk lubricants require the capability “meter,” so only metered vehicles with valid compartments are considered for bulk lubes orders.  Or you can state customer 123 only has the capability for “short trucks” so you don’t route full trailers that may not fit. 

A capability can also be assigned to a driver, such as “mine safety certification,” so only drivers with that capability will be routed on orders that have customers meeting the same capability.

Capabilities are most often assigned to trucks/trailers.  If you have a specific piece of equipment it will only be matched to orders that have that same capability.

In addition to capabilities, you can assign calendars to resources, just like you assign capabilities. The most common resource calendar is customer service hours.  You can establish multiple service hours per day so the routing engine will determine if you can meet that calendar, such as only deliver between 8am-10am and 1pm-4pm so you don’t block dock bays during peak windows.

Additionally, you can add one-time calendars such as Thanksgiving or Christmas where customers are closed or have limited service times.

The optimizer considers both capabilities and calendars, with the option to highlight when a route can still be considered but may have a “soft constraint.”  This comes into play when a customer may close at 5pm but the optimizer shows you would complete the order at 5.10pm, or when orders on a truck total 1010 gals and the compartment holds 1000. The dispatcher can still accept the route after acknowledging the violation of this constraint.

Step 3 – Route Optimization

Optimization is the process of automatically building routes (trips).  The optimizer assigns resources (drivers, trucks, trailers) and stops (orders, loads) to create the lowest total transportation cost to service all orders.  The optimizer considers compatibility matrices, capacities, constraints and calendars to ensure the most efficient routes are built and comply with your business rules.

The simplest example is a depot that has 10 trucks and 100 orders.  The optimizer will automatically build routes and may determine you only need 8.5 trucks.

Many customers worry that “all the knowledge is in my dispatcher’s head” and you can’t automate that – my dispatchers know the geography and the customers. 

Dispatchers’ territory and customer knowledge is important, but how do you know they’ve done a good job?  How do you know how many miles they should drive, how long it should take and that you’ve used your assets most efficiently?    Without a planning tool, you don’t know.  And without a mobile solution, you don’t know driver actuals or route compliance.  Without delivery metrics, you miss key data to measure logistics efficiency.

Moving from paper and older dispatch systems to a multi-vehicle, multi-compartment optimization allows you to centralize dispatch and establish a foundation for “Data-Driven Logistics.” Route optimization allows you to take the knowledge from your dispatchers’ heads and formalize it in software to get efficiencies of scale and provide tools to make dispatchers more efficient.

The optimizer provides the plan while the goRoam mobile app provides the actuals and up to the minute delivery status.  goRoam enforces route compliance and can be configured to require a 1-time PIN code from the dispatcher for the driver to go out of sequence.  goRoam is specifically built for bulk and package workflows, and includes capabilities such as barcode scanning of tanks, bulk inventory tracking, signature capture, mobile printing and compartment validation.

Our multi-compartment, multi-vehicle routing solution, along with the goRoam mobile app, provides the most advanced optimization and mobile solution specifically built for bulk logistics.  Together we provide the platform for your “Data-Driven Logistics.”

If you want a detailed analysis of how multi-compartment routing applies to your logistics, just click here…

Filed Under: Distribution software, Proof of Delivery, Route Optimization Tagged With: bulk delivery, mobile fueling, mobile lubes delivery, route optimization

3 Vital KPI’s for Bulk Distributors

March 27, 2019 by admin Leave a Comment

There are a “Vital Few” key metrics that can determine the health of a project or operation, and this applies fuels, lubes and bulk chemical delivery. 

 Just three vital KPI’s can tell you how efficiently your business is running and trending.  

  • Plan vs. Actual route time 
  • Gal/Trip 
  • Gal/Hour 

Plan vs. Actual time is an indicator of excess hours by drivers

There are always exceptions for traffic, weather, and mechanical issues, but without this measurement, you cannot manage your labor costs and overtime. 

Anecdotally, one of our customers had a long-time fuel driver who always ran an 8-hr shift with occasional overtime, so nothing looked out of the ordinary. He was highly resistant to our mobile solution and kept making excuses and claiming there were technical issues.   Our customer continued to restrict his trips but still had issues with him. They gave his route to another driver who consistently did the route in less than 4 hours – with the same stops.   If you don’t know how long a trip is supposed to take, you don’t know if drivers are working the system. 

Gal/Trip is an indicator of whether you are fully utilizing your equipment  

If you are not using a route optimization solution, you are not building trips with the most efficient order combinations.  Aggregated unused capacity on your trucks is a running loss of opportunity that can never be recovered– though you never see the bill for it, it comes at a cost.  We’ve seen customers do the same number of trips with 8.5 trucks vs. 10 saving more than 15% of their total transportation costs with route optimization. This saving s alone can cover the cost of deploying a dispatch and delivery system! 

 A more advanced method of increasing gal/trip is to route all current, open orders, and then use our virtual tank forecasting and trigger tanks to determine which keep full accounts you can top off with products also on those routes.  We’ve seen customers increase truck utilization by more than 20% using this approach.  Even if a customer’s tank has not reached its safety stock, it can still be topped off to avoid a separate trip just to hit that tank a couple of days in the future. That’s a win for your customer and improved operational efficiency! The important message here is that technology is not just an expense; it’s a tool that can drive out unnecessary costs and improve customer satisfaction while paying for itself. 

 A word about tank monitors: Installing tank monitors on every tank at every customer is expensive and labor intensive. At the same time, knowing the level of every tank is invaluable from a customer service standpoint.  When you use BizSpeed’s bulk delivery solution, you don’t have to put a monitor on every tank to track utilization.  You can still accurately forecast some tanks without monitors with statistical modeling and Machine Learning(ML)/Artificial Intelligence (AI). While the intelligence is artificial, the results are real. 

BizSpeed’s goRoam can use historical delivery data and put unmonitored tanks into groups along with similar traditional monitored tanks to calculate utilization trends.  These calculations can be tailored to account for different usage patterns to predict when a safety stock level will be reached. 

Gal/Hr is a measure of how efficiently you route

It is correlated to gal/mile but provides a better indicator because it captures any slack time a driver takes or “meandering factor.”  When drivers linger at the yard before/after a trip starts, or where they take an unplanned break during a trip.  Their gal/mile may look good, but it took an extra 30 minutes of delivery time while the mileage did not change. 

 There are some other KPI’s that help manage your business, such as: 

  • On-time % 
  • % of the fleet used 
  • Ordered vs. delivered variance 
  • Total mileage 

 

These should be tracked as well, but the vital few KPI’s will give you an accurate snapshot of your logistics efficiency that shows you the biggest places to save money.  BizSpeed’s goRoam software combines these with our Driver Scorecard to keep improving your operational efficiency and customer service. You can start to develop a comprehensive picture and plan for the health of your operation today.  Reply to this email to start the conversation. 

 

Click here to read more about our solution. 

Filed Under: Distribution software, Fleet Fueling, Proof of Delivery Tagged With: bulk delivery, delivery software, Proof of Delivery

goRoam New Features – 2018.12 Release

December 7, 2018 by admin 2 Comments

goRoam New Features – POD Release 2018.12

The goRoam mobile app for fuels, lubricants and chemicals delivery has gone through a major update in the second half of 2018.  For hosted customers, we will upgrade your managed devices once you have trained your drivers. On-premise installations should update all mobile devices to the latest version of the 2018.10 release before updating your server and rolling out this version.

Note that all features are available on both iOS and Android versions, with the exception of Commercial Truck routes (Android only)

goRoam New Features

  • Commercial truck route navigation

    – Our Android version of goRoam supports full North American and Canadian commercial truck routes using integrated CoPilot® navigation. You can configure truck profiles with the height, weight, length, axle weight, and HazMat restrictions of each of your delivery vehicles so drivers can navigate with efficient and compliant commercial routes. Stay tuned for iOS commercial route capability.

  • Compartment verification

    – Comply with supplier mandates and stop contamination before it happens. When delivering from compartments, you can configure a truck to require a barcode scan/match of the compartment, the product, and the asset(tank).

  • Out of band delivery alerts

    – This is a great reason to have LCR integration. An automatic, system-generated email will be sent if a driver creates a sale in the LCR® meter outside of a goRoam inventory transaction (delivery, hose flush, etc.). The GPS coordinates, sale number, and total gallons are recorded and sent as an email. This audit happens behind the scenes so dispatchers can see when and where drivers are pumping product outside of a customer delivery.

  • LCR-600 register support

    – In addition to the LCR-II electronic register, we now also support the LCR-600.

  • Configurable asset readings

    – Think about how much it costs for a truck to make it to the point of delivery. Make the most of being there when delivering to tanks, vehicles or equipment. Drivers can record custom readings for any asset. For example, DEF, engine hours and grease for equipment and vehicles are recorded along with the delivered gallons.  You can record any value for tanks, vehicles, and equipment, and then review them in a report. How many bottles of DEF did that asset use last month?  How many gallons per mile/hour did that engine consume? Find out now.

  • PIN codes for drivers to deliver out of sequence

    – If a driver needs to complete orders out of sequence on a trip, but you don’t want to allow this on a regular basis, you can require a one-time PIN code approved by a dispatcher for each order they want to deliver out of sequence. PIN codes force drivers to complete stops in your dispatched sequence while giving them the flexibility to react to unforeseen issues in the field.

  • PIN codes for drivers to manually deliver

    – When a truck has electronic meters and the driver wants to go in manual mode to enter gallons from the meter, you can require them to get a one-time PIN code to proceed. The idea of PIN codes arose from the need for flexibility and control – you can have both. Look for more PIN code features in the future.

  • Categories when taking pictures

    – Set up categories and require a description when taking pictures, so you know which pictures are BOLs, receipts, etc.

  • Rejected orders email

    – If a driver rejects an order; we have an updated email handler to notify a dispatch group. You can easily set up custom rejection reasons such as – “missed the delivery window,” “customer closed,” “inclement weather.”

  • Capture GPS on assets when filling

    – goRoam records and update for an asset’s GPS location when filling so that you find assets on a map. Find that lost tank or another portable asset. Share filling detail with customers.

  • Self-contained NEMA enclosure for meter support on trailers

    – We have developed a new enclosure and mounting system that allows installing LCR meter integration on trailers. Our new enclosure keeps the meter integration with the trailer, not the truck.

Usability

  • Streamlined workflow – The number of steps required to complete most operations is reduced. It now takes a little less time to start a trip, complete orders, capture meter values for manual delivery, setup and more.
  • Scan to configure – Do you ever need to configure a spare handheld for a truck but can’t remember the meter address or server URL? Don’t worry! A 2D barcode is all that is needed to configure a handheld device. Scanning a barcode will pair to the truck’s Wi-Fi, connect to the server and company code.  This new quick configuration option makes it easy to pair a new handheld or move devices between trucks so you can get back on the road.
  • Pre-trip settings check – Before the driver starts a trip, the app runs through a series of checks to confirm connectivity to the server, meter, and printer BEFORE the truck leaves the yard. This prevents drivers from leaving the depot without a working device, printer or truck setup.
  • Easier settings and diagnostics – the settings screen has been streamlined to make it easier to check the configuration and run diagnostics.

In addition to these updates, we have a significant release scheduled for early 2019 that includes:

  • Web-based dispatch status board – We are moving the trip status board to a web browser so it looks good on a desktop, tablet or mobile device. It shows the status of trips by date and depot. The web-based status board is perfect for dispatch and customer service to see the status of trips. Put it on a large interactive touch screen monitor in the office!
  • In-app chat – Chat from within goRoam and the Mob mechanism for drivers to chat with dispatchers or dispatchers to chat with drivers. Now dispatchers can communicate with multiple drivers at once, there will be a record of all conversations and without the need for phone calls and drivers lining up in the office.

Filed Under: Distribution software, Fleet Fueling Tagged With: asset tracking, bulk delivery, fleet fueling, GPS, handheld data collection, LCR-II meters, lubricant delivery software

Lubricants distribution software for iOS

September 5, 2018 by admin Leave a Comment

The goRoam Lubricants distribution software for iOS app for lubricants delivery has all the capabilities of our Android app for bulk and packaged lubes distribution, including barcode scanning, electronic signature capture, wireless dispatch and LCR-II meter integration.

goRoam iOS app – start trip for lubricants delivery

goRoam iOS app – list of orders and stops for lubricants distribution

goRoam iOS app – signature capture for lubes delivery

Lubricants distributors are looking to iOS for a few reasons.  One of the top 3 lubes manufacturers released a contamination app that only runs on iOS.  In addition, many distributors are providing drivers with company iPhones for phone, email and texting.

Whether you use the iOS or the Android version of goRoam, it makes a statement on customer service when drivers do everything electronically and then hand the iPhone to the customer for their electronic signature, printed and emailed delivery receipt for Proof of Delivery (POD).

Key capabilities of the goRoam iOS app include:

  • Barcode scanning of tanks to confirm the product compatibility, which eliminates the chance of contamination or cross-fills.
  • Wireless dispatch – drivers get and send realtime updates on orders, loads, GPS, inventory, etc.
  • Electronic dispatch and integration with route optimization services like Ortec’s ORD and OIR
  • Electronic signature capture – customers sign the iOS device
  • Realtime inventory tracking of the truck and/or trailer
  • Workflow specific to bulk and package product delivery.
  • Bulk delivery with LCR-II meter integration or mechanical mode without meter control, but still using barcode scanning and validation
  • Mobile iOS receipt printing to 4″ thermal printers like the Zebra ZQ520 or QL Series
  • Mapping and directions (including real time traffic) using the native mapping app.  On iOS, we use Apple Maps.  On Android, goRoam uses Google Maps.
  • Store and forward, so the app keeps working even if you are out of wifi or cellular range
  • Super fast and easy to use.  Quick driver learning curve.

In addition to the features listed above, our Q3 2018 release will include:

  • Commercial truck routes with restrictions for height, length, max weight, weight per axle and HazMat (e.g. explosives, flammable, inhalants, caustic).
  • 2-way driver messaging.  Driver chat with dispatchers.

The Lubricants distribution software for  iOS app has all the features of our Android app.

If you are trying to decide whether to use iOS or Android, you should consider the following factors:

  • Our Android device has wifi tuning specific to truck hotspots and metered delivery.  We’ve worked with our device manufacturer to configure the device to not roam or search for different AP’s (Access Points), change the wifi drop threshold, reduce the channel search and times to aggressively reconnect to the truck network, manage the power settings to maintain high connectivity, etc.  iOS devices do NOT support changing fine grained wifi setting like you may use in a warehouse or industrial setting.
  • Android has a built-in barcode scanner. If you scan a lot of assets (tanks, vehicles, equipment), the built-in barcode scanner is easier to use because we have a pistol grip that helps aim the scanner.
  • Android has a higher degree of ruggedness – designed to work in harsh conditions like rain or snow.
  • iOS is a great solution for lubricants distribution where you don’t scan a lot of assets. You may only scan 3-4 tanks per delivery with lubricants where with fleet fueling (wet hosing), you may scan 100 assets per customer.
  • iOS is great if you want to support manufacturer’s iOS apps for cross-filling or contamination tracking, and they only run on iOS.
  • iOS is great if you have a mixed fleet and want to do lubricants distribution software with iOS and fuels distribution with Android.

Filed Under: Barcode scanners, Distribution software, Fleet Fueling, Uncategorized Tagged With: bulk delivery, LCR-II meters, lubricants distribution software, Proof of Delivery

New video for Android mobile metered delivery

March 20, 2017 by admin Leave a Comment

It’s been a while since we’ve posted, but that doesn’t mean we havent been busy!  We’ve been actively rolling out our Android app for metered delivery and wanted to post a quick video to show how fast and easy it is for fdrivers to make deliveries.

The app works the same for metered lubricants and supports electronic as well as mechanical meters.  You can even use a truck that has a combination of electronic and mechanical meters.

The driver selects a product to deliver and picks the meter they are using. The driver scans a barcode and goRoam validates the product (to prevent cross pumping/contanimation).  Once validated, we wirelessly open the LCR solenoid (valve) to allow the driver to pump.  The driver sees the meter values in realtime on their Android device – no more going back and forth to the truck to record meter values.

The driver can take a picture of assets or BOL’s (Bill of Lading) to attach to the order.  They can add products or services such as demurrage or splits, and get an electronic signature from the customer…just like FedEx or UPS.

Once complete, goRoam can print a receipt and/or email a PDF receipt so the customer has an electronic document of all assets fueled and their quantities within a couple of minutes of completing the delivery!

 

Filed Under: Fleet Fueling, How-To, Proof of Delivery Tagged With: bulk delivery, GPS, handheld data collection, LCR-II meters, Proof of Delivery, wireless tank monitoring

Customer Service Impressions – What your delivery system says to your customers

February 22, 2016 by admin Leave a Comment

 

Signature capture on a rugged Panasonic Android tablet

“Quality in a service or product is not what you put into it. It is what the customer gets out of it.” – Peter Drucker

Do your competitors offer a better delivery service? Do you show appreciation of your customers’ business in all facets of customer interaction – from order entry to scheduling, dispatch, delivery and invoicing. For distributors, your delivery drivers are the face of your company. Your drivers are who your customers see each day.

The impression your drivers make is key to your customer service.

Paper-based deliveries involve manual processes that are time consuming, prone to errors and costly to manage.  While many companies still use paper tickets, imagine going to Walmart or Target and getting a receipt with hand written quantities for thousands of dollars of products.

Compare that to a delivery where you sign a mobile device and get a receipt printed on the spot.  The following are examples of what best in class distribution companies use:

  • A handheld device to sign for their delivery, just like UPS and FedEx.
  • A barcode scanner to quickly and accurately confirm what you deliver
  • A printed receipt with your logo, transaction details, the person’s name who signed and their signature
  • An email with a PDF copy of their delivery receipt
  • Advanced email notifications of a scheduled delivery with the estimated arrival time
  • A web portal that let’s them view and export deliveries to Excel. For metered customers, they can filter transactions by individual tank or truck.
  • Get invoiced immediately with orders sent electronically to your invoicing application

If you would like to learn how BizSpeed helps deliver best in class customer service, contact us!

Filed Under: Barcode scanners, Distribution software, Fleet Fueling, Proof of Delivery Tagged With: bulk delivery, handheld data collection, Proof of Delivery

Updates to barcode fleet fueling

January 27, 2015 by admin Leave a Comment

imageWe released an update to goRoam for metered delivery to support fixed fueling dispensers such as Gilbarco, Wayne and Gasboy.  The system is ideal for private fleet operators, rental car companies, auto dealers and vehicle manufacturers who need to scan a VIN and preset a quantity based on the vehicle being fueled. For instance, if you need to fuel a small passenger car to 2 gals to turn the ‘fuel light’ off, we will authorize the pump for that amount.  However, a larger SUV may need the amount set to 3 or 4 gallons.

goRoam allows you to ‘request more’ if you hit the preset quantity and the vehicle still requires more fuel.  An example would be when the 2 gals did not turn off the fuel light, so you want an extra .5 gallons to see if that will turn it off.

Alternatively, you may fuel fleets where you need to authorize the size of the fuel tank (e.g. 18.6 gals) and simply record the quantity fueled.  You may fuel less than the authorized amount since there is already some product in the vehicle.  When the driver hangs the hose on the dispenser, the transaction is closed and the quantity fueled is sent to our web based inventory system.

In all cases, the quantities are read directly from the fuel dispenser.

In all cases, the quantities are read directly from the fuel dispenser, and the fuel dispenser is locked until the barcode scanner validates the vehicle and driver.

goRoam can integrate with existing applications through our web service API.  This allows you to provide your own logic and authorization for each vehicle/driver.  Or, you can use goRoam with our web  application to manage and track the quantities.  As fueling transactions are processed, the inventory in the tank is updated as shown in the screen below.

image

Filed Under: Barcode scanners, Fleet Fueling, News, Proof of Delivery Tagged With: bulk delivery, fleet fueling, handheld data collection, mobile fueling, Proof of Delivery

Load Builder for Dispatching

October 18, 2013 by admin Leave a Comment

Load builderAt the request of our lubes distributor customers, we have added LoadBuilding into our dispatch capability for the MobileHub.  LoadBuilding enables a dispatcher to create a trip and drag orders onto the trip. As orders are added to the trip, a window shows the total quantity on the trip for each product, across all orders.  Multiple trips can be added to the view so orders can easily be dragged between trips to quickly see the impact of the load on each trip (route).

Loadbuilding is used by companies that do not have route optimization systems like Ortec OTD or RedPrairie’s TMS. Those systems take a set of orders and automatically build routes, with each route having a set of orders that are within the constraints of each vehicle.

Companies who have just a few vehicles at each depot have dispatchers who know what the vehicle capacity constraints are. For example, a lubes dispatcher may know their combo trucks can have 1 – 10 totes of 500 gallons each. They want to build a trip and as they drag orders onto the trip, see the total of each product.  In this case, they have 3 orders with 200, 250 and 100 gallons of 5w-20 oil.  The dispatcher would easily see the total is 550 gals, which is more than one tote.  They could decide to add more orders to fill 2 totes, or see if they can add the 100 gal order to a different trip.

Load building can be used by package delivery companies as well, as they will see the total by product on each trip.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: bulk delivery, LCR-II meters, Proof of Delivery

On-site Fleet Fueling Driver Metrics Reports

August 1, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

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Do you know who your best on-site fleet fueling drivers are?  Do you know based on actual metrics, or based on gut feeling?

If you want hard facts on who your best drivers are, you need to automatically collect metrics such as:

  • Gallons delivered
  • Average Minutes/Vehicle
  • Average Gallons/Vehicle

BizSpeed’s goRoam for Metered Delivery automatically collects metrics such as when the driver started a delivery, when they stopped and gallons pumped through bulk meters.  Our customers have access to metric reports and can schedule them to be emailed daily, weekly or monthly so you get direct visibility into your drivers.

The ability to operate your fleet fueling, bulk lubricants or wet hosing business based on facts and metrics is what enables you to drive operational efficiency.  These metrics are available in real-time, without the need to ask someone to collect, input and analyze data.

As you can see from the report shown above, John Jones makes the most deliveries and is also the most efficient. He delivers more fuel than average but is a minute per vehicle more efficient. Steve Philips is also efficient. While his delivery times are longer, he delivers 80% more per vehicle than the average.

We can show average time and gallons including setup, customer signature, etc. as well as without the setup.

If you’d like to see how we can help you automate your metered and non-metered deliveries, please contact us.

Filed Under: How-To, News Tagged With: bulk delivery, LCR-II meters, wireless tank monitoring

How to choose between Intermec CS40, CN50, CN4 and 70 Series

May 19, 2011 by admin 5 Comments

We are often get asked for recommendations on mobile devices. If a client is looking at Intermec mobile devices, we get asked to help them choose between CS40, CN50, CN4 and the 70 series (CN70, CK70 etc.). We have customers using all models.

This article will help explain what what you should consider when choosing and will highlight real-life customer examples for field data capture and proof of delivery applications.

Intermec CS40, CN50, CN4, CN70

Feature IntermecCS40-NUM with Proof of Delivery software Intermec CN50 with proof of delivery software Intermec CN4 with proof of delivery software Intermec CN70 with proof of delivery software
Model CS40 CN50 CN4 CN70
Screen size 2.8” @ 240×320 3.5”  @ 240×320 3.5” @ 240×320 3.5” VGA 480×640 with gorilla glass
Weight 6.9oz 11oz 14oz 16oz
Intrusion Protection (IP) rating IP54 – 4’ drop IP54 – 4’ drop IP64 – 6’ drop IP67 – 6’ drop + submersible
Environment 14 F to +122 F 14 F to +122 F -4°F to +140°F -4°F to +140°F
CPU ARM 11 @ 528 MHz (Fast) ARM 11 @ 528 MHz (Fast) Marvel @ 520MHZ (Fast) 600MHz OMAP3 multi-processor (fastest)
Max cellular download 7.2Mbps 7.2Mbps 3.6Mbps 7.2Mbps
Camera 3.2MP fixed focus 3.1MP autofocus 2MP 5MP autofocus
List price (w/o accessories) $1795 $2195 $2845 $2995

Before we start, it is important to understand what features you need today as well as in the future. With rugged devices, once you purchase the device, you cannot go back and add hardware options like a camera, GPS or Bluetooth. The devices we will discuss are:

  • CS40 – smallest form factor, targeted at a size closer to a BlackBerry with a true integrated barcode scanner (not a camera scanner like the ES400, iPhone or Android devices).  Small enough to comfortably use as a cell phone and slip into your pocket.
  • CN50 – smaller form factor with solid ruggedness characteristics.  Small enough to slip into your pocket but almost too large to use as a salesperson’s full time cell phone, although it would be fine for a technician to use given they usually have less talk time.
  • CN4 – fully rugged device that replaced the CN3.  The key upgrade from a CN3 is the addition of a camera.  All CN3 accessories work with the CN4.  Larger and heavier, designed to work in field conditions – rain, snow, mud, multiple drops to concrete, etc.  The WiFi radio is designed to work in a warehouse or other environment where you may switch between access points (AP’s).
  • CN70 – eventual replacement for the CN4.  This is the most rugged, featuring an IP67 rating – you can submerse it in water and it will still work.  This has the fastest CPU.  Like the CN4, you can use it as a cell phone but it will likely not be a comfortable choice for extended phone calls.

Questions and Criteria

You can start to narrow the hardware choice by asking the following questions.

How rugged a device do you need?

  • If you’re making deliveries or have substantial outside or field data collection, you need to get a device with an IP rating designed for your environment. For instance, in fleet fueling you deliver fuel in the rain, snow, sleet or hail.  The CN50, CN4 or CN70 would meet your needs. The CN70 is the most rugged.  Our customers have had good success with the CN4 and CN50 in terms of rugged field use – surviving drops, rain and snow.
  • The CS40 is better suited for more indoor types of use, such as a sales rep that needs to scan items to place an order. It will sustain drops to concrete and is more rugged than a consumer cell phone, but is not designed to be used in the elements.

Do you need cellular data? If so, what cellular carrier do you use and do you know what the data coverage is like in your territories?

  • The reason for this is simple – some territories like the North East are completely owned by a carrier (Verizon). If you want T-Mobile or AT&T coverage, you need to check coverage or consider changing carriers.
  • All of these devices support AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile; however, they will not get 3G speeds on the T-Mobile networks since T-Mobile’s 3G is a different frequency.
  • While the cellular speeds on the CN4 are less than the other devices, it is still very fast and unlikely you would notice the difference unless you had large downloads or uploads.  An  of larger data would be taking 3MP pictures to upload. If this was a common occurrence, you may notice it but for most applications like Proof of Delivery, you would not notice a difference.

Do you need to take pictures? If so, do they need to be high quality?

  • If you need to take better quality pictures, you’ll want  an autofocus camera (CN50 or CN70). The CS40 and CN4 have good quality color cameras but are fixed focus.
  • For example, if you need to take a picture of a utility meter with the current meter reading (when replacing), any camera would be fine. However, If you need to take a picture of a utility pole where the distance is great, you would be better off with an autofocus camera like the CN50 or CN70.
  • The CN70 has the highest quality (5MP) camera and provides autofocus.  The CN50 is 3.1MP with autofocus. The CS40 and and CN4 are comparable but fixed focus. For basic pictures, the CS40 and CN4 should suffice for things like taking a picture of an asset you installed or delivered.
  • For a comparison, most newer but inexpensive cell phones have 2MP fixed focus cameras.  The iPhone 4 has a 5MP autofocus camera.

Do you need GPS?

  • GPS is built in to all of these Intermec devices.  Accuracy is 3-10 meters. If you need sub-meter accuracy, you would need an external GPS device such as those from Trimble. Their cost can be greater than $2000/ea but obviously are needed when you do things like buried meter installations.
  • All devices support Assisted GPS (AGPS), which helps by triangulating with cellular towers.  It can speed up your GPS first time to fix and more importantly help with location when inside buildings.

Do you need barcode scanning?

  • All of these devices have barcode scanning. The only decision is whether you need 1D/2D or long-range.
  • 2D scanners can be helpful if you have barcodes that may get dirty or damaged. Examples of this include plant nurseries where 2D barcodes may be easier to read due to dirt on the barcode.
  • Long range scanners can scan barcodes up to 40’ away. Long range scanners are only available on the MC909x platform. Examples of long range scanning would be scanning the barcode at the top of a warehouse rack from a forklift.
  • The CN70 has the newest, most advanced scan engine.  Under most circumstances you may not notice a difference scanning between these devices, but if you have a very scan intensive application, you should consider the CN70.

Will screen size impact your application?

  • The CS40 has a 2.8” screen versus all others with 3.5”.  While this does not seem like a lot, if your application requires a lot of screen interaction or signature capture, you would notice and appreciate the larger screen.
  • Other than the CN70, all devices have a  240×320 resolution. The CN70 has a VGA 480×640 resolution. This means for things like photos, you would notice the better screen. For standard field data collection, you may not notice the difference.
  • The CN70 uses Gorilla Glass for the screen, so it is the most durable.

So which device is right for you?

The following highlight examples of BizSpeed customers using each type of device.

CS40 – customer order entry. A distribution customer places devices at their customers’ locations to let their customers scan item UPC’s and place orders. Their primary interest was getting the lowest cost device with a solid scan engine. They considered both the CN50 and the CS40 and selected the CS40.  They use a dialup modem and did not need cellular, camera, GPS or WiFi.

CN50 – Pharmaceutical HazMat pickup. A Hazmat customer places devices at their customers’ locations (pharmacies, hospitals, nursing homes) so customers can scan items into bins to be picked up, tracked and disposed of according to EPA and FDA regulations. The items, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment,  usually have UPC or similar barcodes.  They considered CS40’s and CN50’s. The CN50 was selected due to the larger screen size and larger keyboard than the CS40.

CN4 –Fleet fueling and bulk product delivery. This customer provides fleet fueling to customers like Coca-Cola, Staples, 84 Lumber, Waste Management, etc.  Their customer’s trucks are parked in their yards overnight. They use our goRoam.FuelSales module to scan each truck they are fueling, confirm the correct product (on-road vs off-road diesel for example) and then pump fuel into their customer’s vehicle.  The handheld wirelessly reads the fuel pump meter to record the quantity per vehicle.   They deliver in rain, snow, cold and hot temperatures. They considered the CN50 and the CN4.  They selected the CN4  due to it’s better IP/ruggedness rating, bigger backlit keyboard, more powerful wifi radio (for communications with the truck meter) and better truck mounted vehicle cradle.   At the time, the CN70 was not available.

If you have questions or comments, please feel free to contact us regarding rugged mobile hardware selection. To learn more about BizSpeed and goRoam Proof of Delivery Software click or call 866-270-0541 (toll-free).

Filed Under: Barcode scanners, How-To, News, Proof of Delivery Tagged With: bulk delivery, GPS, handheld data collection, Intermec, mobile forms, Proof of Delivery, Windows Mobile

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