CUTTING-EDGE technology company, VisionID, is helping leading supermarket group, Musgrave reduce costs through state-of-the-art technology that tracks asset movement and ensures valuable delivery units are traceable.

The hand-held track and trace technology helps cut journey times for deliveries to Musgrave SuperValu or Centra stores nationwide. It also doubles up as a mobile phone and log for drivers, eliminating a lot of administration activity.

Musgrave says the asset tracking feature of the technology, which allows them check where every single metal delivery trolley or ‘combi’ is at all times, has resulted in cost savings that fully justify the investment in this technology.

In 2009 Musgrave was named one of Ireland’s best-run companies in the Deloitte Best Managed Companies Awards. As part of its ‘Better Business Project’, a major investment to improve key areas of its business, it started looking into mobile computing and its logistics operations. It asked VisionID, the specialists in Mobile Computing technology, to help prepare and support a core component of the system – the handheld computers used by the logistics team and delivery drivers.

Within its in-store operations Musgrave was already using Motorola handheld computers installed and managed by VisionID. The devices were working well and VisionID was selected by Musgrave to help with the new, €500,000 project.

“We were delighted to become involved,” says Cathal Murtagh, Sales Director, VisionID. “As an Irish company we were very proud to work with Musgrave Retail Partners Ireland, with this high profile mobile computing project.”

Musgrave selected Motorola’s rugged MC75A Enterprise Digital Assistants (EDAs) and VisionID supported the implementation and deployment of the system throughout the Island of Ireland, according to Stephen Bennett, Supply Chain Systems Manager of Musgrave Retail Partners Ireland.

“As one of Ireland’s most respected companies, we continually seek to enhance business performance and drive efficiencies. We recently deployed a mobile computing platform based on Motorola’s MC75 Enterprise Digital Assistants. The MC75As are prepared, deployed and maintained by VisionID. As with any major IT deployment, we had some teething issues. But the support, professionalism and attention to detail of VisionID and Motorola ensured problems were resolved quickly.

“We are delighted with the technology. The initial focus of the project – to use bar-code labelling to track, trace and ensure the safe return of our delivery containers – is quickly delivering an excellent ROI for the business. We are also achieving efficiency and accuracy benefits by using the technology to collect electronic Proof of Delivery, optimize fleet utilization and route guidance, and automate reporting and eliminate paper trials,” said Mr Bennett.

VisionID provides a complete service for the computers. It is responsible for the MC75A’s software, the training of end-users and the maintenance and management of the device estate, providing a help desk for users to report issues.

To cost-efficiently manage the devices, VisionID uses the Motorola Mobility Services Platform (MSP). MSP enables VisionID to remotely connect at any time or location with a device to monitor their status, diagnose any problems or update software. Should there be any unresolvable problems with and EDA, this is swapped out the next day through Motorola’s ‘Service From the Start’ support package.