In today’s logistics world, where growing shipment volumes and tight delivery times are the norm, it’s not uncommon for a shipment to be lost or take an unplanned route. Therefore, it’s essential for transport companies to have a complete overview of their shipments across all flows of goods. However, manually searching for items in such a large volume of shipments is complex and time-consuming. That’s why relying on smart, intuitive technologies is crucial.
For this reason, the French freight forwarding company DGS Transports sought a suitable solution to track goods in their 6,000 square metre cross dock conveniently, quickly, and reliably. Having heard about DIVIS through its German partner companies in the CargoLine general cargo network, DGS Transports opted for its CargoVIS video management solution paired with the Location+ feature module, an indoor positioning system powered by DIVIS partner Quuppa. Consequently, DIVIS’s video management system (VMS) is not only used by many French customers in the parcel industry but also increasingly in the French cargo market.
Highest level of quality and service for customers
Software-based video management systems offer valuable services in the forwarding industry, and seamless consignment tracking has become an integral part of everyday logistics. Precise indoor positioning is crucial in this context.
Not only can the quality of service be significantly increased, but the flow of information can also become more transparent with the help of shipment tracking. Consequently, customer inquiries can be answered quickly and reliably, and even rare discrepancies can be clearly traced in the shortest possible time thanks to the system.
Our decision to opt for a visual consignment tracking system with indoor positioning is closely linked to our objectives in terms of quality and customer service. We needed a solution that was easy for our employees to learn and, at the same time, extremely efficient in terms of time expenditure. The advantage of indoor tracking is that we can locate all goods as quickly as possible and monitor their movements.”
Ludovic Charlec, Chief Operations Officer at DGS Transports
Achieving precise shipment tracking with a seamless movement path
DGS Transports uses the CargoVIS video management solution with indoor positioning powered by Quuppa. Sixty cameras record every movement of goods within the cross-dock. This innovative VMS replaces time-consuming conventional shipment tracking in the cross-dock.
The intuitive video management software offers image-based tracking, allowing palletised shipments to be traced and quickly located. Even if a shipment has already left the cross-dock, its path can still be traced afterwards thanks to CargoVIS’s use of video recordings. Uncertainties regarding transfers of liability and missing shipments are now a thing of the past. With the VMS, critical points can be reliably documented, and losses can be reduced.
Shipment tracking in CargoVIS
- By automatically linking shipment data from the transport management system with image data, each shipment leaves its individual fingerprint in CargoVIS with every scan.
- As the shipment passes through the hall, a movement path of information is created, enabling the goods to be tracked specifically and precisely in the cross-dock via scan times – by entering the shipment or pallet number.
Indoor positioning with Location+ is comparable to outdoor satellite-controlled GPS, but more precise methods are required indoors. While GPS relies on coded radio signals from orbiting satellites for outdoor tracking, indoor environments demand more refined methods. Bluetooth® is often used for indoor shipment positioning, with Quuppa Intelligent Locating System® standing out as one of the most reliable methods for enclosed areas and offering many advantages for logistics. Here, infrastructure devices known as Locators replicate satellite functions, while Bluetooth® application on scanners acts as GPS receivers. This method ensures accurate scanning processes with an impressive accuracy of up to 50 cm.
Thanks to the combination of location data, scan data and recorded video footage, the system can identify the exact scanner position or positioning area in the cross-dock and enable fast and efficient shipment tracking.
Enormous time savings and increased efficiency of warehouse processes
The precise recording of the position of goods using Location+ significantly increases efficiency in the warehouse.
The combination of CargoVIS with indoor positioning enables us to save an enormous amount of time in many processes. For example, if a colleague is searching for a pallet at the dock, with the inbound scan, we can track the pallet and indicate where it is. Since we can easily locate the goods, we are confident about our actions. We can back up all the information we give to employees or customers with screenshots.
Emmanuel Houelleu, Platform Manager at DGS Transports
We are very satisfied with the solution. It’s a system that’s very easy to use, and really simple to learn. It’s very, very useful on a daily basis, especially in my role as a Platform Manager.”
Data platform replaces stand-alone solutions
Various additional Plus+ features allow different camera-based automation to be mapped and fully integrated via a single platform. This unique platform incorporates the Plus+ functions fully into the software solutions, eliminating the need for a multitude of stand-alone solutions. As a result, a wide range of data is collected along the goods flow in the warehouse, generating comprehensive added value for logistics processes.
In addition to Location+ for indoor positioning, the available Plus+ modules include volume control of goods (Scale+) and gate status detection (Gate+), which DGS Transports also uses. Thus, DGS Transports has access to an extensive ecosystem of different camera-based solutions.
Volume control with Scale+ and the detection of gate status with Gate+
- With the software-controlled volume control in Scale+, it is possible to measure pallets without interrupting the loading process. The measurement is based on the evaluation of previously recorded video footage, allowing measurements to be taken directly in the software.
- Gate+ makes it possible to automatically detect gate and door statuses and close security gaps.
The combination of the collected data (e.g. video, location and measurement data) opens up extensive optimisation and savings potential for logistics processes. This increases the quality of logistics services while valuable time and cost savings can be realised at the same time.
Conclusion: DIVIS platform excels through versatility
The DIVIS solution has impacted the French company positively in several areas at once – its success as well, as Ludovic Charlec reports. The Chief Operations Officer is also enthusiastic about the cooperation: “The cooperation with DIVIS was a success. In the future, we will rely on DIVIS solutions because they are a perfect match for our tasks. They offer us a number of possibilities, such as monitoring and dimensioning, all in the same interface. It really is a guarantee of confidence and sustainability in the performance of these activities,” he summarises.
We chose DIVIS as our provider because our German partners often used DIVIS systems. We are an official member of the CargoLine general cargo network in the Paris region. Therefore, we were able to see this solution in use at our partners’ premises. That was a sign of trust and success for us.”
Ludovic Charlec, Chief Operations Officer at DGS Transports
DIVIS guarantees local support at all relevant customer touchpoints in France. In addition, DIVIS operates its own team for the French market, which supports customers from sales and project management to after-sales service in French.