IDS Logistik: IoT Ensures Real-time Location of Swap Bodies

From washing machines and garden houses to spare parts for machine tools, IDS Logistik GmbH transports general cargo for customers in the widest range of industries. On around 1,800 direct deliveries per night drivers employed in the logistics cooperation between five SME freight forwarding groups, two logistics corporations and four franchise partners cover a distance of 680,000 kilometers between their 51 freight depots around Germany. That corresponds to driving round the world 17 times every night. An IoT-assisted system has been designed to optimize logistics processes at IDS and to make them more transparent.

Until recently IDS swap bodies – flexible containers for shipping goods by truck – could neither be located nor could their downtimes be evaluated. As a result, the main run processes were not transparent and arrival times at delivery depots were nearly impossible to determine en route. So at IDS depots it was not clear in the early shift which main run was to be expected at any time. IDS swap bodies were counted and scanned as the logistics specialists walked around the yard. They had very little idea how many swap bodies were at customers’ premises. Manual correction postings in the stock system just caused additional administrative work.

In order always to know which swap body was on the move or parked where, IDS Logistik GmbH developed location or positioning software. It then approached Telekom to connect the software with trailers and containers. “What was important for us was that no premature device replacement would be necessary during an IDS swap body’s at least ten-year service life,” says Tatjana Scheuring, Head of Product and Process Management at IDS Logistik GmbH. That is why Telekom partner Giesecke+Devrient installed the GPS hardware solution mecSOLAR plus on the swap bodies. The solar-powered devices have a guaranteed battery life of at least 120 months. Telekom hosts the IDS software and equipped the trackers with cellphone contracts.

The GPS solar module sends the IDS swap body’s position to the IDS software via Telekom’s cellular network every 15 minutes. Thanks to the retrofit solution for locating swap bodies IDS employees can now track main runs in the system. By means of an individual ID the container’s exact position can be identified on the map. Batteries run for at least 120 months, so the device never needs to be replaced prematurely.

This smart IoT technology ensures process optimization en route and in the supply chain. Thanks to the GPS trackers IDS Logistik is now informed which swap body is on the move or has been parked up. Positioning also enables employees at IDS depots to see whether incoming main runs are due to deviate from their scheduled time of arrival. Deliveries can then be rearranged efficiently and in time and empty runs can be avoided. An advantage for customers is that they are informed earlier of possible delays.

By means of live tracking, digitization and automation make tasks like the daily walk round the yard superfluous. GPS positioning saves IDS Logistik time and can cut running costs. “GPS swap body location is optimal for establishing the actual demand for swap bodies,” says Tatjana Scheuring. If new swap bodies join the fleet IDS has them fitted out with GPS solar modules ex works. And in cases of loss or theft the digital solution enables swap bodies to be located and losses to be reduced.