Posti wanted to maximize usage of their new maxi distribution etrolleys. Kaltiot Smart Tracker enables utilization rate monitoring and location tracking by taking advantage of Posti’s existing smart devices. Fleet management is cost-effective when the trolleys are operated efficiently and their availability rate in different locations stays up-to-date.
In 2015, the Finnish postal service, Posti, introduced their new Maxi distribution trolley: a larger and heavier motor-assisted trolley meant for delivering newspapers and mail in densely built city centers. Posti has more than 400 maxi trolleys in various cities, and employees use them frequently on both morning and daytime shifts. The trolleys can also be transferred from one site to another as needed.
Posti wanted to use the Maxi distribution trolleys efficiently. Compared to the preceding, lighter trolley model, the new power-assisted Maxi trolley meant also increasing costs. As a result, it was important to use them effectively. To optimize usage of the trolleys, Posti needed information on their utilization rate, location and itinerary.
The machines being tracked: Maxi distribution trolleys
The Postal Service’s Maxi distribution trolley or is an electric, emission-free cart for last mile delivery in densely populated urban areas, where the sidewalk is the only distribution channel for delivering light items such as newspapers. Each Maxi trolley can carry a load of 120 kg and the battery lasts up to 10-20 kilometers depending on its size. The trolley’s maximum speed is six km/h. It has an engine power of less than one kilowatt.
Each maxi trolley can also be connected to a ride-on board, allowing it to be driven on sidewalks, crosswalks and footpaths. Even when run from the ride-on board, the Maxi trolley is not regarded as a vehicle due to its low speed and small engine. Instead, it’s considered a light electric walking replacement device, so it doesn’t require registration, insurance or a driver’s license.
How the location and utilization rate monitoring works
Kaltiot developed a solution for monitoring and tracking the Maxi distribution trolleys. The solution consists of the following:
- Postal employee’s existing work phones, known as Posti Mobile or PoMo.
- Kaltiot Smart Tracker application installed on PoMos. The application uploads sensor data to the server.
- Logger sensor. Battery-optimized BLE beacons were attached on the side of the trolleys. The sensor collects data even when there isn’t PoMo phone nearby.
- Kaltiot IoT Platform. A cloud-based platform where the Postal Service can see the utilization and location reports.
Each maxi distribution trolley is equipped with a battery-operated wireless beacon. The Kaltiot Smart Tracker application in the PoMo phone uploads the sensor data to the Kaltiot backend. It gathers and stores device ID, location and timestamps to show the trolley’s itinerary and utilization rate.
The data is also streamed to Posti’s back-end systems, from where they can integrate it with their other reporting.
Sensor data collection, data upload, and the smartphone application all run automatically in the background. This means mail delivery workers don’t need to learn how to use the system or add any more tasks to their assigned duties.
Each trolley is identified by designated ID numbers. The same device number is used both in Posti’s asset management system and in Kaltiot’s systems. The number indicates the year when the trolley was taken into use, which helps with lifecycle forecasting.
The first monitoring pilot was launched in 2017 in Lauttasaari, Helsinki.
Advantages of Kaltiot’s solution for physical asset monitoring
The fleet tracking solution was built on existing infrastructure. This meant Posti was able to benefit from previous investments in their PoMo phones, and the application was easy to install with their Posti Device Management system.
The solution also had the following advantages:
- It’s easy to install. The battery-operated BLE beacon can be attached to the outside of almost any asset.
- It doesn’t require a software integration with the Maxi trolleys’ computer system.
- It’s cost-effective. Read more about our cost-effective IOT development here.
- The data can be used in the Postal Service’s other reports and combined with other data.
- The indoor and outdoor location tracking functions in demanding conditions like the long Finnish winter.
Efficient fleet management through monitoring
Using Kaltiot Smart Tracker to improve asset management means that Maxi distribution trolleys are used efficiently and unused trolleys can be relocated to offices that need more. Tracking the trolleys’ location and usage rates enables the Postal Service to implement asset management more effectively.
Posti’s Senior Asset Manager, Kari Tuomola, is satisfied with the monitoring of maxi distribution trolleys. He commented on the fleet tracking project as follows:
“With Kaltiot’s solution, we have finally reached visibility for the usage of Posti’s distribution trolleys. We have significantly increased the usage rate of our assets and all unused equipment can be allocated to new users. This feature did not exist before.”
