PHS Teacrate has introduced a GPS vehicle tracking system to its distribution fleet.

For those supplying some of the biggest names in the fast-moving retail and food sectors, it is imperative to be able to respond promptly and effectively to ad hoc requests.

PHS Teacrate, the UK’s largest crate rental company, has recently introduced a tracking system to its delivery and collection vehicles.

The GPS tracking system, which covers all PHS Teacrate vehicles based in 10 depots throughout the UK, enables route managers to pinpoint delivery vehicles in proximity to customers who have made unscheduled requests. Vehicles can then be directed appropriately to fulfil requirements, without having to return to a depot for instruction. It means that not only is the response time cut, but mileage is also reduced - a bonus for both the customer and the environment.

Alan Thomas, operations director for PHS Teacrate, said: “We deal with more than 6,000 clients and transport around 10 million crates and pallets a year, so it is crucial that the distribution fleet can respond to last minute demands as swiftly as possible, to keep both our business and our customers’ businesses moving.

“Our new vehicle tracking system has proven invaluable as both a management tool and as an additional service feature to our customers. The GPS tells us exactly where a vehicle is, so managers spend less time on the phone locating drivers, and customers can be told which PHS Teacrate vehicles are in the vicinity and available to make an ad hoc delivery. Very often, we are just around the corner and can respond immediately.”

PESTS ON THE NET

Rentokil is facilitating around-the-clock pest management, with the launch of PestNetOnline (www.rentokil.co.uk/pestnetonline), its new online pest control reporting system.

PestNetOnline is the first technology of its kind that enables organisations to review the status of their pest control 24 hours a day, seven days a week, across multiple sites from a single web page.

The system is designed to manage pest control for organisations, highlighting and prioritising any pest control risks and pest prevention recommendations. By identifying any problems or weak spots upfront, organisations can be much more proactive and cost-efficient when managing their pest control. This reduces the need for any unnecessary site visits and lets people prioritise where they need to be by viewing activity online.

The high-tech system comes with a detailed reporting function and a document download facility, making it much easier to monitor pest control and identify problem areas. Reports can be scheduled to run automatically every month to make the auditing process much easier. The system can produce interactive site plans and audit checklists, which are particularly invaluable for audited organisations or those with premises that are regularly inspected by environmental health offices.

When PestNetOnline is installed, barcodes are set up on site by Rentokil technicians who are specially trained to identify problem areas that present a high risk of infestation. Each pest control danger hotspot is given a barcode. All pest activity and pest prevention recommendations in that location are entered against the barcode by a Rentokil technician each time they service the site. This information is uploaded to a secure server, and is available for organisations to analyse immediately.

Jed Kenrick, UK managing director for Rentokil Pest Control, said: “Pests are a growing problem in the UK and they affect all different types of companies from offices, high street stores and schools to food manufacturers and more. All organisations need to operate a pest-free environment to protect their customers, employees and brand reputation. With PestNetOnline, Rentokil has developed a high-tech way of removing the headache of reporting and analysing pest control, while saving organisations valuable time and money.”

PestNetOnline can also be used in conjunction with the Rentokil Radar mouse unit, which uses infrared sensors to detect the pests and dispatch them in a humane, eco-friendly and non-toxic way.

QUALITY ASSURANCE SYSTEMS VITAL IN GIVING YOU THE EDGE

This month, Richard Jones of Anglia Business Solutions explains how efficient quality assurance systems are a vital boon to any fresh produce business.

Quality assurance (QA) has always been a fundamental part of any fresh produce operation, and makes the difference between success and failure where customer satisfaction is concerned.

At Anglia Business Solutions, we experience many different business scenarios where companies need efficient QA systems to maximise efficiencies. These days, not only does the product need to be checked but packaging, labelling and hygiene standards also have to be met. Traditional means of carrying out this task have involved reams of paper and the manual collation of reports. However, in today’s fast-moving world, such processes are getting well past their sell-by date.

There are many issues on working with manually operated paperwork systems. The sheer volume of data that now needs to be captured means that, invariably, the administration burden on a business increases. Apart from the cost, there are the errors that invariably occur while transcribing information from one place to another. Furthermore, it becomes difficult if not impossible to detect and therefore prevent the re-occurrence of the issues that cause quality failures in the first place. Information recorded manually is notoriously difficult to analyse and share, while trends get buried in the morass of data.

It is in these areas that the advances in mobile technology can help. The key here is early capture of the required information, irrespective of location. Being in a position to move the quality control (QC) function literally to ‘the field’ creates more time to resolve issues, even before the product is transported to the packhouse. Mobile computer technology facilitates these instant updates wherever the QCs need to work. This usually means using secure connections over the mobile phone network to transmit the information. The net result is that the packhouse gets earlier visibility of the arrival of produce, as well as the expected quality.

In addition to early notification of the arrival of goods, a well-structured mobile application can assist in other ways. This is where a positive release mechanism can be introduced. A positive release mechanism is an over-arching process that monitors all QC results to ensure that all checks are performed before goods can be dispatched. This is a good example of where process and computer systems can work well together. An automated positive release process can collect QC test results for a given order and provide guidance to show when it is safe for product to be dispatched.

Finally, an area that safeguards the labelling of the product and packaging is essential. These days, labels hold a considerable amount of product information. From country of origin to promotional information, they are an essential sales aid to the supermarkets, as well as a vital tool in traceability and product management. Getting any of the details wrong can have serious consequences for the supplier. From a customer viewpoint, G’s Marketing is an excellent example where such mobile applications have made a significant difference to the business. Since implementing its mobility applications, the company has avoided early product withdrawal (EPW) fines potentially estimated at £250,000, protected more than £10 million of business and reduced its QC wages bill.

In summary, well-structured mobile QC systems with a touch of innovation can make a substantial difference to the fortunes of fresh produce organisations. They provide that vital ingredient time as well, delivering accurate management information on the quality of produce bought and sold. In an ever-more competitive market, they can provide that vital edge in customer service which protects the long-term future of the business relationship.

NEW ONLINE LOOK FOR TRADE SHOW

Trade show Fruit Logistica has launched a new online presence, to offer trade visitors and exhibitors the tools and information they need in a user-friendly format.

The new site offers easy access from both PCs or mobile telephones and PDAs, enabling fresh produce professionals to be able to access the information they need.

Fruit Logistica’s Virtual Market Place has been streamlined and fully integrated into the exhibitor search function on the site.

Gérald Lamusse, global brand manager for Fruit Logistica, said: “This is part of Fruit Logistica’s continuous drive to offer our customers, and the fresh produce trade in general, the best possible platform to do business.”

The event, which takes place on February 4-6, 2009, is expected to draw more than 2,200 exhibitors from some 70 countries.

OCADO FLAGS UP USE-BY DATES

Online retailer Ocado is to put the use-by dates of food on its website and on shopping receipts in a bid to cut food waste at home.

The online retailer, which works in partnership with Waitrose, will launch the initiative in September.

Ocado chief financial officer Jason Gissing claimed the scheme will help families plan their meals.

He said: “When you are shopping on the site, you will always be able to see the life of the product, and when you go through the checkout it will show the life of all the products.

“We think people will stick the receipt up on the fridge so customers and their families can plan their consumption and minimise food waste.”

The move came just days after prime minister Gordon Brown urged people to stop wasting food, in response to a government report that showed UK consumers bin groceries worth more than £1 billion.