Our in-vehicle PC systems are extremely suitable for the waste services industry, with particular focus placed on refuse collection operations. We understand how difficult it can be to meet the demand for moving increasing amounts of waste whilst reducing the time it takes to do so, and our computers help both private and public sector waste services organisations to do this. The following sections explain why this is the case, and will demonstrate how waste services organisations can benefit from installing our versatile in-vehicle computers.
Navigation & Tracking
Our comprehensive in-vehicle PCs enable waste services organisations to make their refuse collection operations as efficient as possible. A large contributing factor of this is the built-in GPS functionality which has many beneficial uses.
The first is navigation. When combined with relevant software, our in-vehicle PCs' GPS functionality enables waste services organisations to navigate their fleet of vehicles to every waste collection point in a highly efficient, cost effective and organised manner. Also, with live traffic updates drivers can be directed to every location as quickly as possible. This reduces delays and therefore improves productivity and customer satisfaction.
Secondly, GPS enables fleet operators to track their refuse collection vehicles with regards to their location, speed and historical routes. This information is extremely useful for monitoring, analysing and improving the efficiency of their fleet operations.
Job Despatch, Mobile Reporting & Safety Processes
Another advantage of our in-vehicle computers is that they can be used to support advanced job despatch systems. When combined with relevant software, our GPS-equipped PCs enable the vehicle fleet control centre to make efficient vehicle allocation decisions for despatching jobs. For example, should a late or last-minute refuse collection request be received, the control centre can use real-time location data about the entire fleet to allocate the nearest or most accessible vehicle to the particular customer. With 3G compatibility, our computers can allow the control centre to despatch the job remotely, meaning that all details are sent to the driver in a safe and timely manner. This means that the driver is not required to speak on the telephone to receive details, inevitably improving safety.
A further advantage is that, by integrating a job despatch system, waste services organisations need not purchase separate job despatching hardware - thus reducing long-term costs and providing a convenient all-in-one package.
As fully featured Windows PCs, our in-vehicle computers allow waste services organisations to utilise digitised reporting. Using one of our vivid and responsive touchscreen displays, drivers and passengers are able to create and send various reports, whether they are routine (e.g. timesheets, job status, etc) or miscellaneous (e.g. logs of dangerous obstructions encountered during the journey). More importantly, with 3G connectivity, drivers and passengers are able to send reports remotely. This enables head office to access information within seconds of it being submitted, thus reducing the amount of time spent on paperwork and reducing the risk of the information getting lost throughout the day when compared to physical forms.
In addition to reporting, waste services organisations can implement a prompting system for vehicle personnel. For example, if a safety checklist is required at the start or end of a shift, prompts can automatically remind personnel to do this at a specific time. Checklists can be completed quickly and efficiently using one of our responsive touchscreen displays.
RFID Compatibility & Utilisation
A growing number of waste services organisations use radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology as part of their operations. A dedicated, fast, reliable and effective system based on our in-vehicle computers can ensure that RFID is used to its full potential. Because our PCs support high levels of connectivity, RFID scanners can be easily connected to the in-vehicle PC. Also, when used in combination with GPS and 3G/Wi-Fi, the data gained from each RFID tag (precise time and location of each bin emptied, etc) can be immediately sent to HQ. This provides easy and fast access to information, thus enabling instantaneous analysis; more accurate and timely billing of customers; real-time monitoring of sub-contractors’ performance; and unprecedented control and traceability of waste.
Safety & Security
It is vital that high levels of safety are maintained during refuse collection operations, and our computers can support CCTV recording from multiple cameras, with CCTV footage being recorded onto a high-capacity hard drive (removable or fixed), should any incidents occur. This is not only useful for crew safety, but also for proving whether or not refuse collection vehicles have been involved in road traffic accidents and, if so, who is to blame. Our PCs' touch sensitive monitors can also be used as a rear-view camera system, with the option to automatically switch to the reverse camera’s input when reverse gear is engaged.
Serco, a FTSE 100 organisation, installed our in-vehicle computers into a fleet of around 70 refuse collection vehicles. Please see the case study to see exactly why they chose us as their hardware provider.