November 08, 2005 (9:23 PM EST)

IAS And Motorola To Provide Ocean Carriers With RF Applications.

By Laurie Sullivan, TechWeb News

Global asset management software vendor International Asset Systems and Motorola Inc. have teamed-up to identify radio frequency-based applications that can improve visibility of goods shipped in containers through ocean carriers.

IAS has been working with ocean carriers for more than six years to reduce container inefficiencies, and linked in Motorola to tap its expertise in wireless technology. "We have had several rounds of discussions with carriers to acquaint them with our upcoming capabilities," said Jeff Corbett, IAS executive vice president, on Tuesday, declining to name them the ocean carriers. "We are testing services with a few carriers."

IAS and Motorola began working together in September 2004. Some of the applications include automated data capture to replace fax and phone calls, and electronic seals for security and improved visibilities that allow the goods to be monitored through transit. The visibility will enable customers that ship goods through ocean carriers to make spontaneous supply chain decisions.

For example, when a container arrives at a port and it's been unloaded from the terminal, instead of shipping the empty container back to the original port, the operator can chose to make it available for the next load of goods. IAS and Motorola believe inefficiencies driven by the lack of automated data capture tools could enable ocean carriers cost the industry between $5 billion and $7 billion annually. Saving initially would come from improved management of shipping containers and the use of electronic seals to facilitate security compliance.

During the last year, IAS and Motorola have explored markets and technologies for automated collection of event data in the container transport supply chain, while considering ways to partner with ocean carriers and other transportation equipment owners to deploy appropriate and effective real-time data capture devices, supporting hardware and communications infrastructure.

Potential container and chassis data-specific applications would provide free-standing or integrated services according to ocean carriers' needs and their in-house systems capabilities.

By providing visibility into the supply chain, Motorola and IAS expect to help the container transport industry locate, monitor and manage their assets better. "It's important to know where the containers have been and if they have been tampered with," Corbett said. "RF technology can help to collect that data."