| OVERVIEW | An introduction to Ramm. | |
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| TECHNOLOGY | The technology building blocks used in the Ramm system. | |
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| | Telemetry | Making measurements remotely.
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| | GPS | Global position fixing using satellites.
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| | GSM | State of the art wireless communication.
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| | SRRC | Short Range Radio Communication for identification and control.
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| | Information Processing | Personal computers and the internet being used to process and distribute information.
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| IMPLEMENTATION | Embracing technology for increased effeciency and productivity.
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| | Skill Transfer | Successful training and skills transfer are neccessary ingredients for success.
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| | Technology Partner | The importance of selecting a technology partner for implementation, intergration and maintenance.
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| RAMM | Your one stop solution provider | |
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RAMM Systems (Pty) Ltd was incorporated in the first half of 1997. The founding shareholders, have been involved in the development of tracking systems for many years and share a vision to develop and market a superior fleet management system based on innovative technologies.
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The RAMM System is widely in use today by both large and small transport operators, including the South African Police Service (SAPS) and Transnet Freight Services.
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The company has consistantly maintained its status as a leading innovator of technology. In an evaluation of 26 systems conducted by Booz Allen & Hamilton in 2000, the system was ranked as one of the two top systems available.-Top-
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All spheres of business have been affected by the rapid development of technology. Transportation is no exception. Over the last couple of decades we have seen more and more mechanical sub-systems being replaced by electronic equivalents. Many of these changes have been introduced to increase the efficiency and reliability of the motor vehicle.
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As impressive as these developments are, the use of technology has extended beyond the realm of improvements to the efficiencies and reliability of motor vehicles. We have entered the era in which technology is being used to monitor and increase the efficiency in the utilization and operating costs of operating motor vehicle fleets.
These developments now afford the fleet operator the ability to carry out the existing work with less vehicles and at lower operating costs. In effect, technology enables fleet operators to reduce their capital outlay and increase their operating margins by giving them the ability to monitor and manage the performance of fleets in real time.
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No fleet operator, wishing to provide a cost effective and competitive service, can afford to ignore the impact of technology on his business.
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In broad principal there are three primary technology frontiers which have overlapped to introduce fundamental changes to the way in which management within the transport industry is able to efficiently monitor and manage fleets in realtime.-Top-
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Telemetry is the science of making measurements remotely and transmitting the results across distance to a control centre where the measurement is evaluated.
In the context of transport, the motor vehicle is the remote site at which the measurements are being made and the office of the fleet manager is the control centre to which the measurement is being transmitted-Top-
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GPS
(Global Positioning System)
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The most important measurement to be made in a motor vehicle, for the purpose of measuring it's utilization, is the location of the vehicle. If you do not know where the vehicle is, you are unable to determine whether or not it is where it is supposed to be and consequently whether it is being utilized correctly.
The American Defence Force set (up in the early 1980's) a constellation of satellites (referred to as GPS), which transmit positional information. Motor vehicles, suitably equipped with GPS receivers, can compute their location anywhere on the earth's surface (latitude and longitude) to within 100 metres. -Top-
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GSM
(Global System for Mobile communication)
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What remains is the transmission of the position of the motor vehicle to the control centre. The complication is that the vehicle is moving. The communication or transmission technology therefore has to be wireless. In essence, it has to be radio based. Radios have been used in the transport industry for communication for many decades. However, it has only recently become possible to transmit data using wireless technology reliably and cost effectively over long distances with the advent of GSM radio networks.
GPS and GSM combined provide a very cost effective, highly flexible, realtime telemetric solution to fleet management. The only limiting factor is the coverage of the GSM network.-Top-
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The developments of short range radio communication technology have impacted on motor vehicle manufacturing. The most noticeable usage of short range radio in motor vehicles is remote locking. Most vehicles today can be locked and or immobolised without a key, using a remote hand held transmitter.
This technology is also used in other equally import, but less noticeable applications. Vehicles can be identified electronically. In practice, it is possible to read a chassis number or engine number without having to physically inspect the vehicle. |
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This information is transmitted by a 'tag' installed in the vehicle, to a reader which only has to be in close proximity to the vehicle.
A further extension of this concept is the tagging of high value cargo. Each time the vehicle passes the reader, installed at the controlled access point to the vehicle depot, a full audit is automatically made of the vehicles load.
Tags are also used to identify drivers and control their authority and utilization of motor vehicles. Drivers can be restricted to drive certain vehicles at certain times or days of the week. The number of hours or the number of kilometers that have been driven by a driver is also recorded electronically. |
The dispensing of fuel has also been revolutionized by short range radio communication. The technology is used to control the refueling of vehicles and ensuring that fuel, which is dispensed to the vehicle, is actually received by the vehicle. The entire fuel transaction is managed electronically. Vehicle fuel consumption and distance travelled are reconciled and compared to the vehicle manufacturers standards accurately and reliably.-Top- |
Electronic Management Systems generate a great deal of data, which has to be recorded, stored, processed and distributed to decision makers throughout an organisation- Directors, Managers, Controlers, Drivers and whoever else.
The developments of the personal computer, computer networks and the internet have made is possible to store, process and distribute valuable management information to whoever needs to make a decision, within any organisation, including large organisations that have offices or branches in towns and cities across natural bounderies, at extremely low cost.-Top-
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The technology is readily available at low capital costs and at ever increasing low operating costs.
For an organisation to benefit from it's utilization, management has to commit to it's implementation. The commitment goes beyond simply installing systems. The way in which management runs the business has to change fundamentally, in order for the technology to be used effectively.
Management has to conscientiously work at understanding how the technology works and how to get the most benefit from it's utilization. This knowledge and expertise has to be acquired and the internal systems within the organisation adapted to foster it's implementation. -Top-
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Technology cannot be successfully implemented and utilised if both management and the workforce do not embrace it's implementation. One of the biggest obstacles to successful implementation is ignorance and resistance to the unfamiliar. The latter can only be overcome by proper and thorough training and skills transfer.
The most sophisticated technological innovations have failed to gain popular acceptance and widespread utilization because the know how to use them has not been transferred to the user.
Training and skills transfer is as important as the technological development. The one without the other is meaningless. -Top-
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In a world where technology changes rapidly and in ever increasing quantums, it becomes increasingly difficult for transport operators to select sub-systems and take responsibility for their integration, implementation, operation and maintenance.
Transporters and Fleet Operators are becoming increasingly reliable on technology partners to assume responsibility for the technology and the systems implemented within their organisations.
It is vitally important that the correct technology partner is selected. The future of the fleet can be positively or negatively affected by the incorrect choice. A good choice can cut the operating costs and increase profits significantly. A poor choice could turn out to be a waste of capital, resources and an unnecessarily expensive learning experience.-Top-
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RAMM has positioned itself in the transport industry to provide both systems and services. It fully appreciates the need to support it's customers in a rapidly changing technological environment, and whilst it keeps abreast with these changes, it is conscious of it's responsibility to guide and advise it's customers on how to maximize the benefits of these changes. -Top-
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