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A new report commissioned by Aberdeen Standard Investment’s AIPUT fund (Airport Industrial and Property Unit Trust) has highlighted the scale of progress and future potential for the adoption of automated transport and logistics technology at the UK’s airports, including London’s Heathrow, which recently received the formal support of Parliament for its third runway plans.

AIPUT currently holds 2 million sq ft of buildings at Heathrow, dedicated to supporting the airport’s freight and logistics service providers.

The report, produced jointly by specialist UK aviation real estate consultancy, ChappellKing and Dornier Consulting International GmbH, explores the potential efficiency gains from automation across a plethora of airport-related functions such as cargo-handling and logistics operations, as well as passenger transportation both to and within airports.

Commenting on the report, AIPUT Fund Manager, Nick Smith, said:  “Autonomous technology promises enormous benefits to airports and the service companies that support them, transforming the way airports work and improving efficiency and safety, both for passengers and other airport users. At Gatwick, for example, 90% of the airport’s airside vehicles are stationary at any one time, which is both hugely inefficient and demands a vast amount of space.

A much smaller pool of electric-powered autonomous vehicles would drastically cut costs, free up land, reduce emissions, and improve safety. In Düsseldorf, a newly-developed robotic car parking system has demonstrated a 60% reduction in required parking space compared to human drivers.”

“Airports and airport real estate providers need to be ready for the introduction of automated technology as soon as operational and safety regulations permit.  AIPUT intends to stay ahead of the curve by embracing automation, working with our tenants and partners to build autonomous technology into our site masterplans; which we believe will adapt and future-proof our UK estate assets, ensuring that our clients’ buildings and facilities will be able to accommodate and benefit fully from the rapid development of autonomous technology.”

This winter in Norway an autonomous snowplough was tested at Fagernes Airport, with a single machine able to clear an area of 68 acres in a single hour.Trials of a variety of autonomous technological applications have already taken place at a number of UK airports. The first trials of automated air-side vehicles have been completed at Heathrow in collaboration with IAG Cargo and Oxbotica.  Gatwick, meanwhile, recently became the first airport in the world to trial the use of autonomous vehicles to shuttle staff across the airfield, demonstrating that autonomous vehicles can operate safely in highly-complex airfield environments.

This winter in Norway an autonomous snowplough was tested at Fagernes Airport, with a single machine able to clear an area of 68 acres in a single hour. Autonomous technology increases the precision with which snowploughs operate, improving safety during the removal of snow and while driving information and low visibility.

The UK Government has signalled its support for the industry, with the announcement of £22.4 million of funding under the Industrial Strategy for off-road self-driving vehicles, which it believes will revolutionise productivity in a range of sectors, including mining, ports and airports.

As in many other fields of technological development, airports are providing the testbed for a plethora of different autonomous applications.  AIPUT will be ensuring that it is at the forefront of planning for and providing the cutting edge facilities that greater automation will require.

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A new TomTom (TOM2) Telematics study reveals UK businesses adopt disruptive technology to improve productivity and better manage employees but are discouraged by a lack of reliable information...

TomTom Telematics, a provider of fleet management and connected car services, found that more than two-thirds of businesses (68%) believe technology is important in recruiting, motivating and retaining employees. Meanwhile, increasing productivity (19%), increasing sales (11%), lowering business costs (11%) and improving customer service (11%) were the most commonly cited motivators for adopting new technology.

Half of businesses (49%), however, believe there is a lack of reliable advice for those looking to introduce new technology systems, with 24% citing a lack of information from providers as a major challenge to adoption. Other key challenges cited include a lack of expertise within the organisation (29%), an inability to find a provider that fits with the organization (31%) and cost (38%).

We’re now living in the connected world “We’re now living in the connected world...” said Beverley Wise, Director UK & Ireland at TomTom Telematics. “Businesses need to work with disruptive technology or risk being left behind by their competitors.

“We commissioned this research to paint a clear picture of the current technology adoption landscape for businesses, highlight the challenges they face when adopting and to advise on what trends they should be paying closest attention to.”

Despite the significant role technology plays in the workplace, just 41% of businesses say they are early adopters of technology innovations, with almost a third (32%) saying their use of technology at home is more advanced than at work.

“There’s a noticeable reluctance to adopting emerging solutions amongst many UK businesses,” said Wise. “This is particularly prevalent among SMEs, with these businesses 10% less likely to be early adopters of new technology than their larger competitors (37% vs 47%). But sitting on your hands while others make use of the latest innovations is a major risk.”

When choosing a provider, the research found that technological support and usability was the biggest consideration (32%).

“It’s vital for companies to do their research to ensure they are investing in systems that will be intuitive, supportive and well-suited to their business processes,” Wise added.

“At TomTom Telematics, we take this very seriously. From in-depth, hands-on information about our services, to strategically useful data like that revealed in this study, we believe in offering companies all the information they need to make the best decision.”

An illustrated report of the findings, including actionable insight and advice, is now available on the TomTom Telematics website here. 

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Ericsson has signed an agreement with the Swedish company Transtema Group AB to divest Ericsson Local Services AB (LSS), a subsidiary of Ericsson supplying field service operations and maintenance of fixed and mobile networks in Sweden.

Ericsson Local Services AB is a market leader in field services in Sweden. LSS builds and maintains network infrastructure and delivers services in all areas of Sweden's field service operations market.

Under the agreement, all operations and assets of LSS will be transferred to Transtema ownership. LSS will continue as a legal entity in Transtema Group. As a result of the transaction, Ericsson becomes a minority shareholder and will be represented on the Board of Directors of Transtema Group.

This divestment is in line with Ericsson’s business strategy, a key part of which is Managed Services and operating networks on behalf of our customers. The divestment of LSS is part of executing on that strategy as Ericsson will no longer sell new standalone field services projects.

Ericsson Local Services is a market leader in field service operations in Sweden with a skilled workforce of approximately 700 employees across the countryPer Narvinger, Head of Customer Unit Northern & Central Europe, Market Area Europe & Latin America, Ericsson, says: “Ericsson Local Services is a market leader in field service operations in Sweden with a skilled workforce of approximately 700 employees across the country. They deliver very good support to our customers, and we believe Transtema has an excellent opportunity to continue to develop the field service operations while also executing on existing customer commitments. Together we will ensure a quick and smooth transition and a good relationship.”

Magnus Johansson, CEO Transtema Group says “We intend to operate LSS as a separate legal entity within Transtema Group. With LSS experience, competence and customer relations in Sweden, they will become the backbone of our field service operations business. Our goal is to continue to grow the service business for telecom networks. This is in line with our ambition to develop our operations in Sweden and internationally. We look forward to welcoming and onboarding all LSS employees as soon as the deal is closed.”

The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of the calendar year 2018 and is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.

Ericsson manages the Network and IT operations and Network Design and Optimization for customers in over 100 countries, providing long-lasting cost-efficient performance through smart automation, analytics and business practice.

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LightLease, a new market-leading mid-term vehicle lease solution, has been launched by leading outsourced fleet management provider Fleet Operations.

The service enables businesses to lease a broad range of vehicles, from 90 days to 12 months, bridging the gap between short-term rental and longer-term contract hire.

“We have responded to a growing market demand for a flexible leasing option that can help mobilise employees quickly, while also helping to minimise business costs,” said Jayne Pett, Sales and Marketing Director, Fleet Operations.

 

If it’s not carefully controlled, short-term hire can prove expensive and can result in an unanticipated administrative burden“If it’s not carefully controlled, short-term hire can prove expensive and can result in an unanticipated administrative burden with vehicles being regularly swapped by providers as they hit predetermined mileage or age limits. This burden can include everything from fuel card or telematics management to Benefit-in-Kind tax reporting.

 

“LightLease offers a strategic, and cost-effective, alternative.”

The launch of LightLease also offers drivers greater flexibility following the introduction of WLTP (World Light-duty Test Procedure), the new method of measuring car fuel economy and emissions.

“We are witnessing a great deal of apprehension and uncertainty around WLTP, with concerns that higher vehicle CO2 figures may lead to an increase in Benefit-in-Kind tax liabilities from 2020,” Pett added.

“While it remains unclear as to whether or not tax thresholds will be adjusted, LightLease offers a solution for drivers who are cautious about committing to a longer-term contract hire agreement.”

 

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Combined Soil Stabilisation Ltd increased the accuracy of the earthworks process using machine control technology on a major road project in East Anglia. 

The project will see the development of a new 20km carriageway, stretching from the A47 in Postwick with Witton, east of Norwich, to the A1067 at Fakenham Road, north of Taverham. Once complete, the new northern development route will provide a semi-circle road around Norwich to help ease local areas of traffic congestion.

Combined Soil Stabilisation Ltd, a leading subcontractor within the soil stabilisation and earthworks industry, was appointed to stabilise the site won soils and prepare surfaces across the site ahead of the tarmac laying process. The team at Combined Soil Stabilisation Ltd needed equipment that would allow their graders to work to an extremely tight accuracy.

Before introducing the Topcon technology, we would have required engineers to be on the site, measuring and marking out with sticks, tape and ropesThe team, who were working near obstructions such as bridges and tunnels, which can cause barriers for GPS signals, also needed a system that can deliver precise positioning data even when signals may be blocked.

Combined Soil Stabilisation Ltd chose the Topcon 3D Local Position System (LPS) Robotic to be fitted to its graders. The LPS system uses an additional robotic total station and local networks to gather positioning data, allowing constant contact, accuracy and control for the machine operator.

“Before tarmac could be laid to create the topcoat of the road, the soil surface needed to be cut down and prepared within millimetres of accuracy. In this case, we were working to +/-10mm,” explains Stefan Stansfield, Managing Director at Combined Soil Stabilisation Ltd.

“Tarmac is an expensive material so it was vital that the soil surface was smooth and precise, to ensure that no additional product was needed to create a more even or level surface. Traditional methods of grading and GPS software we’ve used in the past would have made getting a tight trim tolerance of +/-10mm near impossible, as it wouldn’t have been accurate enough.

“Before introducing the Topcon technology, we would have required engineers to be on the site, measuring and marking out with sticks, tape and ropes. Instead, using the 3D LPS Robotic system on our Graders meant that we required less engineers to operate the machinery, saving us time, money and improving health and safety on site, as well as allowing us to work to the accuracy required. Topcon’s technology and equipment also helped to increase our efficiency on site and made the job much less labour intensive.

Work on the northern development route is still ongoing and will include the addition of two roundabouts and bridges to carry the dual carriageway over existing roads.

Stefan concluded: “The technology is definitely at the top end of the industry and Topcon has some of the most advanced local positioning systems that can be fitted to plant. Using the 3D LPS system in our Graders, we could instantly see where the machines were and check the level of trim tolerance. The equipment made it easy for us to save, not only in terms of time and money, but also on the amount of tarmac that could be wasted during the project.”

For more information about the Topcon technology used, please visit: www.topconpositioning.com/en-gb.

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Field service businesses have a lot of problems that keep them from thriving—like scheduling challenges, high fleet maintenance costs, too few jobs, and wide service windows that keep customers waiting all day.

Now, these businesses can solve all these issues (and more) from within their field service management system with Commusoft's new Real-Time Vehicle Tracking feature.

The new feature builds out from the Commusoft cloud-based software package designed for field service companies both large and small, including plumbers, heating engineers, renewable engineers, electricians, oil technicians, property managers, fire & security companies, and builders.

How is Commusoft's Real-Time Vehicle Tracking feature better than a standalone GPS?

Why pay for a GPS system that doesn’t work hand-in-hand with your job management software? Because Commusoft's real-time GPS system is tightly integrated into a world-class job management system, it allows operations managers to make better decisions when it comes to tracking jobs. 

By bringing scheduling information and engineers’ locations together, Real-Time Vehicle Tracking gives operations managers the ability to create faster, more efficient schedules, which in turn lets them:

• Reduce engineers’ travel time.
• Reduce costs by pinpointing unsafe driving and rough vehicle handling.
• Schedule more jobs into a single day.
• Reduce service windows and provide faster customer service.

Real-Time Vehicle Tracking also increases the odds of recovery in cases of vehicle theft. 

'These are all benefits a business wouldn't see with a traditional GPS,' says Jason Morjaria, founder of Commusoft. 'Our Real-Time Vehicle Tracking now gives businesses of all sizes access to a world-class schedule optimising solution.'

How does Commusoft's Real-Time Vehicle Tracking work?

Commusoft sends users a dedicated Commusoft GPS vehicle tracker; it's highly precise, and can’t run out of battery or be left behind at a work site—unlike tracking solutions that rely on a mobile phone’s built-in GPS. Plus, there's no need to track your engineer’s personal device, just the company vehicle.

The vehicle tracker interfaces with the Commusoft job management software to let the user track their vans and engineers in real time from their desktop or mobile device.

Commusoft’s Real-Time Vehicle Tracking is included at no extra monthly charge for Commusoft's Paperless Office plan users and higher. Users pay a one-time charge per vehicle tracker (one per vehicle), but no extra after that. Now, field service businesses can finally say goodbye to monthly vehicle tracking fees, and say hello to real-time GPS tracking included in the price of their job management software.

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Atos, a global leader in digital transformation today announces that it has been identified as a ‘Leader’ by global research and advisory firm NelsonHall in its latest Vendor Evaluation & Assessment Tool (NEAT) for Cognitive IT Infrastructure Management...

Atos supports businesses in their digital transformation by providing the tools, services and consulting to enable them to successfully implement next-generation IT infrastructure and workplace services, such as those which use Artificial Intelligence (AI), cognitive, machine learning, deep learning, virtual agents, advanced analytics and robotics.

Atos’ brand new Codex AI Suite, announced recently, supports businesses and research institutes in the development, deployment and management of AI applications. It offers an easy-to-use, efficient and cost-effective solution to rapidly build and deploy AI applications, better extract value from data and develop new business opportunities.

Atos’ end-to-end Digital Workplace offering includes a range of intelligent solutions to enhance the user experience.Atos’ end-to-end Digital Workplace offering includes a range of intelligent solutions to enhance the user experience. This includes the Atos Virtual Assistant (AVA), which leverages Cognicor’s next-generation AI engine, to offer help and support for users, resulting in reduced downtime, increased user productivity, and cost reduction.

Commenting on this ranking, John Laherty, Senior Research Analyst at NelsonHall, said: “Atos is driving digital transformation across both infrastructure and service desk to improve business outcomes and end-user experience; it is embedding automation into all its standard infrastructure managed services offering for clients.”

Elaborating on Atos’ role as a leader in Cognitive IT Infrastructure Management services, Peter Pluim, Head of Infrastructure & Data Management at Atos, said: “We are delighted to be recognized as a Leader in Cognitive IT Infrastructure Management by NelsonHall. We offer an end-to-end approach to automation and robotics, thereby reducing costs, increasing quality, and creating differentiation with real-time insight for our clients.”

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Trackunit an innovator of telematics technology, has announced a partnership with United Rentals, the world’s largest equipment rental company, to provide premium telematics solutions for the United Rentals fleet. The two companies share a commitment to connecting the construction ecosystem through data-driven technology.

“Every investment we make in technology comes down to two criteria: delivering superior value for our customers today, and helping them build a successful future,” said Michael Bierschbach, director of fleet intelligence and technology for United Rentals.

Every investment we make in technology comes down to two criteria: delivering superior value for our customers today, and helping them build a successful future“Trackunit has developed a best-of-breed telematics solution with a global reputation for business intelligence. We’re working together to help United Rentals customers realize greater jobsite productivity, safety, cost management and informed decision-making.”

Trackunit will use its OEM relationships and aftermarket expertise to install Trackunit Manager technology on light and heavy equipment in the United Rentals fleet.

Trackunit Manager features keyless access control for user authentication, preventing unauthorized use of equipment. The software operates on their Iris platform and utilizes Trackunit Go and Trackunit On as mobile applications.

“Our partnership with United Rentals is focused on creating long-term value through a connected jobsite ecosystem,” said Tom Valbak Aardestrup, global vice president of business development for Trackunit. “There is a growing demand in construction for efficiency at every level. Machine connectivity and actionable data are the tools that will take the industry into the future.”

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Sathivel Adrin Anusanth has joined Asolvi's global workplace to play a key role in implementations of the cloud-based Tesseract product, Asolvi's longest-standing service management solution.

Sathivel will be working with the consultancy team to ensure smooth, successful delivery of Tesseract to customers. Comprehensive yet easy to use, Tesseract has been a market favourite since 1985 and continues to optimise the service chains of thousands of organisations in the field service industry all over Europe.

Sathivel brings 15 years' experience in delivering IT solutions to the B2B market in Europe, Asia and Africa, and has a good understanding of the cultural values and variations and diverse customer needs in those markets.

He has successfully managed many large banking and finance projects on time and on a budget, exceeding customer expectations along the way. His expertise at both technical and commercial levels enables him to help customers in a multitude of industries identify the right solution for their business needs.

Asolvi's new technical consultant, Stuart Page, will help bring the benefits of its well-established Tesseract service management product to field service organisations Europe-wide.

Tesseract is Asolvi's longest-running application and known for its extensive functionality and user-friendly interfaces. Stuart is expected to be involved in all technical aspects of a Tesseract implementation, from solution scoping to installation and rollout. His remit includes project work and upgrades to the latest version of the Tesseract system for existing customers.

Stuart brings 18 years of experience in deployment of business solutions, primarily ERP, helpdesk and quoting systems, working closely with clients' technical staff as well as management representatives and end users.

"That fact that Asolvi is a business consultancy as well as a software provider is what drew me to it," says Stuart. "It's not just concerned with selling software. It cares about making sure its customers succeed and are profitable in their respective industries. I was also drawn by its significant European and international presence and ongoing expansion plans. Asolvi is determined to play a key role in shaping the future of field service for businesses of all sizes, particularly those finding it difficult to compete. I'm excited to be a part of that."

Stuart and Sathivel are the latest in a string of hires as Asolvi moves to position itself as the leading provider of service management software for small and medium-sized enterprises across Europe.

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