Indian firm Hikvision has introduced an intelligent dock camera for every loading and unloading bay to provide real-time information that enables dock managers to make accurate, timely decisions across many more docks than would otherwise be possible.

To meet rising consumer demands for parcel delivery – particularly for goods bought online – logistics companies need to manage their loading docks as effectively as possible. However, dock managers often lack the real-time information they need to make fast, accurate decisions.

They may not be able to see, for example, which docks are available, which are in use, and which will soon be free. Without these vital insights, vehicles often wait unnecessarily when they could be loading or unloading, causing delays and negatively impacting productivity and the throughput of goods through the facility.

An additional problem is that managers are often unable to see which truck parking areas are available. This means drivers often simply park where they can, blocking important areas of the site, or slowing down other vehicles trying to reach their allocated docks.

Hikvision’s smart dock management feature incorporates several capabilities that help to automate and optimise dock management operations.

The cameras can detect, in real time, if trucks are loading or unloading at docks, or whether they are unoccupied. It also recognises the lorry’s number plates to identify the vehicle that is occupying the dock. This information is relayed to an interactive map, giving managers instant visibility of load and unload operations and docks that are available, 24 hours-a-day. Based on these real-time insights, drivers can be dispatched to available docks quickly and efficiently via a mobile app.

Information from dock cameras and other site cameras also provide a real-time view of available parking spaces across the site. This allows managers to dispatch trucks to available parking spaces where they can wait without blocking key corridors and routes on the site.

Using cameras positioned inside and outside loading bays, Hikvision creates a record for later reference. This is essential for determining responsibility and liability in the event of goods going missing, or if an accident occurs such as fragile goods falling from a truck or pallet.

To increase security, information for barcode scanners is cross-referenced with video records. This enhances goods tracking and provides an audit trail to ensure goods do not leak from the supply chain.

The offering eliminates the need to calculate transport costs for parcels manually based on their weight and size. Instead, it uses product information from barcode scanners to automate the process, reducing operating costs and increasing throughput.

A digital dashboard displays all docks, showing if they are available or occupied. The dashboard also displays historical performance data, allowing staff to optimise operational efficiency, optimise scheduling and staffing decisions, and speed up the time between vehicles arriving and leaving. Together, these benefits serve to improve the overall operating efficiency of the logistics park.

With an intelligent dock camera at every loading and unloading bay, it provides real-time information that enables dock managers to make accurate, timely decisions across many more docks than would otherwise be possible.

With the smart dock technology, logistics operations can improve their throughput and performance, while also providing better experiences for dock managers and truck drivers.

With features that help managers dispatch drivers to available docks more quickly, it helps increase dock use. This allows logistics operations to increase their overall throughput, and drive revenues as a result.

Throughput is increased with features that automate a range of key processes, including goods tracking, security checks, sizing and weighing. This all helps improve operating efficiency, delivering cost savings for logistics operators. 

By monitoring and recording the entire goods loading and unloading process, Hikvision creates an audit trail for every product passing through the site. This helps improve the security of goods and prevent loss of inventory, while also helping determine responsibility where goods are lost or damaged. Information from barcode scanners can be cross-referenced with video footage to track goods and detect and view incidents quickly and easily. 

Using the technology, dock managers can handle their workloads more easily and make decisions across a large number of vehicles and allocated docks.

Additionally, drivers get clear instructions on where to park and where to wait, and can load or unload much more quickly than would otherwise be possible. This gives them a better experience and helps them meet their schedules.