Using IoT technology, Vodafone Business has helped German firm Wackler Spedition & Logistik simplify billing and connect drivers on and off the road.

This lets Wackler keep track of 300 drivers and 4650 shipments a day.

In the past, patchy connectivity, inconsistent messages and a mix of multiple providers was creating unnecessary complexity for the business and its drivers.

Using handheld terminals, drivers are now connected to Wackler’s dispatch and logistics system via the Vodafone IoT network. Wackler (www.wackler.de) can use these devices to assign drivers to their routes, while drivers themselves can use the terminals to confirm the delivery, receive route changes and upload photos to document any damage.

Recipients of goods can also track them in real time, helping provide a smoother customer experience.

The connection supports sending text and images, with reliable data transmission even in hard-to-reach locations such as in warehouses, depots or construction sites. Previously running on SIM cards from different network operators, the connectivity of these handheld terminals is now consolidated under one provider for simplicity.

The framework agreement uses a simple tariff model that distributes the data across all devices in the pool. All SIMs are managed on one platform, and through one point of contact within Vodafone Business, saving Wackler several thousand euros per year in tariff costs for data transmission.

New SIM cards can be activated easily and immediately, so the business can onboard drivers at the click of a button. Vodafone’s IoT SIM cards also benefit from being more robust than standard chip cards. This means when the terminals are left in vehicles overnight in sub-zero temperatures, they still work the next morning.

Vodafone (www.vodafone.com) has 200 million connections worldwide and can support operational efficiency, optimise processes and give sight of the entire supply chain.