Asset Tracking Through M2M

Jul 11
10:18

2013

Jennifer Lewis

Jennifer Lewis

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What is M2M? Just like we communicate with each other using different languages, computers communicate using bits and bytes. This is no revelation, as this has been known to us all for a long time. What’s new though is that today, the intercommunication and interchange of digital data is not limited to computers.

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What is M2M?

Just like we communicate with each other using different languages,Asset Tracking Through M2M Articles computers communicate using bits and bytes. This is no revelation, as this has been known to us all for a long time. What’s new though is that today, the intercommunication and interchange of digital data is not limited to computers. Today, a much larger variety of devices are capable of communicating amongst themselves. Your refrigerator, microwave, air conditioners and televisions can all send and receive messages, and take action.

This has been made possible by the near omnipresence of the data networks, wireless and carrier. The appliances can also be plugged into a wired network when in place. This intercommunication of networked devices (wired or wireless) is known as machine to machine or M2M in short.

Why use M2M?

M2M solutions are making our lives more convenient and secure. They allow us to control and remote manage a lot of things that we could not before. They also find application in the enterprise sector, like in inventory management. M2M services play a very important role when there is a need to keep a track of inventory, fleet management, healthcare etc. when running a business. It is often used in remote monitoring, which can be done 24x7x365 via mobile devices.

Advances in M2M have improved the GPS capabilities and automated processes in industries. It has made the tracking devices much more affordable, accurate and lightweight. There are numerous ways in which M2M solutions are used across a variety of sectors and markets.

Use GPS devices to manage your fleet or transport tracking: Managing your fleet tracking utilizing M2M can save your company time, costs with increased customer satisfaction. A GPS tracker can easily be installed in all the fleet and transport vehicles. Organizations depend heavily on these solutions to make deliveries or move freight from one place to another.
 
Personal safety or Tracking of stolen items: Many police departments in the USA have been using M2M to recover stolen goods, catch thieves or fight similar range of crimes. If you have experienced a merchandise loss during transport or want to track a missing /stolen vehicle, these can be done better with M2M. The exact position of the vehicles or goods can be tracked with the help of a GPS tracking device that can help trace the thieves.

Real – time Updates: It provides up-to –the-minute information about the vehicles or drivers, which helps in better production planning and reduce downtime.

Track and avoid diversion

Cargo diversion is a major headache plaguing transportation companies. It is the cause of millions of dollars worth of losses each year. To solve this problem, machine communications offers some great solutions. A concealed GPS tracker placed on a container can alert the shipper of the location, and the same can be used to co-ordinate the passage of the cargo.
 
Vigilance and security

A lot of enterprises face the challenge of having to deal with thefts. The issue is that the crime comes to light only when the inventory comes up short, which may be weeks or even months after the theft took place. The value of the goods aside, the company has to face the litigation costs, deal with insurance companies, and also face the ire of the customers for not meeting the requirements. Once again, M2M can help you. You can install sensors to trip and alert of intruders; you can even rig a few bait items to track if stolen.