Steel Wholesaler Kicherer Relies on TISLOG Software from TIS

The steel wholesaler Friedrich Kicherer has replaced five technology suppliers with the telematics solution TISLOG from TIS, saved on interfaces, and significantly simplified its administration. Additionally, the new system can be modularly expanded at any time. Kicherer operates its own fleet of 85 vehicles, distributing 1,000 tons of steel daily.

(Bocholt/Ellwangen) Modern telematics has long been indispensable in the fleet of the steel wholesaler Friedrich Kicherer. GPS tracking, the transmission of order data, and insight into the currently available driving times: This technology not only relieves drivers and dispatchers but also increases service levels and transparency towards customers thanks to precisely predictable arrival times.

However, Kicherer’s openness to innovative solutions had led to dispatchers, traffic managers, and clerks being supported by five different systems. “Order management, tracking, economic and driving time analysis, as well as managing SIM cards and tablets were handled by separate providers,” recalls Michael Röther, who is responsible for a fleet of 85 vehicles at Kicherer as the traffic manager. These are divided into four units with four geographically separated dispatch locations. Approximately 1,000 tons of steel are transported daily from Ellwangen to customers nationwide.

The variety of telematics solutions resulted in increased organizational effort, various interfaces, and multiple points of contact. “Many systems also mean many potential sources of error when something in telematics doesn’t work as planned,” says Röther. In such cases, they always had to analyze which supplier was responsible for the respective malfunction. Against this background, Kicherer sought a comprehensive solution that could represent all telematics requirements in one system.

Simple Handling of the Software

“We looked for suitable providers at relevant trade fairs and became aware of TIS,” reports Tobias Abele, who led the IT project. “The TISLOG solution enables us mobile order management, accurate driving style analyses, as well as downloading, storing, and evaluating tachograph data and driver cards,” summarizes Abele. Additionally, there is the management of SIM cards and the Mobile Device Management TISLOG MDM developed by TIS, which allows the driver tablets used at Kicherer to be supplied with new software at the push of a button.

TISLOG MDM has been optimized for the requirements of the logistics industry. This provides TIS with a self-developed alternative to third-party solutions. TISLOG MDM enables efficient and centralized management of all deployed mobile telematics devices and is an integrated part of the TISLOG software family. The solution serves, for example, for the quick and wireless transfer of software updates to data terminals, scanners, tablets, or smartphones, as well as for data backup and inventory of all mobile devices.

“At TIS, we also have the advantage that the solution is continuously expanded with new, useful modules,” says Luca Röhrer, who is completing training as a computer scientist for system integration at Kicherer. He cites the apps for departure control or the documentation of load securing with an integrated photo function as examples.

Practical Testing Before the Decision

Before the final decision for TISLOG, the solution had to undergo an intensive practical test at Kicherer. For this purpose, 15 trucks from the company’s own logistics were equipped with a Samsung tablet (Galaxy TAB Active 2), a truck box, and a mobile printer. The hardware developed by TIS provides comprehensive telematics data for dispatch and fleet management as needed. The boxes are equipped with a powerful GPS receiver and a dedicated SIM card. At Kicherer, the devices are connected via FMS interface to the truck’s CAN bus and to the digital tachograph. “This reliably provides our dispatchers with the current driving, working, and rest times,” reports Röther. The processing and analysis of the tachograph data runs continuously through the TISLOG office portal and is automatically sent to the tour planning software Pracar from Wanko used at Kicherer.

Software Generates Email with Exact Arrival Time

In the reverse direction, the tours created with Pracar are sent via mobile network to the tablets equipped with the TISLOG app. This provides drivers with precise and unambiguous order data that can be immediately transmitted to the integrated navigation system at the push of a button. “Throughout the entire tour, drivers are guided step by step through the delivery process,” Abele notes. This especially facilitates the work of foreign drivers, as the commands are automatically translated into the respective language.

For more transparency and improved communication, the automatic notification of delivery at the next unloading point also helps. For this purpose, Kicherer generates an email with precise time details and a download link for the delivery notes. This accelerates the goods receipt and reduces waiting times.

After the intensive testing phase, the system was deemed “good by all parties involved” and was installed in the entire fleet at the turn of the year 2020/2021. TISLOG had to be configured for the individual needs of the four fleet units. Kicherer distinguishes here between the areas of logistics, bending shop, steel center, and production connection trade (PVH). In this context, TISLOG “learned” to receive emails, print delivery documents on the mobile printers in the driver’s cabin, or purchase vignettes.

Integration of Additional Tools Planned

“The project went to our complete satisfaction, especially since our dedicated contacts at TIS were available at any time, even between the Christmas holidays,” emphasize Abele and Röther, who want to continuously expand the telematics system. Currently planned or already in implementation are digital load medium exchange, digital driver’s license control, loading and unloading scanning, or digital signatures.

Photos: © Kicherer