Webtra is a two-way communication tool that triggers alerts when an expected event doesn't occur. When a pickup vehicle leaves office, Webtra's monitoring system sends a message to each employee to be picked up, giving the vehicle number and driver's name. This message is sent from a high security server to minimise the possibility of spoofing the identity. When the vehicle arrives at the first pickup point, the driver of the vehicle sends a message back to the central server that he has reached the first pickup point. The employee also sends a message on entering the vehicle. This routine continues with every subsequent employee boarding the vehicle. The information is captured at the backend to derive a clear picture of the time taken to traverse the route and the time spent waiting during the trip.
"If between points A and B, the first employee taking the car doesn't send an SMS, then the person who is to board next is alerted. If the vehicle does not reach point B, the logistics department, police, immediate family members, a top company official and hospital are alerted," says Lattice Bridge MD C. Mohan Ram. "When a company uses Webtra, it takes on the responsibility of transporting employees and ensures their complete safety." If the employee does not send an SMS, then the system calls up the person to find out if he is safe. Currently being tested by two BPOs in Chennai and Bangalore, Webtra would cost Rs 250-400 per employee depending on the service.
Hyderabad-based SatNav Technologies has developed a logistics model called SatTrax hat uses a GIS mass map-based solution wherein employees' houses are mapped. Currently being used by GenPact and UBS, the SatTrax keeps data of vehicles, drivers, employees and their routine. An algorithm does the routing, resulting in visual display of generated routes and shift-wise dynamic route-scheduling. The vehicle allocation is done so that no passenger travels over 130 per cent of the direct distance. The system also works out "escort" requirements for each shift in advance to avoid shortage.
"It promises optimum utilisation of vehicles," says SatNat founder MD Amit Prasad. Charging Rs 10 lakh, SatNav Technologies provides special request routing, log sheet generation, vendor management and billing.
