Monday, February 22, 2016

Royal Mail

In the United Kingdom, Royal Mail services is rolling out a plain to incorporate new efficiency technology in it truck fleet in order to greatly reduce its carbon emission output. The new technology they will be incorporating is its Telemetry program as well as other vehicle improvements. The Telemetry program is a real time tracking system that tracks and analyses how each Royal Mail driver drives and then relays this information directly into the cab of the truck. The other technology invested in was adjustable roof deflectors. These are installed with the intent of them adjusting to the wind around a car in order to reduce wind drag on the vehicle, which allows the vehicle to use less fuel.
            This article points a lot of great improvements that Royal Mail looking to infuse into their delivery service. The first part that is emphasized is the Telemetry program. This program is important to emphasize because it can realistically change and improve every part of the company’s service. If properly utilized, this technology could both reduce the environmental side effects of the service but also improve the speed and functionality of their package deliveries. Another aspect of this program that is important to emphasize is the use of the data collected. When tracking the vehicles the program also helps determine other possible routes that could help make the shipping process run more effectively for future shipments. The third point of emphasis that I took from this article was the adjustable roof deflectors placed on their vehicles. This technology is impactful because it adds an immediate and tangible reduction to the carbon output of the car. By combining these technologies, Royal Mail, is systematically aiming to drastically improve their carbon efficiency.
While this technology is revolutionary and should help reduce the Royal Mails carbon footprint, I believe it does have some components that are overlooked. The first part of the Telemetry program that I believe is overlooked is what the technology does. The program does not directly improve the efficiency of the vehicle it is installed in, it only offers suggestions of how the driver might improve his efficiency. In accordance with the first oversight is the second. The second oversight is the human factor involved with the process. While using the program should help to reduce emissions, the actual ability of the Telemetry program to succeed and fully work is for the drivers to be able and willing to operate this technology and trust that it works. The third oversight is the lack of future plans discussed for this technology. I think this technology could have a lot of other potential uses that could and should be addressed.

Sources:


http://www.computerweekly.com/news/4500273412/CIO-interview-Catherine-Doran-Royal-Mail

1 comment:

  1. I think that the technology that Royal Mail is using could be a real game changer. I think that this technology could be beneficial to the environment and the business itself. I think that providing the shortest routes is key to reducing carbon emission and having overall faster deliveries. And for a company like Royal Mail, faster deliveries is an important goal. Faster deliveries means more satisfied customers, and hopefully, it means more business for them in the long run.
    I also believe that tracking the drivers and how each of them is doing, is very important to Royal Mail. The technology allows for Royal Mail to determine its better drivers and its worse drivers. It allows them to address the worse drivers and determine what those drivers are doing wrong. Royal Mail can improve its employees quality of work and can get rid of the employees that seem to be slacking.
    I really wish that the article went more into the technology itself and how it is set up. I would be very interested to know how much the technology costs and how the drivers are notified about the shortest routes possible or their overall performance. These are two very important aspects that were left out.

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