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Quadient Shipping
shipping.quadient.com/en
Based in France, Quadient Shipping (QSH) specializes in traceability solutions for the logistics and transport industries.
QSH was looking to implement a robust and reliable cellular connectivity solution for its global network of smart lockers.
Partnering with Sierra has enabled QSH to:
Quadient Shipping (QSH) is part of a global mail and logistics company, Quadient. QSH specializes in integrating traceability solutions throughout the logistics and transport sectors. It does this by leveraging digital technologies such as RFID, barcodes and the Internet of Things (IoT). As well as building its own solutions, QSH also partners with best-in-class vendors to provide the most advanced and effective solutions for its customers.
QSH has been involved with Quadient’s Parcel Locker Solutions (PLS), which is one of the key pillars of Quadient. PLS provides smart lockers that allow companies and individuals to pick up packages at their convenience, at any time. These lockers are typically located in retail premises so that customers can collect items ordered on line in-store, as well as in residential buildings, to service inhabitants receiving e-commerce deliveries.
Smart lockers have to be available 24/7, as their main selling point is that they offer convenience. If there are frequent outages or the lockers are unavailable for whatever reason, customers will stop relying on them. In addition, there must be timely maintenance to ensure that any bugs or issues are resolved quickly with limited downtime. Continuous operation without minimal disruption, therefore, requires robust internet connectivity.
Wi-Fi connectivity has proven challenging for QSH. Firstly, each site requires integration with the local internet infrastructure, which is costly and time-consuming. Secondly, Wi-Fi can cause security issues, as the data is not always encrypted, which is especially important considering that smart lockers handle sensitive customer information. As a result, QSH opted for a cellular IoT solution. In the early stage of this approach, there were some issues with the limited telecom coverage of their partner networks, meaning QSH needed different SIMs and arrangements for different areas of operation. There were also limited fallback options if one network had an outage, which caused lost connectivity in some circumstances.
In the beginning, we had the choice of using the networks provided by our customers – either wired or Wi-Fi. Difficulties in the field very quickly became apparent however such as the complexity and cost of integration with the customer’s IT systems and security issues with using Wi-Fi, and we decided to use the solution that we had initially envisaged as a secondary solution, namely cellular connectivity.
Bruce Pacome
Operations & Purchasing Manager at Quadient Shipping
QSH opted to shift to a mulit-carrier cellular solution, which gave it reliable coverage at the national level across France. It also started using Sierra Wireless’s AirLink range of industrial routers with AirLink Management Services (ALMS) along with the connectivity solution.
Approximately 80% of the data transmitted from QSH’s smart lockers relate to supervision and maintenance. With the AirLink solution, this information can be sent back in real-time, allowing QSH to closely monitor the performance of its units and troubleshoot any problems. Meanwhile, ALMS provides a single dashboard that displays all devices’ status, signal information, and location in the network. QSH’s managers could get alerts if any devices went offline, allowing for easily identified and solved problems. It is also possible to send software updates over-the-air, improving security.
GLOBAL EXPANSION
As QSH has expanded globally, it has opted for the AirLink RV50X router, coupled with Sierra’s Smart Connectivity service. The RV50X is easy to install and operate, making it perfect for global deployments. It is a 4G LTE gateway but supports fallback to 3G and 2G networks, meaning it can cover a broad range of spectrums. It also has ultralow power consumption, reducing management and maintenance costs.
Smart Connectivity links securely to carrier networks in over 190 countries. As a result, QSH can manage its global fleet of devices with a single SIM, rather than having to manage multiple different vendors and carriers. If one network has an outage then Smart Connectivity will automatically connect to the next best option, minimizing outages. QSH is also looking to start using Sierra Wireless’ e-SIM, which makes provisioning and updating its devices much simpler, and cuts the need for costly truck-rolls.
For more information on Sierra Wireless solution visit:
https://www.sierrawireless.com/iot-connectivity/
https://www.sierrawireless.com/router-solutions/rv50/
Out of more than 15,000 lockers deployed worldwide, nearly half are connected with Sierra Wireless’ connectivity solutions. The fact that we can deploy a single means of communication, regardless of the region, thanks to the single worldwide certification has given us greater flexibility and speed in deploying our products, allowing us to save time and money.
Bruce Pacome,
Operations & Purchasing Manager at Quadient Shipping
Quadient Shipping
EMEA
France
Smart lockers
AirLink® RV50X routers
AirLink Management Services (ALMS)
Smart Connectivity
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