In this exclusive interview with Rajesh Rajgor, Narendra Pandya, Director, OMD Solutions explains how with their Dhruv Track solutions they are offering an honest, simple and robust solution for the cold chain logistics industry
There is an increasing demand for in-depth industry metrics and functional expertise led by modern technology practices that facilitate high delivery model to several industries, including fleet operators. The need for a software and hardware program that can transform a fleet’s high-value business processes and improve their business performance is growing. In fact, the need for technology-enabled data management using software and sensors, artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) is also rising. In this sphere, OMD Solutions offers vehicle tracking system solutions, IT facility management, IT consultancy, networking, IT infrastructure security audit, IT data security audit and annual maintenance contracts and several other data management software for the transport industry.
Excerpts from the interview:
Could you give us a brief background about OMD Solutions?
We started 20 years ago as a software development company and over the years we created ERP software for transport and logistics companies. In due course we started getting inquiries from our clients for GPS and temperature monitoring. Gradually, with customer satisfaction and the new challenging requirements of customers, we continued to introduce new products in this segment. Today, OMD Solutions is an established IT solution company, offering diverse services to customers under one roof while catering to the transport and logistics segment.
Can you give us an overview of OMD Solution’s products and services for the cold chain segment?
Our products which are specifically designed for the cold chain industry are:
• Dhruv-Track Kool: It is designed to read temperature, door status, vehicle location, speed and many more parameters and make the data available online. This product includes one to four temperature sensors and up to three door sensors.
• Dhruv-Track Combi: It aims to provide all the functionality of Dhruv-Track Kool and additional functionalities like a local display of temperature to the driver, door status alert to the driver, online and offline option to set the temperature monitoring range and visual and acoustic alarm in case of temperature excursion.
• Dhruv-Track Alert: This product is specially designed for offline temperature and door monitoring of vehicles and warehouses, visual and acoustic alarm in case of temperature excursion.
• Dhruv-Track Retail: It has been designed for food sector retail outlets. Here, temperature sensors are installed in display counters of a retail shop. This product aims at monitoring many franchised or own outlets for temperature compliance of food items and reducing electricity consumption.
In addition, all Dhruv-Track temperature monitoring sensors have highly precise digital sensors with validation certificate from an NABL-accredited institute.
What USP or value do you add with these products?
Following are some of the benefits which our customers gain using our products:
• Online location and temperature monitoring.
• On time delivery assurance.
• Pharmaceuticals can meet compliances and audit requirements.
• Theft protection in a running vehicle.
• Better utilisation of the fleet.
• AI reporting about performance of reefer boxes.
Do you manufacture all these products in-house or source and assemble them?
Our solution has two parts, software and hardware. The software is completely designed and developed by us in-house. We need the best hardware to work reliably in harsh environments and we choose from many manufacturers worldwide. We have a team of business analysts, developers and designers to meet the ever-changing requirements of our customers. We aim to deliver complete solutions and not merely tracking. For one of our customers we developed end-to-end trip management with temperature-controlled requirements. Our ground reality for the transport sector is very challenging and hence we need to have software or systems which can work with these realities. Our software should not make activities further complicated and so keeping these in mind we create systems to easily manage trips for temperature-controlled vans.
Can you give an example of customisation and value-added service given to a couple of your clients to substantiate the above mentioned products?
We have many such instances but a few that have made a big difference to our customers are as follows:
• Due to many instances of theft in a running vehicle, one of our customers requested for an alert to driver in case of the door opening. We integrated a door opening alert in our Dhruv-Combi product. I am very happy to know that it has helped reduce many theft attempts.
• Our product Dhruv Retail was designed as customisation for the retail industry and it helped our customer to control the quality of services.
How do you support your clients with service and maintenance of the products?
In our segment, services are more important than one-time installations. We may face challenges like high vibration for devices and sensors, difficult drivers and various unscheduled and maintenance tasks. To tackle this, we have our service engineer in major cities. Also, we provide a resident engineer for corporate customers with standby stock. However, most of these challenges are avoided with the use of top-quality robust hardware installation and time-to-time services.
Do you work with end fleet customers and OEMs like Tata Motors, Ashok Leyland or with reefer manufacturers?
We work with reefer manufacturers and are willing to work with OEMs too.
What are your plans over the next 2-3 years in terms of sales, turnover and expansion?
We are in the process of developing devices capable of not only monitoring but also controlling temperature online. The reefer market is very huge and we are looking to reach maximum reefer vehicle transporters and provide services that will add value to their products at affordable prices. Our customers are companies of all sizes ranging from start-ups to large enterprises who have realised that they need professional solutions to streamline business operations in a cost-effective manner and control the business process. Our vision is to become a preferred IT partner in our customers’ business growth by meeting their business needs of today and support the growing business needs for tomorrow.