Zetes finds 'beemers' using real-time track and trace

ID solutions firm's wireless system tracks BMWs

The Zetes system keeps tabs on new BMWs while they are inspected

ID solutions system integrator Zetes has deployed a real-time track and trace system at BMW's UK vehicle distribution centre at Thorne, South Yorkshire.

The Zetes system enables BMW to identify and locate incoming and outgoing vehicles using Motorola MC9000 handheld devices and Zebra P4T mobile printers.

The 3km-long Thorne site is BMW’s main UK inspection plant and can hold thousands of vehicles. The Zetes solution integrates directly with BMW’s inhouse-developed vehicle tracking system.

BMW cars or motorbikes entering the facility for inspection are automatically labelled with an indelible barcode label using the Zebra printers.

Each barcode has both unique vehicle identification information and location co-ordinates produced in real time over the Cisco wireless network. This data is captured using the Motorola handheld devices with the whereabouts of each vehicle stored centrally.