Forklift Tracking is Boosting Warehouses: You Won't Believe all the Possible Gains
Forklift tracking involves the use of technology to track and monitor forklift activity. Forklift tracking offers so many benefits that it is usually a no-brainer for companies to adopt this activity in one form or another.
Now there are several options available for companies who wish to track forklifts. What’s more, different technologies offer different levels of effectiveness in varying environments. So ultimately, the exact equipment used in forklift tracking is going to depend on the exact technology employed by the specific company, which in turn is decided by the unique requirements of the conditions.
What equipment is used for forklift tracking?
The most popular technologies employed include UWB sensors, which allow for real-time monitoring through unique sensors and receivers, RFID trackers, which achieve the same results through RFID tags and readers, and of course, GPS trackers.
Barcode scanners placed on forklifts can also be used, but may not be as effective and convenient as the other alternatives. Another famous choice is to go with telematic devices. Forklift telematics involves installing telematic devices on forklifts and other equipment, to not only track movement but also relay important data.
We’ll take a deeper look at forklift telematics later in the article, but what’s important to note is that there is no shortage of approaches to adopt when it comes to forklift tracking. Each approach has its pros and cons, and the exact equipment to be used will ultimately be a function of which direction a company chooses based on its specific demands.
What is a tracked forklift?
In the context of a forklift tracking system, a tracked forklift is any forklift that has been equipped with a tracking system to monitor and manage its activities. To achieve this, forklift tracking and monitoring systems usually make use of both software and hardware components.
The software components consist of the forklift management software that serves as the backbone behind most of the forklift tracking activity including forklift fleet tracking, forklift location tracking, and forklift movement tracking.
The hardware components of a forklift tracking and monitoring system will often consist of the tags, sensors, readers, and forklift IOT drivers. It is a combination of both of these components that makes forklift tracking in a warehouse possible. Companies track forklifts for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the improved safety that they enjoy as a result of it.
It simply makes sense that once you have a management of your forklift position at all times, you reduce the chances of accidents and other compromising events.
Additionally, forklift GPS tracking also results in a decrease in operational costs and increase in efficiency. When you know the real time and the exact location of your forklift and other equipment, things simply move smoothly, faster, and much more efficiently.
How to mount a forklift tracking system?
Forklift tracking in a warehouse is only made possible when all parts of your forklift movement tracking device are installed correctly. So how exactly do you mount your forklift tracking system? Well, again, this will depend highly on which technology/forklift tracking software you choose to go with.
Generally, though, the following are the steps you have to follow to install a forklift fleet tracking system:
- Step 1: Identify the Best Location – The first step in forklift tracking in a warehouse is to identify the best location on your forklift to mount the tracking system. Make sure your chosen location is accessible and provides a clear line of sight to your sensors.
- Step 2: Clean the Mounting Surface – Secondly, you want to make sure that the surface where you will be mounting the device is clean and free from debris.
- Step 3: Install the Mountain Hardware – Once you identify the surface and clean it, you can proceed to install the mounting hardware. Note that the mounting hardware is not the forklift tracking device itself but the frame that makes it easy to install the device. This may involve drilling holes in the forklift.
- Step 4: Attach the Tracking Device – Once your mounting hardware is in place, you can then attach your tracking device to the forklift. You may have to secure it to the mounting device using screws.
From here, you may employ your forklift management software to get the real time location of your forklift. Forklift utilization tracking may involve using a forklift tracking app. Once this app is set-up, you’ll begin to receive key data. Understanding forklift iot can be a challenge at first, and may necessitate a forklift operator training to become used to how the device works and how to get the best out of it.
How to make an indoor positioning system?
What is forklift telematics?
Forklift telematics is simply the activity of collecting data from forklifts and other related equipment to a central database. One of the importance of forklift tracking is that it can aid forklift telematics.
Using systems such as UWB sensors or forklift GPS tracking, telematics systems are able to obtain data on location, usage time, fuel consumption, speed, load weights among others. All of the data received from tracked forklifts can prove invaluable in many ways, including the following:
- Maintenance – Data received from forklift telematics makes it easier to know when there’s need for repair, upgrades and other important maintenance activities, leading to a longer lifespan of critical operating equipment.
- Saving Operation Costs – Having a prolonged lifespan of crucial equipment, increased safety, and increased efficiency leads to less unnecessary spending, and a greater return for companies.
- Improving efficiency – Forklift tracking in warehouses generally increases efficiency. But with the additional data received from the telematics device, companies can scale this benefit even further.
Increasing Output – Naturally, once you have all of the above benefits resulting in streamlined operation, it is inevitable to experience an increase in general output and productivity.
Forklift trackers are important, but incorporating forklift telematics is just as important. In fact, the latter is usually such a crucial aspect of any worthwhile forklift tracking system that it is rare to find one without the other.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is possible for forklifts to have tracking devices, but don’t expect these devices to come built-in. If you want to track forklifts, you will most likely have to install your own forklift utilization tracker.
These tracking systems can come through different technologies including sensors and GPS. The decision on which is best for you will be a factor of your production needs and how your warehouse/production environment is set up.
When it comes to tracking forklifts, there is no one size fits all solution. But if you’re able to identify the best for you, you can expect to enjoy an array of benefits including safety, efficiency, lower costs of operation, and increased output.
Tracking forklift activity is possible only when you have mounted your tracking hardware to your forklifts. As for the exact part of the equipment where you’ll be doing the mounting, there is no absolute rule that applies to every scenario.
The particular area where you’ll be mounting your device will depend on the exact type, size, and make of your forklift device along with the setup of your warehouse/ production environment where you intend to make use of your tracked forklifts.
In the end, you want to make sure that you mount your devices in areas that are very accessible in case you need to revisit your installation for maintenance or upgrades.
You also want to make sure they are suitable in a position with a clear line of sight to your sensors to make for smooth data transmission.
Tracking forklift activity offers a ton of benefits to companies, but sadly, when not monitored appropriately it can also do some harm in terms of releasing pollutants. Thankfully, there are ways to eliminate this side effect and make your forklift location tracking as environmentally safe as possible without losing efficiency.
One of the ways to do this is to do a yearly maintenance of your forklifts regularly to ensure that emissions are kept to a very low level. Another important step is to use low-emission equipment such as electric pallet jacks.
Finally, training your employees on proper operation, switching to electric forklifts, and using alternative fuels if you can’t switch completely are other examples of how to reduce forklift tracking pollutants.