The Schielicke Bau corporate group has optimized its extensive fleet with an IoT solution from IT service provider DeDeNet. The system captures the geographical position and operational status of the machines in real time, supported by 5G technology for fast data transfer and analysis. This improves machine coordination, increases the efficiency of resource usage, and facilitates decision-making.
The challenge: Tracking geographically dispersed machines
The Schielicke Bau corporate group from Beelitz near Potsdam is a successful fifth-generation family business. Its focus is on halls and markets, as well as the development and construction of roads, paths and squares. The company is active on numerous construction sites and has a fleet of over 100 vehicles, including cars, containers, trucks and construction machinery. The machine fleet ranges from large 36 ton excavators to 900 kilogram mini-excavators.
For the company, it is sensible to always know the location and status of each construction vehicle. This allows better planning of machine distribution at construction sites and assessment of utilization. For example, it is uneconomical to have a 36 ton excavator that only operates one hour a day. Not every machine is suitable for every application, so the fleet must be flexible.
Data collection is helpful, and all machines have been equipped with GPS trackers for some time. However, the previous system is inconvenient as the data is only available in list form. The company was looking for a modern IoT connection to optimize device management and improve data communication between the field and headquarters. Moreover, a software should efficiently manage a variety of machines and devices of different sizes and functions.
The solution: Allowing real-time information flow with Industrial IoT
For the implementation of the IoT solution, Schielicke has brought on board an experienced partner: DeDeNet, which has been engaged in mobile IT solutions for business process optimization for over 25 years. The company offers a comprehensive telematics solution that is immediately ready for use for any type of vehicle. Basic functions such as tour planning or real-time tracking can be adapted at any time to the needs of any industry by their own developers.
Accelerating information flow
The project at Schielicke optimizes the information flow between mobile units and the corporate headquarters, thereby improving decision-making through efficient data analysis. The heart of the system is an IoT solution that captures the geographical position and operational status of the machines and enables complex data analyses.
5G technology plays a key role in this: it allows data from the machines to be transmitted quickly and efficiently, drastically reducing reaction times in decision-making. The management can respond much faster and adapt planning.
Additionally, the technology supports the implementation of analysis methods that not only display the current state of the machines but also enable predictive maintenance. For this, the data is processed to be easily understandable. The goal is for the management and project leaders to instantly see how far a construction site has progressed with a click and in graphic form.
An example is the setting up of digital geofences. Thus, Schielicke can place a virtual fence around a project and receive precise information about what is happening within this area – such as how long a device was active, what temperatures prevailed, and similar details.
Modern technologies
DeDeNet is a partner of Telekom and uses its data center resources to store the data. This guarantees availability, data protection, and data security. DeDeNet offers a complete package that includes not only the tracking boxes but also the analysis of further data. This also includes an open API, with which all relevant data can be accessed.
These tracking boxes act as a kind of middleware, capturing not only location data but also machine hours and telemetry data via CAN bus and other protocols. For example, the digital tachograph of a truck is read out to enable a more comprehensive data collection.
By using technologies such as BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) or RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification), data is collected efficiently and transmitted with low energy consumption.
With the increasing availability of 5G, it will be possible to transmit and evaluate these data faster, which further facilitates planning. It’s not just about handling short-term tasks but also planning for weeks and months ahead. Orders for the next year are often already set, and efficient data processing and evaluation enable Schielicke to optimally deploy operational resources.
The result: Increasing efficiency with IoT technologies
The new industrial IoT system of the construction firm Schielicke enables precise tracking of the locations and conditions of the existing construction machines. By using technologies like GPS and data analytics, the company has significantly optimized its construction processes. The coordination of machine deployment is now based on data, so that time losses and the inefficient use of resources are avoided. The implementation of the DeDeNet system also enables direct access to all data. The solution therefore supports fast and precise decision-making.
