eLogistics places Rs 70 cr order with Avalon Technologies

Chennai-based eLogistics has announced that it has placed a Rs 70-crore order for 1,00,000 vehicle tracking devices with Avalon Technologies.

The move was in keeping with the growing demand for vehicle tracking solutions and the expected orders for such devices from the general transporters and corporates in the next few months.

Mythili Parthasarty, vice-president - finance, eLogistics, told Business Standard that the market potential for vehicle tracking devices would be five million units and eLogistics was the only company to offer GSM-based vehicle tracking devices.

The contract manufacturing agreement entails the production and delivery of GSM+GPS tracking devices through April 06"�March 07.

eLogistics, a logistics solution provider, developed its GSM-based 'eTrack' device in 2002 end with initial funding from Technology Development Board, Government of India. The company's eTrack devices have now been installed in over 5,000 trucks. Tracking solution has been deployed at over 250 customer locations, a company release said.

"Seamless tracking will drive efficiencies in transport, which is currently an uncertain blind spot in the logistics business," V Sanjeevi, managing director, eLogistics, said in the release.

The Rs 2-crore eLogistics has a business alliance with BSNL to provide the communication network & data support across India. Tata Consultancy Service provides 24x7 production server facilities and software support. Nationwide hardware installation and support are provided by TVS Electronics. The control data centre that receives filters and decodes messages in GSM and GPS modes is run by eLogistics out of their new head office in Chennai.

Tracking-based solutions go beyond the obvious 'where is my consignment?' and enable proactive intervention on issues such as time-based delivery, route optimisation, pilferage reduction, asset utilisation, and remote monitoring of mobile, and high value machinery.

eTrack is a tracking device (with patented technology) offering a comprehensive tracking solution, without any driver intervention. Customers get a device installed in the vehicle they wish to track. Using the GSM+GPS network, the customer can track his vehicle/cargo on a PC, on the telephone, or even access quick location and time data via SMS.

Avalon Technologies is a 100 per cent export-oriented volume manufacturing arm of US-based Sienna Corporation, a leading electronic manufacturing services provider to global original equipment manufacturers. It will manufacture the tracking devices at its printed circuit board assembly facility in MEPZ special economic zone, Chennai.