One of South Africa’s largest listed logistics companies is planning to start the New Year with the use of a new multi-dimensional augmented reality (AR) system that is currently being tested and fine-tuned by aircraft and aviation consultants, Professional Aviation.
Branded “Voice & Vision”, the headset system blends existing technologies used particularly for warehouse despatching and delivery to beam back real-time audio-visual footage to a control room. And although it sounds like ordinary CCTV monitoring, it’s far more than that because it also incorporates interactive elements of AR to send written on-screen instructions to the person on the ground. One of the company’s directors involved with business development, Gerhard van Zyl, explained that it was a vicarious management system that was expected to successfully plug loopholes in logistics usually related to human error or deliberate pilferage.
“With voice and vision we can talk to employees on the ground, see what they do, and place information in front of them as they’re busy working. That way warehouse managers have comprehensive control of despatch and delivery as it plays out in real time without having to be physically present. “You can run your warehouse from a beach in the Bahamas.”
Van Zyl was reluctant to identify the client in question but added that the same company had participated in a recent experiment showing that if more people with tertiary qualifications were used in menial tasks such as outbound checking, the risk of human error was substantially reduced.
“It was a costly exercise as we had to pay these people at least double what we ordinarily pay warehouse staff, but it was worth it. The difference it made was significant. Unfortunately additional cost is usually passed on to customers.” But it forced Professional Aviation to keep a check on expenses as it started developing Voice & Vision.
“AR headsets are expensive and with the fluctuating exchange rate it’s very important that we keep a firm grip on the potential cost implications a volatile rand could have on hardware bought from the States.” As a result, and with the added benefit to local industry, Professional Aviation is looking at having the headsets manufactured locally. Regarding the possible impact AR technologies such as Voice & Vision could have on labour, Van Zyl believes it could create an opportunity for upskilling. Voice & Vision, for example, could make checking redundant, he said. “The person responsible for checking despatch can now be shifted to a control room, using interactive monitoring technology with huge capability and potential to close up cracks usually leading to claims.
“It’s a system that has clear educational potential for uplifting blue collar workers. We’re not trying to replace people. We’re trying get rid of risk. We’re still using the human but adding technology to rule out error.” According to Van Zyl, whereas grey areas in the past have led to supplier and retailers pointing fingers at one another when goods are lost, the new system, through its accumulation and aggregation of audio-visual data, can now conclusively show what happened on the day of despatch or delivery.
It’s based on the principle that pictures don’t lie, and video footage lies even less. And while Voice & Vision may be a First World futuristic sci-fi invention, Professional Aviation is convinced its system is going to be a suitable local solution for local companies interested in meticulous logistics. “If it works it’s going to revolutionise warehousing in South Africa,” Van Zyl said.
We’re still using the human but adding technology to rule out error. – Gerhard Van Zyl
