Known as VMI Anywhere, businesses around the globe will be able to offer a service to their clients through 'watchbox' and GSM mobile phone technology.
A watchbox is an invisible boundary that is drawn around a location on the tracking system's digital map. It is a user-defined area and can be a rectangle, circle or polygonal shape, allowing the user to match the exact perimeter of a desired location.
The system is programmed with the mobile phone numbers of any interested parties. When a tracked vehicle enters the watchbox or gets within a pre-defined distance, a message is sent to the designated mobile phone handsets.
The customer message could read: 'Your delivery is 20 minutes away', or for the fleet manager, 'Driver One has deviated off route'. Similar messages will be sent confirming the vehicle has left the allotted area.
Live management of vehicle movements will also allow businesses to take proactive action in unforeseen circumstances, such as immediately re-routing a lost or diverted driver.
Andrew Tillman, Minorplanet's operations director, said: 'This technology has obvious benefits for both customer and user. In the case of the customer, a delivery need not mean wasting a whole day staying in the house for the 'impending, but vaguely described' delivery.
'Mrs Jones can go about her daily activities, safe in the knowledge that she will receive an automatic text message informing her that she should return home. Businesses will be satisfied in the knowledge that the delivery will be met, reducing wasted fuel and time.'
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