To meet rising consumer demands for parcel delivery – particularly for goods bought online – logistics companies need to manage their loading docks as effectively as possible. However, dock managers often lack the real-time information they need to make fast, accurate decisions. They may not be able to see which docks are available, which are in use, and which will soon be free. Without these vital insights, vehicles often wait unnecessarily when they could be loading or unloading, causing delays and negatively impacting productivity and the goods throughput of the facility. As an additional challenge, managers are often unable to see which truck parking areas are available. This means drivers often simply park where they can, blocking important areas of the site, or slowing down other vehicles trying to reach their allocated docks.

Dock Management with Intelligent Video  

To address the challenges of ineffective and manual dock management, Hikvision has built Smart Dock Management features into its logistics solution portfolio. Using an intelligent dock camera at every loading and unloading bay, the solution provides real-time information that enables dock managers to make accurate, timely decisions across many more docks than would otherwise be possible. The feature incorporates several key capabilities that help to automate and optimize dock management operations. The first of these is dock occupation detection. The Hikvision cameras can detect, in real time, if trucks are loading or unloading at docks, or whether they are unoccupied. The solution also recognizes the truck’s license plates to identify the vehicle. This information is relayed to an interactive map, giving managers instant visibility of load and unload operations and docks that are available, 24 hours-a-day. Drivers can then be dispatched to available docks quickly and efficiently via a mobile app.

Parking Optimization and Tracking

Information from dock cameras and other site cameras also provides a real-time view of available parking spaces across the site. This allows managers to dispatch trucks to vacant parking spaces where they can wait without blocking key corridors and routes on the site. Using cameras positioned inside and outside loading bays, the solution creates a record for later reference. This is essential for determining responsibility and liability in the event of goods going missing or if an accident occurs, such as fragile goods falling from a truck or pallet.

Security Checks and Freight Cost

To maximize security, information from barcode scanners is cross-referenced with video records. This enhances goods tracking and provides an audit trail to ensure goods never ‘leak’ from the supply chain. By monitoring and recording the entire goods loading and unloading process, the Hikvision solution creates an audit trail for every product passing through the site. This helps to improve the security of goods and to prevent loss of inventory, while also helping to determine responsibility where goods are lost or damaged. Cross-referenced barcode information with associated video footage enables goods to be tracked and incidents viewed quickly and easily. The solution also eliminates the need to manually calculate transport costs for parcels, based on their weight and size. Instead, it uses product information from barcode scanners to automate the process.

Digital Dashboard

The solution includes a digital dashboard that displays all the docks, showing if they are available or occupied. The dashboard also displays historical performance data, allowing staff to optimize operational efficiency, optimize scheduling and take staffing decisions, and speed up the time between vehicles arriving and leaving. Together, these benefits serve to improve the overall operating efficiency of the logistics park. Logistics operations can improve their throughput and performance, while also providing far better experiences for dock managers and truck drivers. Throughput is increased with features that automate a range of key processes, including goods tracking, security checks, sizing, and weighing. This all helps to improve operating efficiency, delivering significant cost savings for logistics operators.

Happy Drivers

Using the Hikvision solution, dock managers can handle their workloads much more easily and make the best decisions across a large number of vehicles and allocated docks. Drivers get clear instructions on where to park and where to wait, and are able to load or unload much more quickly than would otherwise be possible. This avoids frustration caused by having to wait for a free dock and helps them to meet their demanding schedules.