Industries that use heavy vehicles, such as agriculture, construction or mining, require accurate records of bulk materials coming in and out of the site. To prevent losses and improve efficiency, businesses invest a significant amount of money in weighbridge equipment to measure these loads. However, the heart of such equipment is the weighbridge system software that collects information, coordinates activities and automates many processes.
Selecting the right weighbridge system software that provides real-time analytics and reports tailored to your operation is a vital decision that cannot be left to chance.
To help you choose the right one that takes your operations to new heights of efficiency, read more details about key factors in the following paragraphs.
The first consideration is the location of the weighbridge within the operation site. Most weighbridges are situated at the entry or exit points where bulk materials are received or dispatched, often far from the centre of operations. In such cases, the weighbridge might need to be fully automated to operate it.
Another important factor is the site location itself. Many operations, particularly those related to mining and agriculture, are often located in remote areas with limited infrastructure and support functions. In these situations, it would be favourable if the weighbridge system software could be remotely monitored 24/7. Third-party support can range from simple system monitoring to fully outsourced services where the partner tracks, reconciles, and manages actual bulk materials transactions on behalf of the company.
Regardless of the location, network reliability is always important. The weighbridge system software should also work offline and automatically synchronise once the network connection is re-established. User-friendliness is equally crucial, as complex screens can lead to omissions and errors. Hence, software interfaces should be as simple as possible.
Since the risk of fraud is highest when valuable materials are being transported, support for cameras is essential. Cameras at the weighbridge help with remote monitoring of the operation and collect necessary evidence that reduces the risk of fraudulent activities. Such data needs to be securely stored and retrieved under controlled conditions, and the weighbridge system software should support a variety of camera types and locations.
In situations where many vehicles will be queuing to go through the weighbridge, optimising the logistics is crucial. As demurrage costs can be high, vehicle queuing needs to be minimised, and the selected software should, therefore, provide for marshalling and optimising the traffic flow.
Effective software can help streamline operations by intelligently scheduling vehicles, minimising wait times, and reducing the risk of costly bottlenecks. Advanced features like real-time tracking, automatic vehicle identification, and integration with external transportation management systems can further improve logistical efficiency.
Security is also a key factor, consequently the system should be designed with security at its core. It should not be possible to access data without authorisation, and transactions must be restricted to those with the necessary authorisation keys. Hence, access controls and data encryption are essential to maintain the integrity of sensitive information and prevent unauthorised access or tampering.
