Qualcomm teases SaaS supply chain tracking service • The Register

Tiny, cheap wi-fi monitoring gadgets like Apple’s AirTags or Tiles have modified the best way we maintain observe of our belongings, and now Qualcomm needs to place this tech to work within the enterprise sector.

On Tuesday the chip large unveiled a cloud service referred to as Qualcomm Aware that makes use of its expansive portfolio of wi-fi chips to find and observe high-value supplies as they make their manner throughout world provide chains.

Qualcomm pitches the service as a manner for firms to keep away from potential delays, spoiled items, and misplaced revenues, whereas additionally figuring out alternatives for provide chain optimization. It is also clearly designed as an opportunity to supply value-added providers for Qualcomm alongside the enterprise of promoting {hardware}.

At launch, Qualcomm says Conscious will deal with quite a lot of functions, together with chilly chain distribution, utility asset administration, cargo cargo monitoring, and warehouse and stock administration.

Shopper-grade trackers principally use low-power Bluetooth radios, which largely depend on proximity to smartphone customers to perform. Qualcomm plans to make use of quite a lot of applied sciences, together with 4G modems, comparable to its lately introduced 216 IoT LTE modem, which is designed to offer connectivity as much as 10Mbps whereas sipping battery energy.

Along with its present wi-fi {hardware}, Qualcomm Conscious may even make the most of property sourced from wi-fi tech outfits Skyhook Wi-fi and PoLTE. Each firms developed applied sciences for location monitoring utilizing a mixture of Wi-Fi, mobile, and GPS networks.

Whereas Qualcomm will present the software program framework and {hardware}, the corporate is not attempting to interchange a buyer’s present enterprise useful resource administration (ERP) platforms. As a substitute, Qualcomm says it should present API integrations with present instruments. Among the many first to enroll is Microsoft’s Dynamics 365 SaaSy ERP, however the chip vendor says it is engaged with quite a lot of unbiased software program distributors so as to add assist for the platform.

Qualcomm may even work with third-party {hardware} producers to assist them develop new gadgets – some tuned to particular functions – that work with the Conscious service.

Qualcomm Conscious is slated for launch later this 12 months and the corporate has but to share pricing or {hardware} availability. ®