DigiCore Holdings (www.digicore.com) burst into life in 1998 with its listing on the JSE and the bringing together of seven different companies (Vepro, Kivtronics, DigiCore, etc) that had been working in the tracking and fleet management field for up to nine years.
Unlike the other local tracking companies, DigiCore addressed both the local and the international markets, and is today operating in 19 countries with more than 160 000 vehicles fitted with its advanced technology (>50 000 internationally). DigiCore considers this, through C-Track, to be the most comprehensive, realtime vehicle management, tracking and operations monitoring system in the world.
While the company has done very well in Europe it is also Number 1 in Pakistan with the new C-Track Secure product. In 2004 DigiCore won a major tender in the UK to install C-Track in Thames Water's 1200 vehicles (worth some R12m). The visibility of this saw the company win another large order in 2005 to install 300 units into the fleet of MeterPlus (npower). DigiCore is now mulling over whether it should try to tackle the huge US market. DigiCore, incidentally, has a 30% interest in Trakker Pakistan, the largest vehicle tracking company in that country, with an installed base of 25 000 units (the recovery rate on 2000 stolen vehicles was an incredible 99%). Exports make up just over half of unit sales, growing at 45% per annum, while the local market is growing at some 60%.
Right from the beginning, DigiCore, whose management and directors have a large shareholding, had a powerful equity partner in the form of Pamodzi, but this stake was sold out earlier this year. The main reason is that it is now the strategy of Pamodzi to invest where it is possible for it to have the majority stake and control of the company. This was not possible with DigiCore where its own management has a large stakeholding.
DigiCore only began its South African tracking operations, using C-Track Secure, about a year ago (it has however, a large installed base of fleet management systems) and now has to take on the well-established big players such as Tracker, Netstar and Matrix. It already has a joint venture with Tracker to provide technology and infrastructure support for its 'Tracker Locate'. Nashua Mobile was recently brought in as a retail partner of the C-Secure product through its 60 nationwide outlets. Meanwhile, a network of 45 fitment centres countrywide has been readied for the mass launch. Rentrak has been hired to handle recovery using helicopters, and unlike other vehicle recovery systems, C-Track Secure differentiates itself by performing a 'health check' on itself every day.
C-Track is the company's core product and is available in a number of versions depending on application. Thus, we see C-Track Secure, C-Track Co-Driver and the new C-Track Assist range of products. C-track is based on the use of GSM, and uses all the operators (Vodacom, MTN and Cell-C) to provide positional accuracy of better than 10 metres. C-Track uses various communications media depending on the region. In Europe it operates on Mobitex radio frequency and in Australia, CDMA, which of course positions it for entry into the USA. Note that on GSM SMS usage (used in South Africa) the company has developed the technology to transfer 26 pieces of information in a single SMS, compared with the industry standard of eight. During 2005, the company introduced the ability to communicate using GPRS, which will significantly reduce the cost of communication.
DigiCore acquired its operating company, DigiCore Europe, in January 2005 (51% shareholding) and at the same time, DigiCore Europe acquired the whole C-Track Benelux business. As a result of its international expansion, the software for C-Track is now available in eight languages, the latest being Portuguese. Newer DigiCore markets such as Brazil, Nigeria and Kenya continue to grow slowly, although better results are predicted for 2006. The partners in Pakistan have launched Trakker Middle East LLC and this company will address the UAE, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq and Lebanon.
Technology variants
C-Track Secure (Secure) is the prime vehicle tracking system and uses GSM and GPS satellites to offer vehicle position to within 4 m. Secure senses and proactively reports tampering with its power supply, in which case the back-up battery takes over. Secure always knows the position of one's vehicle whether being driven or static. An optional immobilisation switch allows the DigiCore Support Centre to immobilise a vehicle remotely and safely in the event of hijacking or theft. An optional panic button allows the driver to send his/her location to the Support Centre which will react to this call for help. The vehicle system can also be programmed with 'no-go' areas and if the vehicle enters one of these, a warning message will be sent to your cellphone. DigiCore believes that you will need realtime information on the location of the vehicle and simple use of your cellphone provides this data in SMS format. Alternatively you can log onto the Internet and see where your vehicle is on C-Track's detailed map system. A novel addition to Secure's features is the ability of the driver to select 'business' or 'private' use and reports from the system are accepted by SARS. Secure will be rolled out in South Africa in the second half of 2006 and at the same time in Europe, including the UK.
Another version of Secure is used for the demanding requirements of trailer tracking. Here the device uses power from the trailer battery so full operation still takes place if the trailer is untethered. Using GPS the accuracy of location is 10 m and the GSM networks can be used to transmit realtime information when required.
DigiCore's C-Track Assist (Assist) is a new range of products that have been developed to assist with the management of commercial fleets, car rentals, and once again, trailers (where the extremely low power consumption is ideal). Using GPS/GSM the location accuracy is 10 metres. The Assist software is applicable to fleets ranging from five to over 19 000 vehicles/trailers.
The C-Track Co-driver was an early product developed in 1989 by the original DigiCore (before its JSE listing). Co-Driver is a simple and reliable vehicle management system. It has been proved to be cost-effective enough to be used to monitor light vehicles, while providing all the detailed information for heavy vehicle monitoring and management. It boasts an installed base of over 50 000 systems and there is full monitoring for example of driving conditions, data being stored for up to a month.
C-Track's Solo (Solo) range of GSM/GPS fleet management systems are based on the latest world-class technology from DigiCore. Like most of the company's newer products it has extremely low power consumption, this being about 10% of the industry standard. Solo is a full-featured scaleable product specifically designed with the professional hauler and emergency services in mind.
TempLog is one of the most technologically advanced temperature monitoring systems. It is ideal for temperature measurement of sensitive cargo loads including meat, fish, fruit, milk and day-old chicks. Up to four temperature probes are fitted and the system can be integrated with the DigiCore tracking systems. There is a visual display for the driver which would allow him to react timeously and the data can be recorded. Such devices could become mandatory when the effect is felt of Europe adopting the HACCP system for such foodstuffs. Another accessory is Protech which is a built-in electronic diagnostic and pre-warning system. This is automatically activated when the vehicle is started and is available as a 3, 4 or 5 circuit system capable of monitoring engine oil temperature, water level, water temperature, engine oil level and transmission oil level etc.
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