In the previous issue of “Logistyka”, we reported on the international European Auto ID Award 2006 received by Logisys Sp. z o.o. for the Agilero Platform. Its innovative approach to integrating auto ID and ADC (mobile) solutions in logistics processes prompted us to take a closer look at it. The role of middleware in integration Efficiency in managing logistics processes depends
on the completeness and timeliness of data in management support systems. Main IT systems managing warehouse operations, material flows, or supply chains are physically distant from the place, and above all, the time, in which these logistics processes occur. Hence the trend towards increasingly wider application of various automatic
identification and automatic data collection technologies. The aforementioned technologies in the actual process are represented by readers, printers, terminals, radio access points, etc. The diversity of technologies, devices, media, and communication protocols, as well as types of architectures, and above all, applications (logistics processes are very diverse) means that every project
of effective and efficient integration is different. Expanding the main system with error-free real-time data acquisition is a major challenge. The role of the binder between the host system and the hardware layer is played by so-called middleware, i.e., intermediary software.
The lack of middleware, which is an independent standard, is costly in the long run. Expansion can be expensive and complicated (if possible at all), device capabilities are poorly utilized, communication can be unreliable, data used for process optimization is missing, or often the user company is forcibly tied to one brand or even a specific hardware model. The Logisys innovation concept When designing the Agilero Platform, all problems and limitations generating costs in such projects were thoroughly analyzed. Approximately 160 integration implementation requirements were identified. 15 “person-months” were devoted to designing the concept and creating
a detailed platform design. Agilero, as intended by its creators, is meant to be a middleware allowing
for effective, precise, and cost-optimal integration of devices and systems, regardless of the application, the shape of the supported process, or the integrated technologies.
The article comes from the magazine “Logistyka” 5/2006.