High-tech security beats thieves for logistics firm

High-tech security measures such as number plate recognition are being used by companies in the logistics and distribution sector to try to beat the thieves who target their warehouses and trucks.

Myron Hrycyk, UK CIO at Northampton-based NYK Logistics, said the worlds of physical security and IT are increasingly crossing over as the technology becomes more sophisticated.

NYK Logistics, which has clients including Samsung, Sanyo and Sony, has started using automatic number plate recognition software to monitor all cars, vans and trucks entering its sites, while cameras also digitally record images of every person driving a vehicle into and out of the depots.

Hrycyk said the high-visibility of the security measures acts as a deterrent for would-be thieves trying to target the high-value electronics goods the logistics company stores and distributes for its clients.

In an exclusive video interview with silicon.com, Hrycyk said mobile, wireless and RFID technology are also high up the priority list in the logistics sector.

He said: "Customers are now bringing their requirements to us and demanding far greater visibility of what products are in the supply chain. So, mobile computing is really high up on my priority list in terms of innovation and in terms of trying to give the business a competitive edge."

Hrycyk added RFID technology is now mature enough to be deployed in a more mainstream capacity for logistics companies because the price-per-chip has come down and made it more cost effective.

He said: "Something like passive RFID - which is basically giving us information to know where the product is, the temperature it's been at etc, and who's actually accessed it - we are now deploying and some of our customers are asking us to look more into that, say in the pharmaceutical sector."

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