Custom Asset Tracking & Management Platform for a Multi-State Construction Firm
Industry Construction & Heavy Equipment
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$10B+ Client Revenues
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12+ Successful Years
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1000+ IT Ninjas
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5000+ Projects
Client's Testimonial
The platform Developers.dev built for us paid for itself in less than a year. We recovered a stolen backhoe worth $80,000 within hours thanks to the real-time tracking and geofence alerts. Our asset utilization is up by 25% because we finally have a clear, real-time view of where everything is. Their team understood the rugged demands of our industry and built a solution that was both powerful and easy for our field crews to use.
Benjamin Collins, Director of Equipment Operations
Client Introduction
A leading construction firm in the American Midwest with a diverse fleet of over 500 high-value assets, including excavators, dozers, cranes, and trailers. Their primary challenges were asset misuse, theft from job sites, and poor equipment utilization. They were losing hundreds of thousands of dollars annually due to "lost" equipment and project delays caused by not having the right machine at the right site.
Problem
The client lacked a centralized system to track the location and status of their expensive equipment. This led to assets sitting idle on one site while being desperately needed on another, significant administrative overhead in manually tracking assets, and a high rate of theft and unauthorized use.
Key Challenges
No real-time visibility
No real-time visibility into the location of hundreds of assets spread across dozens of job sites.
High costs due to theft & delays
High costs associated with theft and project delays due to unavailable equipment.
Inaccurate billing & costing
Inaccurate billing and job costing due to manual tracking of engine hours and usage.
Difficulty in maintenance scheduling
Difficulty in scheduling preventive maintenance, leading to costly field breakdowns.
Our Solution
We deployed an 'Embedded-Systems / IoT Edge Pod' to create a holistic asset management solution, encompassing hardware integration and a central cloud platform.
📡 Hardware-Agnostic IoT Platform
We built a software platform capable of ingesting data from various types of ruggedized telematics devices suited for heavy equipment, ensuring flexibility and future-proofing.
🗺️ Real-Time Dashboard & Mapping
A web-based application was developed with a GIS map view, allowing managers to see the precise location of every asset in real-time. Assets were color-coded by status (in use, idle, requires maintenance).
🔒 Geofencing & Security Alerts
We implemented robust geofencing capabilities. If an asset moved outside of a designated job site or during off-hours, key personnel would receive instant SMS and email alerts.
⚙️ Automated Usage & Maintenance Tracking
The system automatically tracks engine hours, feeding data into both the maintenance scheduling module and the accounting system for accurate job costing and client billing.
Implementation and Execution
Phase 1: Pilot Program
We began with a pilot program, instrumenting 20 assets with three different types of telematics hardware to determine the most reliable options.
Phase 2: Cloud Platform Build
The cloud platform was built on Microsoft Azure, using Azure IoT Hub for secure device connectivity and management.
Phase 3: Mobile App Development
We developed a simple mobile app for field supervisors to easily assign assets to specific jobs and view nearby equipment.
Phase 4: API for Future Integration
The system was designed with a powerful API to allow for future integration with their primary ERP system.
Phase 5: On-site Rollout & Training
We provided on-site assistance for the initial rollout and training for their equipment managers and field staff.
Phase 6: Iterative Development
The project followed an iterative development model, allowing the client to provide feedback and refine features throughout the process.
Positive Outcome
🛡️ 95% Reduction in Asset Theft
Near-elimination of losses from theft, with several successful recoveries attributed directly to the system.
📈 25% Increase in Asset Utilization
Improved logistics and visibility ensured expensive equipment was always productive.
💰 Automated & Accurate Billing
Eliminated disputes and improved cash flow through precise, automated tracking of equipment usage.
📅 Improved Maintenance Scheduling
Proactive maintenance based on actual engine hours reduced breakdowns and extended asset life.
Why Choose Us
🔌 IoT & Hardware Integration
We have specialized expertise in connecting the physical world to digital software.
🛠️ Industry-Specific Solution
We took the time to understand the unique challenges of the construction industry.
☁️ Scalable Cloud Architecture
The Azure-based solution was built to handle thousands of assets as the client grows.
👍 User-Centric Design
The platform was designed for ease of use by non-technical field personnel.
🔐 Security First
The geofencing and alerting system provided a powerful, proactive security layer.
🤝 Flexible Engagement
The T&M model allowed for a collaborative and adaptable development process.
📊 Data-Driven Insights
We turned raw location and engine data into actionable business intelligence.
📦 End-to-End Responsibility
We managed the project from hardware selection consulting to final software deployment and support.
💲 Clear ROI
The solution delivered a clear, measurable, and rapid return on investment.
Conclusion
By creating a custom IoT-powered platform, Developers.dev provided the client with total visibility and control over their high-value assets. This solved their immediate problems of theft and poor utilization and provided a data foundation for smarter operational and financial decision-making for years to come.