What do you know about Virgin Mobile? The answer is “not enough.” Do you see it as just a store full of cell phones and an effective wireless provider? This company is characterized by four things that make it different from its competitors. And here they are!

Attractive Plans

With its professional experience, Virgin Mobile USA always satisfies its current customers and is ready to welcome new ones with many attractive plans. Virgin Mobile USA provides customers with three branded service plan types that help you “only pay for what you need.” And all of them are contract-free with no commitments.
Beyond Talk’s plans offer you unlimited data and unlimited voice minutes on all plans. Choosing these plans, you can get 2.5GB/month of 3G/4G data at full speed.
If an unlimited plan is not your style, more flexible payLo plans could be the right choice for you. With this type of plan, talking more does not mean paying more. Based on your demand, you can choose between a $40 Unlimited Talk & Text plan, a $30 Talk & Text plan, and a $20 Talk plan. You can manage your account and keep track of your calling time from your phone or online at virginmobileusa.com.
With Broadband2Go plans, you can access 3G or 4G wireless networks whenever you want from $5 per day or $35 per month. Now logging into Twitter or checking e-mails is cheaper, easier, and faster than ever.

All-star Phones

You will be spoiled with choices when you see the selection of mobile phones here. You can find anything from high-end smartphones to basic talk and text phones. You can even find the latest iPhone. Moreover, Virgin Mobile offers some feature phones that are only compatible with Beyond Talk or payLo service plans. In addition, Virgin shops also sell Internet access devices, accessories, and more. If one day you want to buy a new phone, don’t forget to visit a Virgin Mobile shop and take a Virgin Mobile Coupon to save more.

Satisfactory Customer Service

According to J.D. Power and Associates, Virgin Mobile USA has the “highest ranked customer service performance among non-contract wireless providers.” All your questions will be adequately answered, all your requests will be carefully considered, and all your reviews and recommendations will be highly appreciated at Virgin Mobile.

Hassle-Free Switching

When you transfer service to Virgin Mobile, you can pay by credit or debit card for worry-free service. If you are a new customer, Virgin Mobile lets you keep your existing phone number. Don’t worry if you live too far from Virgin Mobile shops to visit in person, as you can get free shipping. And with a 30-day money-back guarantee, you will be assured of receiving the best products at Virgin Mobile. In addition, there are no credit checks or activation fees required. If your phone is stolen or lost, you can get a replacement at a low price with the remaining balance on your account. That sounds great!
You are fed up with your current service provider’s high-cost plans and bad service? Why not change to a new one? Give Virgin Mobile a try and experience the difference for yourself!

It was in September 1985 when Peter T. Lewis, a cell phone pioneer, first coined the term ‘Internet of Things’ in his speech, delivered at the U.S. Federal Communications Commission. Hardly a few could grasp this futuristic concept then. Lewis’s speech lost track of and this concept was forgotten too. But in 1999, this term was officially explained by Kevin Ashton, a British technology pioneer, during a presentation for Procter & Gamble.

Since then, IoT innovations geared up and today, it has become gigantic. Today, IoT applications provide forward-thinking solutions across several industries, where transportation and trucking industry tops the list.

In this article, I am particularly going to emphasize on IoT in transportation and trucking industry and how an IoT-powered Vehicle Tracking System (VTS) is the perfect solution for several inherent issues in fleet management. Before we dive deeper, let us have a quick look at what is a Vehicle Tracking System and how it works.

What is an IoT-powered Vehicle Tracking System and how does it work?

In the transportation and trucking industry, the profit of the business is directly proportional to efficient fleet management. Hence, tracking of the fleet becomes crucial. An IoT-powered VTS comes in the picture here. This system is specially designed to monitor the vehicles carrying the fleet and provides in-depth access to vehicle data like real-time location of vehicle, speeding/idling data of the vehicle, maintenance alerts for different parts of the vehicle, status of order and shipment, etc. These insights help in smart decision-making to develop an efficient, reliable, economical and automated work environment.

Now how does an IoT-powered VTS work?

It uses three technologies:

Radio-frequency identification or RFID- for tracking and controlling of products
Global Positioning System or GPS- for obtaining real-time information of vehicles
On-board diagnostics for getting data about vehicle maintenance and how the driver drives the vehicle, for eg. Speed of the vehicle, idling, routes taken, etc.
The VTS relies on its hardware components for collecting data from the vehicles. Vehicle sensors, GPS and OBD II sensors are used for tracking the vehicle’s location and other fleet data. The VTS uses software to display the collected data in several formats and transfer it to the concerned authorities. As the vehicle moves, the data like location, speed, direction, etc. is collected by receivers/sensors and periodically sent to the secure application server in the cloud over a mobile network. This application server sends alert messages and reports to the mobile phones of drivers or supervisors so that they can make actionable decisions accordingly.

What are the advantages of a Vehicle Tracking System?

An IoT-based VTS has a plethora of benefits to offer to the transportation and trucking industry. These systems enable transparent operations and effective management of fleet assets. Below mentioned are a few significant advantages of a VTS.

Real-time and Automated Tracking of Vehicles and Drivers
The VTS monitors the exact location of the vehicle, heavy traffic routes, bad weather conditions, bad roads driving speeds, stops made by drivers, etc. This data is sent to the smartphones of fleet managers so they are constantly informed about the vehicle journey. If the vehicle is stuck somewhere due to traffic or if the driver has taken another route, or if the drivers are getting engaged in their personal errands, or if the drivers are siphoning the fuel, fleet managers remain updated about such situations. They can communicate with the drivers and take necessary actions.

Efficient Fleet and Inventory Management
A VTS will track the fleet data and send alert messages to concerned managers. When the load on the vehicle is reduced or increased above the safe limits, the managers get the alert messages and they can take necessary actions. Also, there are in-vehicle cameras that keep a watch on the condition of the goods, especially in the case of perishable goods or medicinal items. All this helps in systematic management of the order fulfilment workflow from the warehouse to the clients.

Improved Vehicle Health
An IoT-powered VTS has sensors that automatically track the performance of the vehicle components. It alerts the managers when the performance of the component drops below the standard performance. This reduces manual inspections and predicts the vehicle failures in advance. The data like pressure on the tires of vehicle, driving patterns of the driver, fuel consumption, etc. can be gathered using a VTS and sent to the fleet managers. If there is a drop in vehicle performance or any irregularity, the managers can schedule the maintenance of the vehicles. All this crucial data gathered from the vehicle thereby helps in increasing the life-span of a vehicle.

Enhanced Safety of Drivers
In case the vehicle is stolen, a VTS can help to locate it. It can also be used to stop the vehicle remotely, simply by clicking a button on the smartphone connected to the system. Also, by scheduling regular maintenance of vehicles and monitoring driver performance, better safety of both, drivers and vehicles can be ensured.

IoT-based solutions have automated several processes reducing the manual efforts of drivers. Also, their driving hours are tracked and it is ensured they do not drive constantly for more than 10 hours. All these efforts reduce driver fatigue and curtail the chances of accidents as well.

Elevated Client Satisfaction
An IoT-powered VTS contributes a big time in client satisfaction. By informing the clients about delivery timings, changes in the routes or plans, reasons for late arrivals, etc. in advance, builds trust in them and enhances client satisfaction. VTS helps improve the overall performance of fleet operations, improves fuel efficiency, improves the quality of services, etc. These factors reduce the overall operational cost, thereby improving client satisfaction.

Final Words:

Concrete data always leads to smarter decisions. An IoT-powered Vehicle Tracking System gathers genuine real-time data for optimizing logistics and transportation workflows in an effective manner. It helps to boost the bottom-line of a business. It is way too efficient than traditional methodologies.

In a nutshell, an IoT-powered Vehicle Tracking System is the backbone of fleet management and the transportation industry.

While on the ground, they must remain as “light” as possible, carry only the most essential gear, yet remain mobile, functional, in communication, and have sources of artificial light when needed.
MW, one of a group of fire jumpers, was looking for a light weight and durable means to power the portable electronic devices that he must use during his frequent fire-fighting missions in remote regions of southeastern California. His electronic devices are powered by rechargeable AA, AAA, and CR123 batteries, and include a 5-watt xenon LED flashlight, sets of Midland 16 mile radios with NOAA alert, an iPod with speaker dock, a GPS, a laser rangefinder, and a digital camera. Historically, when the batteries in one device run out of power, batteries from one device are switched to another, and recharging must wait until he has returned to an automobile or an AC power outlet. During prolonged fire-fighting missions, the loss of power due to discharged batteries is inconvenient and potentially dangerous for the group. To avoid loss of power, many of the fire jumpers carry multiple sets of extra batteries, and that adds weight to their already heavy payload. The battery charger he uses at home base is a fast charger by Energizer that can recharge four batteries in 15 minutes, and is not available.

MW approached Powerenz to ask if we could design a custom portable solar power system that would allow him to recharge his AA, AAA, and CR123 batteries as needed in the field for prolonged periods of time. He needed a system that would:
a. utilize solar energy for fuel, including a portable solar panel,
b. be stored and carried in a durable bag that could be carried by a handle, shoulder strap, as a fanny pack, or attached to any MOLLE-compatible backpack or vest,
c. be light-weight for long hauls,
d. be charged by DC or AC power when available,
e. produce AC power for his fast AA/AAA battery charger, if desired,
f. produce DC power for a mobile DC-powered battery charger that would recharge his small batteries during fire-fighting missions,
g. produce solar USB power for USB-powered devices and asolar cell phone charger as needed,
h. provide durable, long-term independence from the power grid, and
i. be silent.

A portable solar panel-battery system was assembled that included the following components:
a. reliable, safe, 11.1-volt, 4.24 amp-hour, extremely lightweight lithium battery pack with lightweight enclosure/bag,
b. 5-10-20-watt extremely lightweight, folding, portable solar panel that remained outside the bag,
c. small lightweight solar charge controller,
d. 120-watt DC-AC power inverter for the AC-powered battery fast charger,
e. 12-volt female DC socket for a DC-powered device,
f. a USB adapter to function as a USB solar charger,
g. proper fusing and wiring, and
h. MOLLE-compatible deployment pack in user-selectable color/camouflage.

The power system could deliver a maximum of 88 watts of power to the DC port and inverter for short lengths of time, 20 watts for as long as 2 hours, and was wired, fused, and electronically protected accordingly. Depending on the exact components included, the entire system weighed between 3 and 4 pounds. In good sunlight, it would take 3-4 hours for the solar panel to recharge the battery from empty to full, depending on the power of the solar panel. Of course, the system may be used to recharge MW’s smaller batteries when the system battery is less than fully charged. There is a USB adapter that plugs directly into the cigarette lighter socket, and has two standard female Type A USB charge ports, one that provides 1 amp of current, and the other that provides 2.1 amps of current for MW’s power hungry iPhone, iPad, Tablet, or other USB-charged device. If MW required added protection against damage, dust, or water, this same system could be enclosed in a waterproof hard case.

The portable solar power system powers up the AA/AAA/CR123 battery charger silently and repeatedly while on the go. When not in use, the portable system is stored with the remainder of the fire-fighting gear, and trickle-charged using an AC-powered battery charger until it is needed again.

The prevalence of digitization in the business sphere has been quite evident over recent years. Almost every major industry has transformed its businesses digitally, but there are still a few hesitating because of the security threats involved, which is understandable. But, with the advent of blockchain technology, it is time to bid goodbye to such threats. Blockchain, with its manifold advantages, advancements, and security components, changes the faces of industries and provides them a promising, unshakable future.

Healthcare is one major, voluminous industry for which the affiliation of blockchain into the business will be highly beneficial. The industry is far-reaching, comprising hospitals, clinical services, medications, research and development, nursing homes, home healthcare, etc.

From the moment a patient reaches out to a doctor, there is several information to be gathered, such as the age of the patient, identity, previous or existing health conditions, medications consumed by the patient currently, etc. Also, when an illness is predicted, the doctor asks the patient to go through some tests to confirm the illness so that they could provide better solutions. Thus, the amount of data to be safely stored are in bulk, but the current centralized medical record management system isn’t a viable option because of issues like inefficiency, lack of security, interoperability, etc. This is where blockchain plays a major role in its EMR and EHR software development, providing users a highly-secure, hassle-free, efficient data management system. What is meant by EMR and EHR? Let’s find out.

What are Electronic Medical Records(EMR) and Electronic Health Records(EHR)?

The terms Electronic Medical Records( EMR) and Electronic Health Records (EHR) differ from each other but are often used interchangeably. Both EMR and EHR are digital records of patients. But EMR is confined to patient’s information, medical charts, history from only a single doctor or a hospital whereas EHR is a collective digital data or records of the patient’s information, medical charts and history, test results from various doctors whoever consulted the patient over the years.

For your better understanding, let’s further look at the major differences between the two.

Differences between EMR and EHR

EMR

(Electronic Medical Record)

EHR

(Electronic Health Record)

Digital medical charts of a patient from one particular source

Collection of digital medical charts of a patient on the whole

Restricted to be shared outside the individual practice involved

Real-time information streamlined to multiple service providers

Patient’s records cannot be moved easily outside the concerned hospital

Patients can access and move their records as per their preference

Used majorly for diagnosis or treatments for patients

Accessed mainly for decision-making purposes

Why blockchain-based EMR and EHR medical records? What are the key benefits?

Decentralized network
With the integration of blockchain, hospitals don’t have to worry about softwares or databases to access patient information. The widely distributed decentralized network will allow doctors, nurses, or any other approved individuals to access the data they require efficiently, without any additional infrastructure. This also makes it impossible for any fault in the system as it is linked with multiple networks and ensures seamless functioning.

Real-time access
Whoever is approved of the access for the records can read, add information, locate what they want, or audit anytime they want in a secure manner. Blockchain brings in better collaboration, which helps with better patient care and more accurate diagnosis and treatment. With blockchain, patients can also get valid health recommendations via email, mobile applications, etc. The doctors can also check for the patient’s heart-rate, diet, or exercise routines via the app without having to consult face-to-face.

Reduced costs
As blockchain enables easy accessibility and keeps the records up-to-date, there will be no necessity to take tests from the start every time, which will save a lot of money for the patients and saves time for both ends.

Immutability
Blockchain offers immutability, which means no third party other than the people involved can access the information, alter, or delete them, which avoids any misleading information. Also, the information is transparent all over the network for people involved to access at ease and be aware of the activities or any changes being made.

Enhanced security
Blockchain offers anonymity to the users, and all the information in the platform is encrypted with strong cryptography completely safeguarding the user’s interest.

Here are some key features to be included for both EMR and EHR development

HIPAA Compliance- You have to make sure your EMR/EHR complies with all the necessary legal frameworks according to HIPAA( Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) to ensure a smooth business, avoiding any confusion in the future.
E-Prescription- This is one of the essential features it helps facilitate a proper digital prescription procedure and limit medical errors.
Integrated Medical Charts- This helps concerned medical professionals to view the information they want efficiently and provide better care for their patients.
Task management, data analytics and reporting – This will help users manage the tasks efficiently and timely analysis, and reports will help them prioritize and perform tasks better, and in a time-effective manner.
Medical bills – The users should be able to generate or view previous medical bills history through the platform.
User-friendly interface – A user-friendly, effective and intuitive interface is very crucial for users to efficiently manage using the platform and access, navigate necessary information whenever necessary.
Interoperability- This helps the distributed networks mingle with each other and provide smooth, seamless functioning without any glitches or cutbacks.
Thus, both EMR and EHR will greatly benefit the medical professionals and patients for efficient management of medical records, and improved healthcare solutions. It will also improve doctor-patient relationships, and ensure them a seamless experience.

EMR and EHR records have definitely revolutionized the healthcare industry and the way patient’s records are recorded and processed. Experts say that, according to a national health records survey in the year 2017, the number of medical professionals who adopted EMR/EHR systems is up to 87%. Alongside blockchain, EMR/EHR is all set to be the future for the healthcare industry. If you want to embark upon this valuable and profitable opportunity for your business, conduct extensive research and choose the right company to attain reliable electronic medical record software development, or electronic health record software development services according to your requirements.