Overview

Previously using 3G cellular connectivity for tracking, Owen Equipment struggled with high monthly costs, auto renewing contracts, inconsistent battery power, and eventually the sunsetting of the protocol all together. As Owen Equipment began to look for alternatives prioritizing contract-free asset tracking, it came across LoneStar Tracking, who offers a wide variety of connectivity and management solutions including those based on Helium LoRaWAN.

“LoneStar Tracking is carrier and hardware agnostic. We take time to dive into the requirements of each customer and make sure we are providing the correct hardware and connectivity to solve the problem at hand. In 2022, our customers drove 38,401,171 miles in North America using unconventional tracking technologies such as Helium.”

—Thomas Remmert, LoneStar Tracking

Results Snapshot

• 47% Lower Costs: When compared with alternative connectivity options like cellular, Helium LoRaWAN solutions are substantially more cost-effective.

• $2,000,000 in Protected Assets: Owen Equipment currently tracks upwards of $2M in rental equipment.

• 2X Longer Battery Life: On average, utilizing LoRaWAN trackers on Helium results in 2X or longer battery life when compared to cellular.

• 100% Supported by Helium Public Coverage: All devices deployed on the Helium Network by Owen Equipment currently utilize public Helium coverage.

Challenge

Owen Equipment was in search of real-time location solutions to solve two problems:

First, equipment theft. Statistics from the National Insurance Crime Bureau and the National Equipment Register state that site theft makes up between $300m and $1b annually, with a recovery rate of under 25%. One untracked tree chipper, for example, was stolen out of Owen Equipment's Southern California location, costing the companyName $34,000 in losses, 5 years worth of lost rental opportunity, and an additional $5,000 yearly insurance increase.

Second, asset management. Sales territories by manufacturer often only allow one dealer in each area or state. With a constant ebb and flow of rental and purchasing needs across the country, it's often the case that equipment (for example, a $70,000 RC Mower), may be needed in the Salt Lake City branch, but have an 8 week lead time from the factory. Owen Equipment, in order to better optimize coordination between branches, needed an accurate and reliable system to manage inventory.

“One of our hurdles was finding a provider that could meet the unique needs of our specialized equipment. LoneStar checks all the boxes for us- price, flexibility, data capturing and world class customer service. Our equipment is very specialized and the loss of any piece of equipment can take months/years to replace”

—Zach, Owen Equipment

Solution

LoneStar Tracking's solutions cater directly to Owen Equipment's needs, providing equipment tracking and data visualization to prevent theft and loss, and enable branches across the country to coordinate operations depending on equipment availability and real-time location.

Branch Managers utilize this solution for asset management, optimizing operations to coordinate the movement of equipment between branches. This helps mitigate supply chain delays, long lead times, and demand surges. All branches can log in and easily understand and facilitate necessary movement of equipment.

Data access can also be provided to third parties. For example, when manufacturers rent expensive equipment to users who don't qualify for a loan, the manufacturer is willing to carry some amount of risk when able to track and monitor equipment in the field. This enables the facilitation of additional projects and can reduce holdings of inactive inventory.

“There are three major factors that make Helium a great fit for this type of deployment. First, the equipment is primarily used in areas that have dense Helium coverage so connectivity is available even in areas of poor cell coverage. Second, the equipment is deployed for extended amounts of time and requires tracking with minimal power draw. Third is the price. The LoRaWAN module is far less expensive than a cellular module, making the overall price of ownership much lower.”

—Thomas, LoneStar Tracking

Results

1. End-user data visualization for both Helium LoRaWAN devices and wired cellular devices integrated into one platform. This is used to coordinate and optimize daily operations between branches.

2. Owen Equipment protects against theft using Digital Matter tracking devices, LoneStar solutions, and the Helium Network. Currently protecting around $2,000,000, Owen Equipment is continuously increasing tracked assets.

3. LoneStar customers can purchase the Oyster3 Cellular for about $150. This unit requires a subscription of $14.95 per month. An Oyster3 LoRaWAN can be purchased for $129, with a subscription of $7.95 per month. Helium LoRaWAN deployments result in 47% subscription cost savings, and 14% lower upfront hardware costs.

4. LoneStar's average customer sees about 2-3 years of battery life on a cellular connected device while the average LoRaWAN customer sees 5+ years. This is all dependent on the configuration of the units and operating environments, but LoRaWAN deployments typically have a 2x+ longer battery life. Owen Equipment cellular connected devices are hard-wired to the vehicle battery, with no flexibility to track trailers or specialty assets.