Wireless asset tracking has become a vital solution for companies in a number of markets that need to keep a watchful eye on both the location and the health of their cargo. The demand for these technologies has led to exponential growth in the machine-to-machine (M2M) market, which was a major topic of focus at the latest ITEXPO West 2011 event that just wrapped up in Austin, Texas.

To delve deeper into the wireless asset tracking market – and the M2M space in general – TMC (News - Alert) managing editor Stefanie Mosca recently sat down with Adam Crossno, CEO of OnAsset Intelligence, maker of a platform service that helps companies mitigate risk and create hyper-efficiencies in their supply chain by monitoring high value assets.

Crossno and OnAsset Intelligence used ITEXPO (News - Alert) West as a venue to announce a major enhancement to its hallmark Vision platform, which actually won the Best-of-Show award at ITEXPO and the M2M Evolution Conference. Crossno said that the update will help the company modify the Vision solution to make it applicable to the current needs of its customer base.

"Where we are now as an industry, you can't have a one-size fits all solution," says Crossno. "It's not selling off the shelf. You have to understand how your customers do business and how you can apply your technology and services to help them do that rather easily."

As Crossno explains, OnAsset Intelligence provides next-generation asset tracking and management through GPS and cellular location capabilities, as well as sensor technologies that provide information on how the cargo is being handled and what condition it is in.

The Vision solution can also be programmed to set certain environmental monitoring thresholds – such as temperature – and can allow companies to intervene and interact with the shipment on a real-time basis, he added.

"So it's much more than watching your dot travel from one location to another," said Crossno. "The solution allows you to take action if something goes wrong."

As for future plans, Crossno said that OnAsset Intelligence will continue to enhance its Vision platform to derive specific vertical applications for its client base. The company is also working on new battery capabilities and a dual cellular system that will allow Vision to work on GSM and CDMA networks concurrently.

Beecher Tuttle is a TMCnet contributor. He has extensive experience writing and editing for print publications and online news websites. He has specialized in a variety of industries, including health care technology, politics and education. To read more of his articles, please visit his columnist page.

Edited by Rich Steeves