CHICAGO, March 23, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A., Inc., the North American division of the world's largest lift truck manufacturer, and I.D. Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:IDSY), a leading global provider of wireless solutions for the Industrial Internet of Things, have executed a strategic partnership agreement to develop and deploy a new wireless industrial Vehicle Management System (VMS). The new VMS will be marketed through the Toyota Industrial Equipment umbrella in North America under the "T-Matics" brand.
Details of the program were unveiled today at the material handling industry's premier trade exhibition, ProMat, which is taking place March 23-26, 2015, at Chicago's McCormick Place South.
Toyota's T-Matics Command VMS is powered by I.D. Systems' patented wireless technology and cloud-hosted in a secure data center. For wireless communications, the system will leverage either an end user's existing Wi-Fi network or a standalone VHF/cellular solution to enable implementation with minimal IT involvement. The system's on-vehicle hardware will be a custom version of I.D. Systems' 4th-generation "VAC4" hardware platform.
"T-Matics is an important part of our strategic plan moving forward," said Terry Rains, Toyota's vice president of aftermarket sales. "The T-Matics products will help our dealers and customers better manage their fleets of forklifts by increasing efficiency and utilization, optimizing maintenance schedules, and improving operator accountability."
The T-Matics products were officially launched to Toyota dealers on March 3, 2015, at Toyota's annual dealer meeting. The I.D. Systems channel sales and support team presented a comprehensive introduction to the new T-Matics Command solution, including technical and sales training. The I.D. Systems team will conduct a series of similar regional training sessions for Toyota Industrial Equipment dealers across North America, where more than 220 dealer locations market Toyota's products and services.
"We are delighted to enter into this strategic relationship with Toyota, the world's leading producer of industrial vehicles," said Kenneth Ehrman, I.D. Systems' chairman and CEO. "Toyota's unrivaled sales and distribution network, backed by the quality of Toyota manufacturing and armed with our unique, industry-leading VMS technology, can significantly expand the market for wireless VMS. This is an ideal opportunity for I.D. Systems to execute on one of the pillars of our growth strategy: to leverage key channel partners to drive new business, diversify our sources of revenue, and grow our recurring revenue stream. At the same time, our cloud-hosted solution should help reduce cost and effort for end users."
About Wireless Vehicle Management Systems
Vehicle Management Systems (VMS) help improve workplace safety and security by restricting vehicle access to trained, authorized operators, providing electronic vehicle inspection checklists, and sensing vehicle impacts. A wireless VMS also helps reduce fleet maintenance costs by automatically uploading vehicle data, reporting vehicle problems electronically, scheduling maintenance according to actual usage rather than by calendar time, and helping determine the optimal economic time to replace equipment. In addition, a wireless VMS helps improve supply chain productivity by establishing accountability for the use of equipment, ensuring equipment is in the proper place at the right time, streamlining material handling work flow, and providing unique metrics on equipment utilization.
About Toyota Material Handling U.S.A., Inc.
Proudly manufactured in the United States, Toyota Industrial Equipment offers a full line of material handling solutions including forklifts, automated guided vehicles, fleet management services and tow tractors. Toyota's commitment to quality, reliability and customer satisfaction, the hallmark of the Toyota Production System, extends throughout more than 220 locations in North America. For more information, visit www.ToyotaForklifts.com.
About I.D. Systems
Headquartered in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey, with subsidiaries in Texas, Germany, and the United Kingdom, I.D. Systems, Inc. is a leading global provider of wireless M2M solutions for securing, controlling, tracking, and managing high-value enterprise assets, including industrial vehicles, rental cars, trailers, containers, and cargo. The company's patented technologies address the needs of organizations to monitor and analyze their assets to increase efficiency and productivity, reduce costs, and improve profitability. I.D. Systems holds more than 75 patents related to its wireless solutions and has deployed VMS systems in more than 20 countries around the world. For more information, please visit www.id-systems.com.
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