LocalHub
The LocalHub will contain a variety of IT systems, all linked to each other and to central computing resources via the internet. Typically these will communicate with each other and with the vehicle and staff-borne systems via, wireless connections within and around the building. These systems will include:
The computing resources for each of these could be in the LocalHub itself or, more likely, thousands of miles away in a datacentre with only the terminals, sensors and actuators present in the LocalHub.
Box Handling
Industrial process control systems manage the automated filling, emptying, cleaning, sorting and movement of the thousands of boxes that are delivered every day. These track each box from cradle, through many hundreds or thousands of deliveries, to grave.
Routing, Scheduling and Planning
Significant computing resources are used to optimise the use of the available resources. Every time a customer requests a pick-up or a delivery; every time a member of staff calls in sick and every time a van gets stuck in a traffic jam, the schedule is re-optimised on-the-fly.
Billing and Accounting system
Every resident of the localnet area will be paying for their use of the system. However, many will also be making at least a part of their living through the system - by selling goods that are delivered via localnet. By keeping all these micro-transactions within one system, the cost and hassle overheads of using credit card or other forms of payment can be kept to a minimum - with a single monthly payment (or credit) for the net cost (or profit) incurred by the user.
Workstations
Within the LocalHub, anywhere that would traditionally have had a point-of-sale terminal will typically have a more capable workstation - that not only acts as a “till”, noting the customers purchases - but is also integrated into the localnet system so that delivery of the item to the purchasers home can be taken care of by hitting a single button.
Such workstations are also scattered throughout the LocalHub in the areas where remotely placed orders are fulfilled. For example, there would be one at the end of a kitchen work surface - showing the orders that need to be made up for delivery.