Get in Touch
  • Blog

News & Announcements

Explore latest news and announcements

Why Your Dollies Are in the Wrong Place: Non-Motorized GSE Tracking for Ground Handlers

Co-authored by proveo and Alps Alpine

Non-motorized GSE tracking: Same airport. Same fleet. Same shift. Three completely different realities happening at once.

Cluster A has 7 dollies available against 5 required. A healthy surplus. Cluster B has 2 against 3 and already short by one. Cluster C has zero against 1 required. A hard stop.

This is not a fleet size problem. It is a visibility problem. For ground handlers managing hundreds or thousands of dollies, carts, towbars and other assets, non-motorized GSE tracking provides the missing visibility into where equipment actually is and whether it is available when operations need it. And it plays out on ramps at airports around the world, every single shift.

Non-motorized GSE tracking of airport baggage dollies

The Real Cost of Poor GSE Visibility at Airports

When a cluster runs short, someone has to fix it fast. That usually means a supervisor walking the ramp to find equipment that should already be nearby. Or a handler driving across the apron to pull dollies from a cluster that has a surplus, assuming they know which one that is. Or, in the worst case, nobody realises until the turnaround is already underway and there is nothing to load onto.

A shortage at Cluster C does not stay at Cluster C. It delays the flight. It creates pressure on the handling team. It forces reactive decisions at exactly the moment when everyone is already operating under the tightest possible time window.

Why Non-Motorized GSE Is the Hardest to Track

Motorized GSE gets attention. Tugs, tractors, and vehicles have engines, fuel logs, telematics systems, and maintenance records. Someone is usually keeping an eye on them. Non-motorized equipment is different. Dollies, carts, and towbars move constantly between clusters, gates, and shifts. Once it moves, keeping track of it depends entirely on someone remembering to update a record. On a working ramp, that is a lot to count on. Traditional methods do not hold up at the pace ground operations actually run. Manual logs go stale within minutes on a busy ramp.

So supervisors end up doing what supervisors have always done. They Drive Around. They walk. They ask around. They find the dolly, move it, and get back to the next problem. It works until it doesn’t, and when it doesn’t, the clock is already running.

Airport dolly tracking with Alps Alpine asset tracker

How Non-Motorized GSE Tracking Creates Cluster-Level Visibility

proveo and Alps Alpine Asset Tracking built a different approach to this problem. Alps Alpine’s asset trackers are attached to non-motorized GSE, such as dollies, carts, towbars, and integrated directly into the proveo platform. The result is near-real-time location data for every tracked asset, mapped against the clusters where demand is building.

This also changes how reallocation decisions get made. Instead of moving equipment reactively, after a shortage has already shown up, a supervisor can see the imbalance building and act on it before Cluster B goes short and Cluster C hits zero. The surplus in Cluster A becomes useful information rather than something that only gets noticed after the fact.

The loaded and unloaded status of each dolly adds another layer. A dolly sitting loaded in the wrong cluster is not available in the way an empty one is. Knowing the difference before sending someone to collect it saves time that a busy shift does not have.

Motorized and non-motorized GSE tracking in the proveo platform

How Non-Motorized GSE Tracking Creates Cluster-Level Visibility

One of the most practical aspects of this setup is that it does not require a separate system for non-motorized GSE. The Alps Alpine Asset Tracking trackers feed directly into the proveo platform alongside motorized GSE data. A fleet manager or supervisor gets one view of the full ramp without switching between systems or reconciling two separate data sets.

This matters in practice because cluster imbalances rarely involve just dollies. A shortage of non-motorized equipment often coincides with motorized GSE being tied up somewhere else. Seeing both in the same place makes it faster to understand what is actually happening and what needs to move.

The misuse detection capability shows what is possible when you have this kind of visibility. When a dolly moves to a gate or cluster, it should not be in there, whether through honest mistake or informal reallocation; the platform flags it with the gate and flight number. A supervisor knows immediately, rather than discovering it when the next team goes to collect equipment that is no longer where it was left.

From Reactive Dolly Searches to Proactive GSE Management

The cluster scenario at the top of this post is not unusual. It is the default state of most airport ramps during a peak window. Equipment drifts. Clusters go out of balance. Someone finds out too late.

Getting ahead of it does not require a new fleet. It requires knowing where the fleet actually is.

With cluster-level visibility in place, the question stops being “where is it?” and becomes “where does it need to go next?” That shift from reactive to proactive is what changes the shape of a peak window. Reallocation happens before the shortage, not after. Supervisors manage the ramp instead of searching it. Flights leave on time.

For ground handling teams already running hard schedules with tight turnarounds, that is not a small operational improvement. It is the difference between a shift that runs and one that catches up all day.

Improve Visibility of Your Non-Motorized GSE

If your operation is managing dollies across multiple clusters and the balance across them is something your team finds out about after it becomes a problem, we are happy to talk through what near-real-time visibility could look like for your specific setup.

Reach out to the proveo team or get in touch with Alps Alpine Asset Tracking. We will start with the problem, not the product, and go from there.

 

Frequently Asked Questions About Non-Motorized GSE Tracking

What is non-motorized GSE tracking?

Non-motorized GSE tracking uses battery-powered tracking devices to provide location and status information for airport ground support equipment without its own power source, including dollies, carts, towbars and other mobile assets.

How can airports track baggage dollies?

Ground handlers can install tracking devices on baggage dollies to provide near-real-time location information. The tracking data can then be integrated into a GSE management platform to show the location and availability of equipment across airport operational areas.

Can motorized and non-motorized GSE be tracked in one system?

Yes. The proveo platform combines telematics data from motorized GSE with tracking data from non-motorized assets, giving ground handlers a unified view of their equipment.

What are the benefits of tracking non-motorized GSE?

Tracking helps ground handlers identify equipment shortages, locate misplaced assets, improve fleet utilization, reduce unnecessary ramp movements and make equipment reallocation decisions before shortages affect operations.

Velora Aviation GSE Airport Ground Handling Award Logo

Velora Aviation Presents Proveo with Recognition of Appreciation Award

One highlight from this year that we want to share: Velora Aviation has recognized proveo with their Award of Recognition and Appreciation. proveo contributed to the Velora’s digital carve-out and transformation program. We are proud to be part of Velora’s transformation team.
We have been a partner of Velora Aviation, previously known as Etihad Airport Services, for over 15 years, supporting their airport ground handling and GSE maintenance through our advanced GSE platform. That kind of long-term relationship is something we do not take for granted.
The award reflects what a real partnership looks like. Velora’s team works hands-on with our product every day, and their input has directly shaped how our GSE fleet management platform and pooling solution has evolved over the years. Better airport ground handling processes, continuous improvements, all of it comes from this kind of close collaboration.
Thank you to the full Velora Aviation team. We are proud to keep building this together.
Velora Aviation GSE Airport Ground Handling Award Logo

GSE Pooling Manager Ground Handler

GSE Pooling Manager – A New Role for the Modern Airport

Airports around the world are changing how they manage Ground Support Equipment (GSE). With the rise of shared and pooled GSE fleets, a new role might emerge the GSE Pooling Manager.

This role is becoming essential wherever multiple ground handlers share one fleet. The Pooling Manager ensures that every tug, belt loader, or GPU is in the right place, at the right time, for the right team.

What Does a Pooling Manager Do?

The GSE Pooling Manager acts as the central coordinator between ground handlers, maintenance, and airport operations. They oversee the shared fleet, define the number of GSE units needed in each area, and make sure all stakeholders have the resources they require to keep flights on schedule.

For example, if several ground handlers operate in the same terminal, the Pooling Manager uses real-time data to assign GSE to each team while preventing overlaps or shortages. They can also block access to certain assets when they are reserved or under maintenance, keeping operations organized and efficient.

How proveo Supports the Pooling Manager

At proveo, we developed our system specifically to empower Pooling Managers with complete visibility and control.

  • Airport-wide overview: The Pooling Manager can see all areas of operation, monitor GSE locations, and instantly identify if an area is short on equipment.

  • Shift-based planning: Define how many GSE units are needed per shift and let the system track availability automatically.

  • Stakeholder assignment: Assign ground handlers or teams to specific vehicles or GSE groups, ensuring only authorized operators can access them.

  • Centralized alerts: Receive notifications when a GSE is removed from a designated area or when a new vehicle request is made.

  • Intelligent redistribution: proveo analyzes fleet activity and suggests how to strategically move equipment to balance the operation across the airport.

GSE Pooling Manager Map

Smart Integration with the proveo Driver App

On the proveo Driver App, operators instantly see which GSE are available to them. The app helps avoid conflicts by showing whether an asset is currently free, already assigned to another team, or scheduled for upcoming use. This keeps the ramp organized and prevents downtime. It also allows operators to request additional assets for a specific time and location. This request will be sent directly to the pooling manager, who can then make the right decision.

 GSE Pooling Manager How it works

Always Connected, Always Informed

The Pooling Manager dashboard consolidates everything in one place: equipment status, maintenance schedules, and real-time conditions. If a GSE goes out of service unexpectedly, or a unit needs repair, the system updates automatically, so decisions can be made fast and confidently.

With proveo, the Pooling Manager finally has one source of truth for all airport GSE operations.

For more information, contact the proveo team and schedule a live online demonstration to see how the Pooling Manager can optimize your airport operations.

proveo and Alps Alpine Form Strategic Aviation Telematics Partnership

proveo Telematics, a market leader for telematics software in aviation, and Alps Alpine a global provider for asset tracking and mobility solutions form a strategic partnership in the aviation segment.

Alps Alpine is a global market leader in the electronic industry offering sensors, components, modules and systems. In its broad product portfolio, Alps Alpine offers tracking devices that provide valuable data and insights for companies needing to monitor any kind of asset.  Especially in the aviation industry AlpsAlpine trackers can be used to track dollies, trollies, towbars, wheelchairs and other valuable assets.

proveo Telematics is a market leading software company delivering highly flexible and specialized telematics solutions for the aviation industry since 2003. During the last year, proveo has added many new solutions integrating market leading telematics hardware and adding many new capabilities in its software.

proveo and AlpsAlpine are combining their offerings to deliver an integrated system to the aviation industry. 

“Our customers are looking for a solution that offers tracking of non-motorized assets anywhere at the airport: outdoor and indoor. To address this requirement, we were looking for a tracking device that combines accurate position and low power consumption with global communication capabilities and found Alps Alpine to be the best partner.  Integrating the Alps Alpine trackers we benefit from their innovative technology and their global communication network.  We are very excited about this partnership.”

— Ursula Hess, Managing Director, proveo Telematics.  

“We provide the aviation industry with a unified system by combining our tracking solution with proveo’s powerful telematics system. This cooperation delivers a single, intuitive real-time platform for managing all asset types—motorized (telematics) and non-motorized (battery powered trackers). We were impressed by the broad functional spectrum and the intuitive, easy to use telematics system proveo offers. Together, we can address the different use cases of diverse stakeholders across the airport environment”,

— Marcello Milli, Head of Sales for Asset & Mobility Solutions, Alps Alpine.

 

Alps Alpine

The ALPS ALPINE Group is a leading global manufacturer of high-quality electronics across several industries. With around 30,000 employees, 30 production plants, 26 engineering locations and 83 sales offices worldwide, ALPS ALPINE achieved around USD 8.0 billion revenue in the past financial year.
In 2017, ALPS ALPINE Europe launched its asset tracking solution and by 2025 it had supplied over 2 million trackers, making it the largest LPWAN deployment of asset trackers to date in Europe.

We’re shaping a future where technology extends your senses. An asset tracker may seem ordinary, but with features like orientation detection or theft recognition, it becomes invaluable. Trackers let you see where things are, expanding your vision. Added sensors let you feel remotely by monitoring temperature, shock, and more.

Every day, we strive to create technology that matters—unique, sustainable, and impactful. Through passion and innovation, we make the invisible visible and the distant tangible.

GSE Pooling and Sharing in Airport Environments – How Proveo’s Telematics Solution Helps

Airports face increasing challenges with growing numbers of travelers, limited room to grow, shorter and shorter turnaround times and congestions at the ramp. Dozens of airlines, ground handlers, and service providers operate side by side, all depending on Ground Support Equipment (GSE) to keep aircraft on schedule. A need to reduce the CO2 imprint is another priority most airports are aiming to address.

Traditionally, each ground handler maintains a GSE fleet large enough to cover peak times. This approach often leads to overcrowded aprons, underutilized equipment, and higher operational costs. To keep the operation safe and increase efficiency with lower number of GSE while maximizing on time departures many airports consider a change in operation which has emerged in recent years: GSE pooling and sharing.

What is GSE Pooling?

Pooling means that instead of each ground handler owning a separate fleet, GSE is shared across multiple handlers or departments at the airport. Equipment is made available to whoever needs it, whenever they need it. This ensures fewer vehicles are required overall, while still meeting demand during peak operations. The results: fewer pieces of equipment cluttering the ramp, improved safety, reduced costs, and a clear step toward sustainability, especially when combined with electric GSE.

Why Airports and Ground Handlers Benefit

  • Efficiency: Shared fleets reduce idle time and improve utilization.

  • Cost savings: Lower investment in equipment and maintenance.

  • Safety: Less congestion on the apron means fewer incidents.

  • Sustainability: Easier transition to electric GSE when equipment is centrally managed.

  • Flexibility: Units can be dynamically allocated based on flight schedules, shifts, or terminal demand.

Pooling transforms GSE from individual assets into shared infrastructure that benefits the entire airport community.

Benefits of GSE Pooling

How proveo Makes GSE Pooling Work

Pooling sounds simple in theory, but managing it in practice requires smart technology. This is where proveo’s telematics solution comes in. Our system is designed specifically for the challenges of dynamic, multi-tenant environments like airports.

Here’s how we help:

Features proveo supports with the GSE Pooling option

Flexible Assignments

With proveo, equipment can be reserved for a single operator, an entire team, or even across multiple ground handlers. Reservations can be time-based, ensuring the right people have access to the right equipment exactly when needed.

Mobile Integration

Operators receive notifications on their mobile devices about upcoming assignments and, if required, detailed task information. This removes uncertainty and keeps everyone aligned with the operational plan.

RMS and Rostering Integration

Our solution can be integrated with existing Resource Management Systems (RMS) and rostering applications. Licenses can be handled directly by proveo or externally managed, giving airports and ground handlers full flexibility.

Built-In Fallbacks

We understand operations never stop. proveo implements clever fallback solutions so that equipment access is always guaranteed. For example, mechanics or safety managers can be granted priority access at any time, and maintenance status is automatically considered in the pooling logic.

Real-Time Visibility

Our telematics hardware provides live data on location, usage, and condition of each GSE unit. Managers can see which units are active, reserved, or in maintenance, and adjust pooling rules dynamically based on actual demand.

The Future of Airport Operations

GSE pooling is no longer just a concept. It is becoming a global trend, and airports adopting it are already reaping the benefits. With proveo, pooling is not only possible but also simple, reliable, and scalable.

By combining advanced telematics, smart reservations, and seamless integration with airport systems, we provide the technology that makes pooling practical. For airports and ground handlers, this means higher efficiency, lower costs, and smoother operations.

Pooling is the future of GSE management. At proveo, we are ready to help airports and handlers take the next step. Contact us for more information!

Talma Colombia and proveo extend airport telematics partnership

Talma Colombia Expands Telematics Partnership with proveo

Talma Colombian Telematics proveo Partnership Expands Nationwide

Talma Colombia, a leading ground support services company, has officially extended its Talma Colombian telematics proveo partnership, expanding telematics installations to additional airports across the country.

Formerly known as LASA La Sociedad de Apoyo Aeronáutico and SAI (Servicios Aeroportuarios Integrados), Talma Colombia continues to invest in digital transformation through proveo (formerly Quantum Aviation Solutions).

With more than 30 years of experience in operational dispatch, customer service, and ground handling, Talma Colombian operations now benefit from an advanced telematics solution by proveo—enhancing efficiency across 19 cities.

Strategic Growth Through the Talma Colombian Telematics proveo Partnership

“We need a partner who understands our strategy and is flexible and responsive to our needs. We decided to continue our proven partnership with proveo and believe that proveo will support us in our expansion in Colombia and beyond,”
— Gonzalo Aristizábal, CEO, Talma Colombia.

This Talma Colombian telematics proveo collaboration, first launched in 2019, has delivered improvements in maintenance coordination, asset tracking, and GSE (Ground Support Equipment) optimization.

“We selected proveo because of the system’s flexibility. It helped us improve process efficiency between operations and maintenance, reduce fleet size, lower capital investment, and improve service quality,”
— Henry Molano, CFO, Talma Colombia.

Operational Excellence with Telematics

Alejandro Molina, Commercial and Projects Manager at Talma, shared how telematics has transformed day-to-day operations:

“Our operations and maintenance teams now work seamlessly together. The real-time data and predictive analytics help us deliver safe and reliable service to our airline customers.”

The Talma Colombian telematics proveo platform enables:

  • Ramp Handling: Real-time tracking for turnaround management and performance analytics.

  • Maintenance: Engine-hour-based scheduling, predictive diagnostics, and integrated communication tools.

proveo’s Ongoing Commitment to Talma Colombian Success

“We’re pleased to continue our collaboration with Talma Colombia. Since 2019, our flexible telematics product and service model have delivered meaningful results. We’re excited to support Talma’s expansion into more airports,”
— Ursula Hess, Managing Director, proveo Telematics.

About Talma Colombia

With nearly 5,000 employees and one of Colombia’s most advanced Ground Support Equipment (GSE) fleets, Talma Colombia handles over 650 airline operations per day.

2024 in Numbers:

  • 219,000+ flights served

  • 19 million pieces of luggage connected

  • 760,000+ PRM (Passengers with Reduced Mobility) assisted

Talma serves a wide range of top airlines, including Avianca, Jetsmart, Delta, Iberia, American Airlines, KLM, Air Canada, and more.

Looking for More Details on proveos solution?

For detailed information about the latest features and updates, visit the “Release Notes” section in the Online User Guide and check out our comparison-page. We’ll use this section to document all newly added features and keep you informed about ongoing developments. You can also follow us on LinkedIn for news and updates. Also check the article on Ground Handling International!

Get in Touch