If eircode wants to be as useful as the UK postcode for delivery (sorting and routing), then they need to release a dataset FOC, and freely usable which contains a list of all Eircodes, the SAC for each, and a list of centroid locations for each SAC. How the SACs are labeled is less important (if it's a free reuse license) because the work that others have done (like AutoAddress) can be used then
BoatMad wrote: » you seem to be under the mistaken belief that the UK PAF is license free , it is not
byrnefm wrote: » Has there been any word from any SatNav company in relation to Eircode support? That alone would improve its uptake big time, IMO.
ukoda wrote: » byrnefm wrote: » Has there been any word from any SatNav company in relation to Eircode support? That alone would improve its uptake big time, IMO. It's google maps that will make it take off, sat navs are a rapidly declining market as seen by TomTom going from hundreds of millions in profit to tens of millions in loss over the last decade. They are on the way back up now but only because they diversified into being a mapping provider and focusing on in car navigation (which is again under threat from things like apple's car play and googles equivalent)
12Phase wrote: » It's obvious the state wanted a pays-for-itself and possibly a nice little revenue stream rather than an open system.
scas100 wrote: » sorry cant figure how to quote BoatMad as a supplier to the logistics software industry ( specialised logistics solutions) I can tell you that the main courier comvpnaie are very slow to roll out updates to their van drivers systems. Often the main large couriers are using custom versions designed for them with international multi country rollout or the smaller couriers are using semi off the shelf systems ( or fairly esoteric small bespoke systems ) i work for several courier companies-not freight companies-and i can say neither dpd, fastway, gls, ups or nightline, who are the main courier companies in ireland, do not and will not pay for any eircodes. reason being its up to the driver to deliver the packages and if hes used up his 15 goes a day, from his point of view, why should he have to pay for them. also ive noticed that out of say 10 eircodes written on packages 3 or 4 are usually wrong. this may be because people type them in wrong but because of that not one courier i know would trust them.
Bray Head wrote: » I am not so sure. Sales have declined simply as penetration of in-car satnavs has levelled off. I don't see a need to replace mine for the next ten years. A smartphone is not really a substitute for a proper satnav I find. The only real advantage now is that with google maps you are more likely to be able to find something than on a satnav. Once both have eircode that advantage disappears.
Bray Head wrote: » I am not so sure. Sales have declined simply as penetration of in-car satnavs has levelled off. I don't see a need to replace mine for the next ten years.
ukoda wrote: » Have the drivers heard about the Autoaddress App that has no 15 per day limit? I'm not sure I follow your post really, Nightline, Fastway and DPD have all made public statements that they are upgrading their systems to include eircode
scas100 wrote: » figured out how to quote not one driver i know has heard of it, sounds helpful the courier companies may have made statements along those lines, nightline may be sticking some software on their tablets in the future but dpd and fastway certainly are doing nothing about it the whole thing sounds like its probably more useful to freight companies anyway.
ukoda wrote: » The app is new so awareness would be limited The same company who made the app have publicly stated they are working with Fastway to implement eircode? Maeve Dwyer of DPD made a statement to the Irish Times that they were working out a plan to implement eircode?
scas100 wrote: » sorry,, all i do is work for those companies and sometimes beta test their software, my deepest apologies, im wrong but more importantly ,you're right.
plodder wrote: » scas100 wrote: » sorry,, all i do is work for those companies and sometimes beta test their software, my deepest apologies, im wrong but more importantly ,you're right. The app is definitely usable by couriers right now. However, there is a big question mark whether it will remain free to use. The T&Cs state that they can change without notice at any time. So, they could start charging for it in future.
sondagefaux wrote: » I don't really see the point in this type of argument. Once upon a time water usage wasn't metered in England or paid for out of user charges. Almost any service could become chargeable in the future whether it's now state owned or not.
plodder wrote: » If they intend to keep the app free then they could say that..
ukoda wrote: » This is the part I don't get, it's free and they have said they intend to keep it free and they also want to promote delivery drivers using it
While the survey had only 50 respondents, they are 50 of the biggest businesses in the supply chain sector. Neil McDonnell, general manager of the FTAI, said: “The structure of Eircode as a random, database tool means that, despite the proliferation of systems and software in the market, even large operators and their customers have no use for it. “Its use is confined to government services and database users such as banks and insurance companies, which to be fair, can exploit its power as a database.” Mr McDonnell added that recent moves by one of the Eircode consortium to offer a newly-labelled small area code system to operators was indicative of how the industry has responded. “The rollout of small area codes by one of the Department of Communication’s largest contractors, Autoaddress, confirms Eircode’s failings as a postcode for business,” he said. “It is doubly frustrating that this company was to the fore in rubbishing structured postcodes, yet is now asking for our help in marketing one to industry. It is an explicit admission of failure by one of the State’s principal contractors. [Communications Minister Denis] Naughten was sympathetic to our views on Eircode in opposition, it will be interesting to see his views as minister. Eircode is going nowhere,” Mr McDonnell said.
plodder wrote: » http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/96-of-logistics-and-shipping-firms-do-not-use-eircode-402180.html Ouch!
ukoda wrote: » I'm all for it! What in opposed to is them trying to make out its some sort of replacement for eircode, when in fact it was there all along and they just didn't know they could use it in the way Autoaddress have shown them
plodder wrote: » To come back to this. If you're in favour of this enhancement then why were you arguing against it being free of charge? Why would it matter to you if it is free, and it keeps the transport sector (and others) happy? I think it beggars belief that people think the present situation where Eircodes are not deployed on google maps, not on any satnav, and not by 95% of the transport sector, is somehow acceptable.
plodder wrote: » So, the state shouldn't build anything that the private sector could make profits out of unless users are paying directly for use. By that token, there would be no parks or children's playgrounds, or non fee-paying schools. Strange. You know of course, the state has invested almost 40 million on it as it is. We're getting the worst of all worlds here. And it's 18 weeks now since Alex White said google maps support was imminent. Whatever about google's own priorities, there hasn't been a peep from Eircode that any agreement was reached with them. How long are you prepared to wait?
