India is one of the first countries in the DHL International Network to adopt this new technology, which is being rolled out at an investment of euros5,00,000. The scanners are being progressively deployed across 12 cities — Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Coimbatore, Chennai, Cochin, Delhi, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune, Tirupur and Hyderabad.

Chris Callen, country manager, DHL India, said, "Timeliness and accuracy of a shipment''s delivery confirmation is as critical to a customer as the package itself. With its fully integrated bar code scanning, signature capture capabilities, wireless communication and mobile functionality, the DHL New Generation Scanners provide a complete, easy-to-use data management solution in a single device. Now, our on-the-go professionals can keep an eye on shipments faster and easier with real-time tracking information."

The scanners reduce the time lag between capture and transmission of data from the field to the shipment record database. Data visibility, which was otherwise available between 6-12 hours after the real time of delivery on completion of the assigned route to ''base'', can now be available within 15 minutes of pick-up.

Developed by Symbol Technologies, the worldwide leader in mobile computing and bar code-driven data management systems, DHL New Generation Scanners deliver mobile data communications with integrated wireless wide area network (WWAN) capabilities in a pen-based handheld device.