Navigating a heavy industry yard is impossible. No one told Glympse

Driving through the sprawling, often confusing spaces of heavy industry yards in the steel, aluminum and mining sectors, can feel like attempting to follow a treasure map without a compass. With unpaved private roads, obscure entry points and diverse language barriers, these complex environments present significant challenges for truck drivers and visitors alike.

When a leading steel company approached Glympse—a pioneer in location-sharing technology—they saw an opportunity to tackle these challenges head-on. Cami Zimmer, Glympse’s Chief Business Officer, knew this was more than just a navigation problem; it was a chance to revolutionize safety and efficiency across the industry.

One yard at a time

Glympse’s solution is as simple as it is transformative: a web-based turn-by-turn navigation solution uniquely built for heavy industry yards. Drivers receive an SMS notification upon entering the yard, directing them to a customized interface showing exactly where they need to go. The interface is tailored to the recipient’s browser language settings, ensuring clarity for non-English speakers. 

“Our goal is all about safety,” said Zimmer. “By delivering unique turn-by-turn we minimize confusion and get them to their destination smoothly. Safety was priority number one, and from there, efficiency naturally followed.” 

The system’s simplicity is a game-changer. Drivers don’t need to download an app or worry about additional technologies. "The message includes a text sent directly to the driver, featuring a URL link that opens a web-based map with personalized turn-by-turn directions," added Zimmer.

"This streamlined approach enhances the driver’s experience, allowing them to focus on one task—getting in, picking up the load and returning to the road efficiently."

Forged in steel 

HERE played a vital role in enabling Glympse’s navigation solution. By combining the power of HERE Routing, HERE Real-Time Traffic, HERE Geocoding & Search and Map Rendering APIs, Glympse could offer advanced step-by-step directions tailored to private, unmapped roads—and track and direct vehicles in real-time.

“Mapping turned out to be more complicated than I imagined,” noted Zimmer. “The expertise HERE brought to the table was something we couldn’t have done by ourselves.”

This cutting-edge navigation system, built on HERE’s technology and supported by AWS’s cloud infrastructure, transformed a disorganized industrial space into a streamlined hub.

HERE’s contributions not only improved onsite safety but also accelerated planning and reduced inefficiencies—solidifying their role as an indispensable partner in Glympse’s success.

High impact

Since implementing the solution, early results have already started to show major benefits. Operators are seeing fewer navigation-related accidents, and drivers are able to move quickly and safely to their designated spots without unnecessary delays.

“The biggest benefit we weren’t expecting was the efficiency gain for onsite staff,” Zimmer shared. “For example, if a driver carrying steel coils is arriving in 23 minutes, you can plan to have the crane in position at precisely the right time. That efficiency extends to everyone—from the drivers to the yard staff—and directly impacts the bottom line.” 

More than directions

Beyond solving navigation challenges, Glympse’s solution provides industrial clients with an intuitive back-office dashboard, offering rich analytics and actionable insights. Yard operators can monitor driver dwell times, track their locations in real-time and even gather direct feedback on their on-site experiences. 

“Driver feedback is invaluable,” Zimmer explained. “Addressing frustrations in real-time helps maintain relationships with drivers, ensuring they’re willing to return to your yard.” 

Additionally, operators are finding ways to tie these insights to broader objectives like sustainability. By reducing idling time through better routing and coordination, Glympse’s solution helps lower emissions—a win for both businesses and the environment.

A “Glympse” into the future

For Glympse, this innovation marks the expansion into a promising new market. “We’ve always been known for our location-sharing in other industries,” Zimmer said. “This is our first foray in the heavy industry sector, but we’re excited about the possibilities.” Glympse is already in conversations with aluminum yards, mining companies and other industrial sectors to replicate the solution. 

According to Zimmer, the growth potential is immense. “This isn’t just about solving navigation or safety issues. It’s about enhancing how these businesses operate—from resource planning to sustainability. The demand for this kind of solution isn’t being met by software companies today, and we’re proud to be setting the standard.”