How to Set Up Smart Containers for Cargo Tracking

Shipping industry has started to move towards the digital wave by implementing the immense potential of technology. The future of shipping industry greatly depends on smart containers. Wondering how an entire industry is revolutionized by the technology? Continue reading to get insight on setting up smart containers for cargo tracking.

What is a Smart Container?

Any normal container can be made as smart container by fitting interconnected sensors and internet connected devices that collect, collate and transmit data from the container. These devices and sensors acts similar to traditional data loggers, but the main advantage of it is that you can view all the information in real-time from anywhere and at any time.

With the help of smart containers, you can track important data such as

• Location of the container
• Fluctuations in temperature
• Shock detection
• Geo-fencing and predictive ETA
• Late in/out site
• Status of door (open or close)
• Monitor unusual activities, etc.

Why smart containers?

The world is searching for more successful ways to increase efficiency and decrease errors and efforts. That makes it possible to implement innovative technologies. The requirement for understanding delays, capture inefficiencies and looking at the big picture by aggregating data is the force that can drive further advancement towards supply chain transparency.

A framework that delivers a standardized information flow is the best approach for this. Procedures to transfer goods in the supply chain in a more methodical way should be done clearly and in a standardized way. In the digitization of the shipping industry, we need smart containers. So, at both the micro and macro levels, they can use their advantages and help development.

Advantages of smart container

Transparent and secured data

The data can’t be tampered with and is fraud-resistant as it is collected electronically and encrypted from end-to-end. It helps the supply chain stockholders to ensure transparent and secure document sharing among them.

Real time data

You can find the container’s location from anywhere. You can check ETA and transit area and you can receive alerts when the door is opened unexpectedly, deviation from the plan, etc.

Cargo quality can be monitored

The sensors used in smart containers monitor and collect data and check various factors such as current location, door status, humidity, temperature and more. This helps you to track the current status of the cargo and the container. It will be more useful for containers that carry cargo such as food products, foods, Pharmaceutical, etc.

Automatic data capture

With the help of smart container, you can collect the container’s real time data. You can also make use of the smart container to watch the cargo and the container. As smart container can remove the cumbersome process of traditional data handling, it helps in reducing errors.

How smart containers can be used?

Supply chain stockholders can use smart container for several purposes such as:

Port Authorities

Within the port, the port authorities are accountable for various infrastructures and its maintenance. For this, they require statistics of the container that moves through their port.

They can use the data provided by the smart containers for various things such as managing the traffic flow in the ports, reducing container congestions, and more. They can also use the numbers to make informed decisions by optimizing all the related information.

Depot Operators

The main responsibility of depot operator is to report the overseeing container arrival, number of containers available at their location, and other operations related to this. By using smart containers, they can manage their process and get updates in real-time.

Consignors and Consignees

In the current process, the shipper and the recipient can’t get any information of transportation process and so they cannot take any actions during transit emergencies.  By using smart containers, they get active information about the container in a timely manner. This helps them to improve their profit by

• Avoiding negative incidents
• Supply chain optimization
• Offering on-time deliveries, better service and increased cargo security
• Helping them making right decisions

Container Owners

In general, the shipping container owners need to know information about their containers’ inventory and location. Using smart container improves fleet management by enabling the owners to trace their containers, monitor them during docking and transit.

Vessel Crew

The containers are checked and maintained by on-board crews throughout the shipment process. They are responsible for counting the containers, noting when it is loaded, checking whether the containers are working properly and the temperature is maintained correctly and more. It can pay way to overload of work, human errors and miscalculations.

By using the smart containers, you can improve these processes by automation. This helps the crew to monitor these processes remotely and analyze data effectively.

Conclusion

For the exporters and importers, the use of emerging digital technology such as smart containers promises significant gains in service, safety, security and efficiency across the entire supply chain. Crucially, the immediacy of data makes the management of shortages and other concerns in the supply chain much simpler.