Real-time cargo tracking with IoT devices

Container and cargo tracking through smart devices are the new standard Supply chain. They help with accurate tracking and up to date information about in-transit goods. Several technologies work in tandem to provide updates on environmental conditions and locational changes of High-Value Goods and products. They help with better predictive planning about shipment arrivals and assist in saving operational costs. A multimodal in-transit supply chain visibility allows transporters and their clients to stay up to date on moving goods’ status. Cost savings planning is made possible with the clients as they can optimize their supply chain efforts, assess performance, as well as identify potential bottlenecks. Supply chain visibility through client dashboard help with strategic decision making.

Cargo tracking aims to achieve the following targets:

• Optimal inventory management
• Reduced logistics costs
• Best working capital management
• Develop optimal supply chain and operations strategies
• Identify blind spots

Minimize Demurrage

Demurrage costs are a significant factor affecting less than optimal use of cargo resources. Time spent by the cargo containers waiting for clearance on the docks translates into undesirable spending. Supply chain visibility helps identify bottlenecks in the chain that can be worked upon to ensure the smooth flow of goods. You generally stand to get updates from your supply chain stakeholders like the shipping lines and port operators. However, you can also obtain independent, precise updates from the GPS trackers on your cargo. You can analyze the available data to set up a data-driven approach towards process improvement. Manage your ocean freight and container pickups in a better manner. You can even look at optimizing your container collection processes. As all parties involved in the supply chain get transparent updates about cargo’s movement, the next party can prepare itself as it is aware of the right time to pick up the cargo.

Also, in case of a calculated delay, you can work out your demurrage charges. And you pay only for the days where the cargo was actually liable for demurrage. This can be done by looking at historical movement records of your cargo. Avoid unnecessary payment costs by relying on actual data.

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Supply Chain Optimization

As you rely on real-time data from your cargo and containers, you can optimize your supply chain. Optimization includes a reduction in costs and improvement in chain performance. This enables data-driven decision making.

Identify blind spots in your supply chain and plan for quick issue resolution. Run predictive analytics on your cargo routes and mitigate any shortcomings in your supply chain.

Ensure Security of your Cargo

Supply chain operations are gaining volumes and becoming complex. There is a need to fortify your supply chain’s security as cargo theft continues to be a threat across the world. Avoiding threats and at the same time avoiding criminals from compromising containers with illegal and illicit materials.

The cargo GPS monitoring solutions from Shenzhen Eelink Communication Technology Co Ltd here is a complete offering. You get real-time updates on the conditions of your shipment moving through any mode of transport. You get notified of any deviations from pre-defined routing. Any changes in light and door status too. The system can trigger recovery mode in case it detects a theft, especially near threat hotspots.

Optimize your inventory management

Efficiencies of your supply chain depend heavily on proper management. Any deviation from optimums will mean increased costs. This happens when inventories tend to pile up at one place. You could assess your supply chain and identify critical control points. The GPS tracking system informs you about the whereabouts of your inventory and identify bottlenecks. The movement can be managed for best efficiencies. As soon as critical points and bottlenecks are identified, corrective actions can be initiated.

You can also work towards eliminating information silos. This induces trust among stakeholders as they share data without bars, hence improve ROI for all. By way of continuous efforts towards improvements for each part of the supply chain, you can improve the overall performance. And improve the customer experience in the process.

Cargo quality monitoring

As most of the temperature controlled cargo is sensitive to ambiance changes, it makes sense to keep track of changing surroundings throughout their movement. With GPS IoT devices for real-time cargo tracking and monitoring, the quality and freshness of your goods can be continuously monitored. This dramatically helps streamline quality management as a process, reduce the client’s chances of product rejection, and minimize operational costs and losses. The greater the transparency for you and stakeholders, the better the chances of retaining quality.

When you have real-time access to product ambiance, you can stay updated on any changes during transit. As you know the cargo conditions, you can be sure that its quality has not deteriorated in the process. And in case there is a variance in situations, you will be able to identify the causes of quality deviations. As you serve quality assurance as part of your service, your customers will be delighted and stay with you for the long term. The shippers give access to real-time updates to their stakeholders.

Source: https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/asset-tracking-market

Eelink Product Features

·         GPS Location updates – Users can have real-time updates on information regarding the GPS location. This induces a sense of assurance to stakeholders. The conditions and security of assets are also assured. Wherever the cargo is moving, your clients will stay up to date. And in case of an exigency, they can work together with you while initiating corrective actions.

·         Temperature – The temperature sensors of the IoT devices for cargo tracking can monitor the specified temperature range. This range could start as low as sub-zero temperatures and go up to 50 degrees Celsius. They monitor and maintain a digital log of temperature conditions throughout the transit. In case of fluctuations, the information about the same is sent out to stakeholders immediately. This comes in handy, especially for temperature-sensitive cargo.

·         Humidity – Humidity plays a significant role in maintaining good quality and freshness of goods. The IoT devices for cargo tracking monitor the humidity, the relative humidity of the ambiance the product is in during their transit. The monitoring range is between 1% to 100% humidity levels.

·         Shocks or Tilts – Any changes in product orientation are immediately recorded and information sent out in the form of notification alarms. Any shocks like sudden braking on a truck or sudden falls are quickly notified to all stakeholders. The triggering of shock/tilt information can prove helpful in ensuring the good quality of the cargo.

·         Ambiance Lighting – The GPS IoT tracking devices for cargo monitoring are capable of monitoring ambient lighting for the product. You can even customize the range of reporting depending on the intensity of illumination. Some products are photo-sensitive, and my deteriorate in quality on exposure to such lighting.

Popular applications of Eelink products

• Shipments of high value – When the cargo consists of very high-value items, it becomes imperative to closely monitor the changing ambiance. The changes in surroundings for these high-value products can lead to deterioration in product quality or freshness. Other high-value items like jewelry, alcohol, and mechanical parts need to be shipped safely and securely. Hence their security can be monitored closely with the GPS tracking capability of the GPS IoT tracking devices for cargo monitoring. Close monitoring like reporting of damages, any shocks to shipment, or even opening and closing container doors can be monitored and reported.

• Bulk cargo – Data from such shipments is recorded even as cargo’s shape and size vary considerably. Attaching the tracker to individual crates, shipments, or even containers can monitor various cargo aspects in terms of temperature, humidity, physical location, lighting, etc.

• Perishable cargo – These mainly include food items like fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy products, processed meats, etc. The monitoring data on temperature, tilt, and humidity are closely monitored for retention of quality and freshness. This information is critical for monitoring perishable cargo.