Glossary

Tracking and Tracing

Definition

In logistics, tracking and tracing refer to the methods used to locate and monitor the movement of goods throughout the supply chain, from origin to delivery. Tracking involves monitoring the real-time or near real-time status and location of an item, while tracing enables the retrospective determination of an item's journey through the supply chain.

— sennder Team

FAQ

Tracking and tracing utilize various technologies, including GPS for real-time location data, RFID for tag tracking, barcodes for item information, and IoT for real-time tracking and environmental conditions monitoring.
Tracking and tracing enhance customer service by providing shipment status and estimated delivery times, increase operational efficiency by allowing real-time monitoring, and facilitate risk management, especially in scenarios like lost shipments or product recalls.
Real-time tracking and tracing provide immediate insights into the status and location of goods, thereby improving decision-making processes for manufacturers, logistics providers, retailers, and customers based on current information.
Challenges include technological integration issues, the high costs of advanced systems, and managing the privacy and security of extensive data involved in tracking and tracing operations.
Example or usage in road freight logistics

A logistics provider uses GPS technology to track the real-time movement of its trucks, allowing customers to view the current location and estimated arrival times of shipments through a web portal. If issues arise, the provider can trace the exact route and stops made by the truck to resolve the problem efficiently.

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