Tracking technology: Modern support for freight
The freight transportation business employs IT in its processes.
The processes include organizing, coordinating delivery of goods and freight tracking. The transport industry as a whole is actually considering various technologies which can improve their services.
Freight tracking systems
GPS systems, containers whose temperature is regulated, ups air freight tracking tools and lane assist are a few of the inventions which have impacted freight industry so far. Currently, modern inventions, for instance, automatic vehicles and Internet of Things further enhance service efficiency. The current technology is replacing most freight transport activities which consume a lot of time. The technologies assist in sharing shipping data with the clients and they additionally fasten all the shipping activities. Besides improving efficiency, technology will also make it simple to improve other things like efficiency, the quality of shipping and little cost.
Other uses of technologies in freight transport include:
1. Managing and integrating backroom
In most companies, many universal-objective applications get introduced to run activities and also connect them through exchanging data with clients and providers.
2. Monitoring and mobile transmission
To perform roadrunner freight tracking or check the movement of vehicles, trailers, trucks and any mobile assets together with what they contain, organizations use various inventions. Such inventions include bar codes and GPS receivers.
Cloud-based location services, such as Locance, help monitor freight and mobile transmission in various industries. They provide app interfaces that allow users to access location information on their smartphones or tablets. This technology is suitable for field service workers, drivers, and logistics managers who need up-to-date information at their fingertips.
Geofencing is a feature that allows users to define virtual boundaries on a map. The system can automatically trigger alerts or actions when a tracked asset enters or exits these predefined areas. For freight monitoring, geofencing can ensure that shipments stay within designated areas or notify stakeholders when shipments reach specific locations, such as distribution centers or customer delivery points.
Cloud-based location services collect historical location information. This data can be analyzed to identify patterns and trends, helping companies make data-driven decisions to optimize their supply chain and transportation operations. For example, it can help identify bottlenecks, predict maintenance needs, and optimize fuel consumption.
For valuable or sensitive freight, cloud-based location services enhance security by providing real-time alerts in case of unauthorized access, theft, or tampering. This helps in mitigating risks and ensuring the safe delivery of goods.
Cloud-based location services can be integrated with inventory management, fleet management, and ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems. This integration streamlines data flow and enhances the overall efficiency of operations.
3. Web applications
The internet performs a very crucial function in the transport business. Every type of E-commerce uses the internet since it is globally accessible and it allows organizations to connect different types of Web, legacy systems and client-server.
All those uses make it possible for organizations to create distributed applications which are able to exchange several kinds of data that is formatted.
The technologies applied in the transport business unfortunately bring cyber security issues. As businesses improve their services through combining various systems with those for producers and clients, it develops security concerns.
Current IT applications
Several forms of freight tracking technologies are employed in every shipping business. The ways of travelling which include water, pipeline, rail, truck, and air use advanced and field-specific inventions. But, the aim of introducing IT in freight business is to move goods from one location to the other and this might entail more than one way of transporting.
One highly challenging part is to get the goods to their destination as planned with the right level of freight tracking during the course. Delays in movement must be minimized and everything must be done at a good charge without damaging any items getting transported.
In many organizations, transport is a deliberate asset. Big organizations these days tend to have advanced inventions of their functions referred to as ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems. The ERPs encompass planning modules for plants production. This enables an organization to automate the main sections of the decision processes in transporting different aspects of the plant value chain. Utilizing modules like these (in producing, finance, planning, human resource, and supply controlling) assists the organization to enhance how it operates. This is through improving efficiency and minimizing errors that people make.
The organizing and operating decisions in freight transport are usually backed by software. That software is created to assist in analyzing and determining when, how, what and where goods must be moved. The systems additionally compare various roads, ways, transporters and transport plans. They also include the supply chain controlling software and they depend on advanced algorithms to check options and come up with solutions which bring more profits. The applications are also able to perform clear lane freight tracking and reply in real time to problems and emergencies. For instance, they may reschedule a broken item immediately.
In all modes, transport functions might in overall get grouped into the duties below. All of the duties may be supported or enhanced with technology.
a) Matching goods with transporters
The person owning the goods to be transported needs to find and engage the transporter (ship, truck, air, train or several modes). Forwarders, negotiators and dealers might get involved during the matching process. The technology used may be anything like fax and phone or even technology cargo bidding.
When there is multi-mode transportation, the dealer or shipper may need to arrange every step of the process or ask the transporter to prepare the whole multimode movement.
b) Accepting orders
It is a must to find a dated record of the transporter who got allocated the cargo. That data is referred to as the cargo bill (waybill or airbill). The data describes the characteristics of what is being carried and it additionally outlines the rules and regulations which apply to the transporting exercise. These records also act as proof of the transportation agreement between the transporter and that person who owns the goods that are being transported. It may be written or electronic form.
c) Dispatching/routing
Deciding on the route and guiding a vehicle to where it should go to is completely human effort. However, it may at times be computerized to almost all preferred extents.
d) Pickup, course monitoring and shipment
Transport organizations always want to check the state of their transportation. Many activities and systems, depending on the mode of transport may be used here. They include ups freight tracking systems, analog or digital wireless telephones, GPS satellites, and barcode scanners. Most transporters utilize all those gadgets so that clients can track the movement of the goods in real time with the help of internet.
e) Broadcasting transport reports
Written reports here are accepted however most transporters prefer computerized methods of communication like the internet and EDI (Electronic Data Interchange).
f) Manifesting goods
This activity normally utilizes powerful data software and systems.
Each mode of transport uses a different technology that reflects its latest history. However, all of them are headed to bigger technology inventions and communication reliance through internet and EDI (Electronic Data Interchange). But still, they have a long way to go before the intermodal transportation communications become possible.
IOT (Internet of things)
The Internet of Things affects efficiency in freight transport. It affects the shipping and driving hours. The IOT is a system that links with all gadgets be it airplanes, microphones or cell phones. The gadgets are linked to a network that always sends information back and forth.
The relevance of IOT in central freight tracking
The IOT is what keeps dispatchers, drivers and vehicles fully linked and updated with information about each item in the transportation process. The same way people track cereal boxes when they arrive in stores until when they are sold to customers, each cargo in the shipment gets tracked automatically and the information is shared. The information is gotten in real time and can be accessed by anyone who is involved in the transportation process. The IOT can additionally make the routes and freight tracking process more productive. It may give information to drivers on the current fuel tips or it can tell when repairs may be needed based on the information gotten from tracks and their previous repairs.
There are other IOT gadgets which are more advanced. They include things like commercial telematics which is currently used in freight tracking in order to enhance efficiency in logistics.
Freight forwarding technology
Freight forwarders work in a field whereby the technology advancements are never easy to foresee. There are always risks for instance accidents, delays and human mistakes which affect the transportation of cargo. The main objective of forwarding agents is to ensure that goods can be transported as planned. For successful freight forwarding, the business has introduced Artificial Intelligence.
Artificial Intelligence uses perceived data to predict things which will happen in the business and it facilitates the way of making decisions. Both IOT and AI additionally assist in lowering charges. Freight forwarding organizations may fix the issues of overburdening drivers by introducing automatic ships.
Conclusion
This is all about modern freight tracking technologies. That tracking process is as simple provided you understand how the technology works. Also, ensure to keep up with the recent trends in the transport industry. Be aware of the tools which can improve transport and make transport companies more efficient. This is very important for a company that wants to remain relevant in the freight shipping business. Did you find our article useful? Have you shipped freight before? Share your experiences with us, also if you have any question feel free to ask us.
Joshua Sherman has worked in several big transport companies for many years now. He has written so many articles on topics related to the transportation business. He is one of the bestselling authors on the web. Besides being a great writer, he loves travelling and reading.
