Unlocking the Power of Real-Time Cargo Tracking and Visibility with Cutting-Edge Technology

 Keeping the cargo in good condition throughout its journey is a constant challenge for shippers. Among the key risks for shippers are reefers and dry cargo operating conditions, potential delays, and disruptions that can lengthen transport time. A container monitoring system allows you to check the status of individual containers, whether they are carrying refrigerated or dry cargo.

Traditional cargo monitoring approaches rely on individual carriers' capabilities or devices that only allow data access after completing a trip. These solutions are not always effective because they do not always allow for real-time monitoring and do not allow shippers to take proactive corrective actions to solve problems.

Another option is to subscribe to services from real-time sensor providers. Still, these are typically unlinked to container information, shipping milestones, or schedules, making determining cargo conditions difficult and time-consuming, especially when there are tens or hundreds of shipments in transit.

Table of Contents

1. An Introduction

2. IoT and blockchain: Technologies for global cargo tracking

3. The Internet of Things (IoT) Role in Cargo Monitoring

4. Unlock the Power of Real-time Visibility

5. Beyond the real-time monitoring of Cargo

6. Why use blockchain with IoT for cargo monitoring?

7. Patang - Real-Time Visibility and All-around Condition Monitoring of Cargo

IoT and blockchain: Technologies for global cargo tracking

Cutting-edge technological advancements have resulted in some significant developments. Hyper-automation is becoming a reality thanks to artificial intelligence and machine learning, and immersive technologies such as Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) will soon offer kinesthetic interfaces and multiple touchpoint experiences.

These emerging technologies are expected to provide far more than was anticipated a few years ago. They are disrupting traditional operational methodologies in various sectors and bringing about changes in logistics and supply chain businesses, particularly cargo visibility monitoring.

With more than 95 percent of all manufactured goods moved by the container at some point during their shipping lifecycle, the logistics and transportation sectors are among the most fertile ground for cutting-edge technologies.

Because of their remote monitoring and decentralization capabilities, the Internet of Things (IoT) and blockchain are expected to be game changers. While the former allows businesses to track the status and condition of the cargo transported, the latter establishes a secure and quick framework for digital contract storage and fast transactions.

Furthermore, both of these technologies complement and enhance the capabilities of the other. IoT establishes a vast network of interconnected devices, and blockchain enables data ingestion and sharing among these devices via a secure platform. Their combination provides the ideal solution for logistics companies to remotely manage their fleets, monitor cargo conditions, and ensure product delivery on time.

The Internet of Things (IoT) Role in Cargo Monitoring

IoT improves fleet operations by allowing companies to track the location and status of shipped cargo. The technology is especially useful for monitoring the location and condition of perishable cargo.

GPS and temperature sensors are attached to the freight, which tracks its location and condition. This information is routed through gateways to a platform where fleet operators and cargo handlers can track and manage shipments. They gain visibility into their transportation operations, allowing them to make informed decisions to improve supply chain efficiency and ensure product delivery on time.

Even as cargo is transferred from port to port, they will have critical information about the location and status of the products. The sensors will also assist them in managing vehicle movement based on demand and supply conditions, weather forecasts, route options, and the type of cargo transported. They can make wise decisions to keep the goods moving and view the cargo's live location on a computer or smartphone, allowing them to estimate when the shipment will arrive.

While the ETA is important to the recipient of perishable cargo, they also want the cargo to be fresh and undamaged when it arrives. Powered cargo monitoring systems allow handlers to ensure that the cargo is fresh until it reaches the customer. Airflow, temperature, humidity, and condensation can all be monitored in the container to provide the package is safe.

Unlock the Power of Real-time Visibility

Supply chain disruptions have high costs and consequences for manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers. Shippers need greater visibility to avoid the increasingly costly consequences of late shipments, unreported delays, detention, or other disruptions. Customers, too, expect real-time information on the status of their freight, including constant communication and in-transit updates about impending arrivals or delays.

Shippers can react when there is a risk of significantly disrupting fulfillment or delivery operations thanks to real-time transportation visibility combined with exception management and actionable analytics. According to Gartner's 2018 Macro Trends in TMS report, the top driver for companies surveyed was improved visibility.

Beyond the real-time monitoring of cargo

IoT can also be used for other purposes in the shipping process. A two-way interacting IoT solution could allow fleet managers to control some container functions remotely. For example, moisture, water, and condensation can damage the packing and lead to mold and bacteria growth.

Fleet managers could remotely control an evaporator installed in the cooling engine to remove condensation and moisture from the storage area and prevent product degradation without compromising the engine's cooling capacity.

IoT systems can also be used to prevent cargo theft from truck trailers. Weight monitoring sensors installed on the axle of a trailer can monitor cargo weight and share it with fleet operators. If the weight of the cargo falls unexpectedly, an alert could be sent to fleet handlers warning them of possible cargo theft.

Why use blockchain with IoT for cargo monitoring?

Most documentation in logistics businesses is still paper-based, and even with the implementation of IoT systems, it cannot be fully leveraged without including blockchain technology.

Blockchain enables the creation of smart Bill of Lading (BoL) documents that are digitally stored and shared with various cargo transfer parties. As a result, all parties can use data gathered from IoT sensors to determine whether the specified terms and conditions in the digital BoL are being followed. Furthermore, because blockchain stores data in a decentralized and immutable ledger, data cannot be manipulated once entered.

Parties will no longer need to use their credit cards to facilitate transactions because they can use their cryptocurrency wallets. As a result, standard paper-based operations are digitized, reducing contract physicality and operational costs associated with cargo supervision.

IoT and blockchain technologies provide incredible cargo monitoring and security applications. The market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 92.92 percent, from USD 113.1 million in 2019 to USD 3021 million by 2024.

Shippers and all other parties in the supply chain and global shipping ecosystem see what lies ahead for these technologies, and this transition and digitalization are already underway. Combining IoT and blockchain improves supply chain efficiency and allows fleet operators to manage cargo handling operations more efficiently.

Patang - Real-Time Visibility and All-around Condition Monitoring of Cargo

Patang analyses and harmonizes data from various sources such as sensors, IoT devices such as GPS modules, shipping schedules, vessel AIS data, and big data such as weather information. AI and machine learning are used to integrate all of these sources. Patang combines all of these inputs and informs shippers and other users of their shipments' exact location and condition.

Unlike other monitoring systems that suffered from data latency and delayed information – often after shipments arrive at their destination – Patang provides real-time communication with comprehensive condition monitoring.