Live tracking is not barcode scanning

When I started in transport and logistic, every logistic or transport providers were proud of having and using SSCC (Serial Shipping Container Code) to track their physical flow from warehouse picking operations to customer deliveries, but only when logistic providers were EDI connected with the shippers and were having the right information system to do it. Since then, last generation of TMS is now integrating some bricks of artificial intelligence (we have couple examples of failures these last 2 years but it's coming...) and are ready to offer to customers "Live tracking", but what are we really talking about? Are we saying that we have real time positioning of the cargo any time, any where ?

It's true but actually the costs occurred by real live tracking (any time, any where) are remaining too high to be considered and used for all cargo flow, for all industries, for all destinations. Trackers are mostly dedicated to assets management like wagons, cranes, containers or rented to specific providers (watch out the deposit amount) to make spot tracking actions for specific flow. Nevertheless the technology is already existing with GPRS, GPS, Sigfox, LoRAWAN, ... and ready to be used, it remains the question of the device to be used and the costs occurred considering that such device cost actually wavers between 38 USD to 384 USD.

In the meantime, all the global logistic providers are offering "FREE" tracking solutions, with a level of accuracy that is undoubtedly very variable as it will depends on the IS integrity, the connectivity within the network, the number of IS bridges to settle EDI communication, the number of intermediate steps, subcontractors, etc...so we are quite far from accurate live tracking. The phone is still the best tool to track cargo in a number of occasions if you cannot stand a certain latency or a certain uncertainty. Some will say it's a pure caricature, I'm sorry to say, it's not I had so many opportunities to verify that by myself working for the top 10 freight forwarders but things change and only idiots never change their mind so I decided to make a test, a live test with...trackers that I bought.

I made this experience with a famous express parcel service provider regarding a box of trackers that I bought and I asked my provider, a startup specialised in tracking, to activate one the trackers to follow my parcel. I was able to track the truck every 30 minutes from the shipper site to the airport and then the aircraft, from origin to Europe, I had the occasion to see that it went first to Milan Hub, then to Germany hub to finally arrive in Roissy CDG. Next day morning I saw that the parcel was in delivery and round 2 PM I received a message that the parcel was delivered ????!!!! I was quite astonished because I was this particular day at home, and I saw no driver. So I connected to the website to locate my parcel and had the pleasure to see all day long, my parcel travelling here and there with the driver that went home at 9:36 PM, what I mentioned to the customer service of this provider, curiously they asked me what was in the box ;) . Finally the day after I called the service provider and requested them to deliver my parcel asap but they claimed it was delivered and sent me a delivery note signed with a strange signature.... So, a bit annoyed of this ridiculous situation, I just told them where was the driver at the time and ask them to call him to check, what he confirmed... Strangely, I noticed on the real live tracking website that at 11:54 AM the parcel was finally delivered to....my neighbour with no valide signature still. Morality the tracking actually provided is partial and is definitely lacking of accuracy in between two status, two scanning, two operations....

But, as nature abhors a vacuum, some startup had the good idea to work on this particular topic to identify alternative options to offer affordable and efficient solutions considering the following constraints:

• Battery capacity
• Connectivity
• Geo-localicalization accuracy
• Device's cost
• Single use versus equipment rental
• Sustainability and eco responsibility

If you are not convinced or looking for a real live tracking solution, affordable and reliable, please contact me at info@marketlinkers.com.