Asset Tracking in the Logistics Industry

Asset and cargo tracking is a process that helps in tracking and tracing the movement of assets or cargo during the warehousing, retail or transportation stages of delivery – literally any step in the supply chain journey.  It's a critical part of supply management in which the use of technology has helped in various aspects. Utilizing many new technologies such as IoT (internet of things) devices and cloud computing has made it possible to keep tabs on assets or cargo more efficiently and in real-time.

Knowing the location and status of these assets not only helps you to monitor them better but also helps you to take precautions in case something goes wrong. Here are a few of the latest technologies we can employ to help us understand the current position of our high-value assets at any given time.

RFID tags: Radio frequency identification (RFID) tags are small and inexpensive, making them ideal for tracking items of any size or importance.

RFID is a wireless non-contact system that uses electromagnetic fields to transfer data between an RFID reader and an RFID tag. It can be either passive or active and can be read from several feet away. Active tags are powered by a battery, while passive tags derive their power from the signal received by the reader. RFID tags are also used in access control systems, library books and some consumer products like clothing or toys.

Barcodes: Most of us will recognize a barcode when we see one as they're used for a multitude of functions. It's a series of lines and spaces that represent data encoded in a machine-readable format. Barcodes are used to store information about the object they're attached to and can be read by a scanner. They're often printed on labels that can be scanned by an optical scanner or mobile phone camera, or etched into the surface of a product for permanent identification. The use cases for barcodes are only growing as they become more advanced.

GPS: GPS relies on a constellation of satellites to provide location and time information. These machines continuously transmit messages containing timing and position data. These reports are typically very accurate and are sent at regular intervals from each satellite. The GPS receiver uses these communications to calculate an asset's position, speed and direction.

Perle drives automotive innovation

Perle is a leading transportation and asset-tracking equipment technology company. We're dedicated to increasing the efficiency, safety and cost-effectiveness of our systems – and yours. Our device servers and terminal servers enable a diverse range of equipment to maximize asset and cargo tracking technology in the automotive and logistics industries.