Suppose you have to ship a load from Dallas to Austin. You contacted a broker or a trucker, and they said OKAY, we will ship your load today. But your load didn’t reach Austin when it was supposed to be delivered on the same day. When you contacted them, they were like, “Hey! We are reaching in an hour,” and an hour later they were like, “Oh! Man, there is traffic here. We might have to step back and take a different route.”. It went the same way for another two days when they delivered the load. Pretty exhausting. Right?
But what if there is a way you could know if the company is lying or not and track the route they are taking? Well, you can!! By using real-time tracking tools to gather information. It will allow you to see and track where your load has reached currently and when it will be reaching the destination. Let us now see what real-time tracking is, why it is important, and what its benefits are.
What is Real-Time Tracking?
Real-time tracking in logistics refers to the ability to monitor the location and progress of shipments instantly as they move through the supply chain from origin to destination. Advanced tracking technology utilizes devices like GPS, RFID tags, and sensor data to capture updates on the movement and condition of cargo. These location updates are transmitted automatically to logistics operators and customers in real time via web and mobile applications.
Real-time tracking helps businesses see up-to-the-minute visibility into their goods shipment journey, revealing insights like current location, estimated time of arrival, delays, environmental conditions, and exceptions.
Why Real Time Tracking Is Important in the Logistics Industry?
With increasing customer demands for transparency and quick delivery times, real-time tracking of shipments has become an important factor. Real-time tracking allows companies to monitor the location and status of goods as they move through the supply chain. It provides up-to-date visibility to both logistics operators and customers on shipment milestones such as loading, transit, causes of shipping delays, and estimated time of arrival.
Further, businesses can avoid work stoppages or delays, which might affect their schedules. It is very helpful, especially for companies whose goods might be transported for several days before they reach the intended destination, and they may need to inform their receiving team of the location of their cargo.
Benefits of Real-Time Tracking
Real-time tracking for logistics operations offers invaluable benefits, including enhanced visibility and security, customer satisfaction, improved asset utilization, and reduced costs. It enables proactive decision-making, streamlines operations, and ultimately drives business growth and profitability. Let us now see each of the benefits in detail.
Accuracy and Efficiency
Real-time tracking provides accurate, up-to-date data on shipment locations and progress. This level of visibility allows logistics operators to proactively manage exceptions, remedy delays, and accurately predict arrival times. It eliminates wasted efforts from inaccuracies. The improved efficiency can optimize resource usage and lower operating costs.
Reliable Logistics Security
Businesses can monitor shipments to prevent cargo theft and damages, which are expensive issues. Any deviations from the planned transit route can be quickly detected and addressed. Emergency alerts improve response time in case of accidents. The technology provides a tamper-proof record of the shipment journey, adding an extra layer of security.
Enhanced Customer Satisfaction
Customers benefit from complete transparency in order status. They can check shipment progress at any time, which improves communication. Unforeseen delays or damages are reduced as issues are resolved pre-emptively. Faster resolution of complaints and queries enhances the customer experience. Customers can depend on reliably estimated delivery timelines, leading to higher satisfaction levels.
Improved Decision Making
Data from real-time tracking provides valuable business intelligence and insights. Logistics operators can identify inefficiencies, plan resources optimally, and implement process improvements based on automated reports and exception alerts. It helps deliver better performance through collaborative evidence-based decisions.
Lower Costs
3PL companies can optimize their logistics operations by effectively providing detailed insights into their shipment routes and schedules. This optimization leads to reduced fuel consumption, minimization of unnecessary stops, and avoidance of costly delays.
Efficient route planning and timely deliveries contribute to cost savings, making real-time tracking an essential tool for businesses aiming to enhance efficiency and profitability.
Competitive Edge Over Others
Offering shipment tracking to customers can provide a competitive advantage over other companies that do not offer this feature. Companies should install an improved delivery system, which should include installing a tracker so that customers are well-informed of their updates regarding delivery.
Conclusion
Reliable real-time tracking and shipment information are crucial aspects of the 3PL logistics company. Real-time tracking helps businesses identify inefficiencies and bottlenecks and helps them reduce overall costs and increase transparency. It also helps businesses in enhancing their security and providing real-time tracking information. So, before hiring any logistics provider in the US, make sure that they provide real-time shipment tracking.