In-transit tracking isn’t optional for shippers hoping to compete in a digital market. Years into the e-commerce boom, delivery expectations are on the rise. Retailers must provide one-click shipping, hourly updates, and last-mile delivery, all while ensuring quality and compliance with global trade policies. Oh, and can that be sent overnight?
Whatever results consumers expect, the demand for transparency and timeliness ultimately falls on the shipper. Transportation management systems (TMS) like HoneybeeTM TMS allow shippers to stay on top of in-transit shipments, tackle increasing expectations, and save themselves time, money, and logistics headaches.
Managing in-transit tracking
There’s rarely a one-size-fits-all solution for tracking goods in transit. The systems shippers use typically depend on each organization’s specific needs.
Some shippers manually enter tracking numbers into their own Bill of Lading (BOL) systems, collecting delivery receipts and packing slips for each shipment. Others hire third-party logistics (3PL) providers to automate shipment tracking documents. Shippers and 3PLs use tools to streamline in-transit tracking processes:
- A GPS to track shipments in real time.
- Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) to enable the exchange of tracking information.
- Barcode and Radio-frequency identification (RFID) provides detailed information about each shipment.
- Application Programming Interface (API) calls allow real-time communication between systems.
- Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) updates systems when a carrier picks up a shipment, delivers, or misses a pickup.
Using a combination of these tools is the best way to track shipments accurately and takes an integrated approach to execute that effectively.
In-transit tracking
Whether tracking shipments across the sea or sky, the likelihood of a package going rogue at some point is too high. In-transit tracking systems allow organizations to monitor shipments from start to finish—but they can also bring a complex process. In-transit tracking solutions need continuous access to delivery receipts and packing slips for any given product, and this requires a fully integrated tracking system.
Systems of in-transit record-keeping must also be able to accommodate missed pickups and other errors. When a carrier assigns a different tracking number than a system-generated one, can the system still find it? A robust transportation management system makes all the difference in tracking missing shipments, providing shipping visibility where—and when—it counts.
Multi-carrier solution for holistic in-transit tracking needs
Many tools are available to fulfill in-transit tracking needs—but a TMS provides the most flexible support. The best TMS is designed to be comprehensive and customizable. That’s why HoneybeeTM TMS can be tailored to each company, optimizing shipment tracking, fully integrating all transportation modes in real-time, and helping shippers use applications that meet their specific needs.
CTSI-Global works with Strategic Technology Partners, BI Analytics, Google, and more to provide all the visibility tools a shipper needs in one easy-to-use platform. With in-transit tracking tools made accessible directly through a multi-modal system, shippers can quickly find and use the solutions they need. This proprietary technology, combined with our 14,000+ carrier network, makes HoneyBeeTM TMS the leading global solution for in-transit tracking on the market.
Contact CTSI-Global today to talk about how you can streamline your in-transit tracking process.
