The online container tracking system has become a necessity in modern freight forwarding operations. 75% of supply chain professionals believe that visibility is a must-have. It is not just about meeting the industry standards. It is also a great way to gain a competitive edge. That is why more businesses and supply chains prioritize visibility and transparency, recognizing them as game changers in the ever-competitive freight market.
Online container tracking helps these supply chains monitor their freight or cargo during shipping. This way, they are always in the loop throughout the process. However, it is important to get the tracking right. In this article, we will explore some ways to do that.
Why is Online Container Tracking Important?
Online container or ocean tracking allows freight businesses to ensure their clients (supply chains and companies) are current on the cargo shipping processes and operations. This way, the clients and freight forwarders can achieve the following:
Improved Logistics and Supply Chain Planning
Knowing the whereabouts of the cargo or shipment in real-time, including the location, destination, and estimated time of arrival, allows the freight business and customers to effectively plan other aspects of the logistics and supply chain operations. This will typically include inventory and last-mile delivery.
Seamless Communication
Online container tracking allows for seamless communication between all parties involved in the freight operation. This includes shippers, carriers, freight forwarders, and consumers. With seamless communication, they can share relevant and accurate information with each other. It also allows them to facilitate the entire process seamlessly because all parties know what to expect. Seamless communication also necessitates fewer calls.
Risk Mitigation
Through the visibility and transparency that online container tracking provides, businesses can quickly identify potential disruptions to the entire freight or shipping process. This way, these businesses or parties involved can quickly take measures that allow them to mitigate the risk or avoid it altogether. Such a risk could include pirates and Houthis on the Red Sea or delays on the Panama Canal.
Improved Decision Making
Online container tracking provides freight businesses with access to useful insights across the shipping operation. These insights are observations that the freight businesses can leverage to improve the entire shipping operation. It also simplifies the shipping process for their clients and customers.
Guide to Online Container Tracking
80% of the international trade is covered by marine or ocean shipping, making ocean container tracking a critical aspect of global supply chain operations. Today, freight forwarding operations cannot afford to opt out of shipment tracking, thanks to the express need for visibility and transparency from all the parties involved.
However, being on top of real-time container location could be a problem for many freight forwarders and shipping operations, especially while relaying that information to the shippers and end consumers. Here, we explore how to get online container tracking right.
Choose The Right Platform
Shipment tracking in real time begins with choosing the right tracking platform. You want a platform that offers seamless solutions to effectively track the shipment. This way, you can have access to relevant information on time and when you need it.
The right platform must be user-friendly and provide access to real-time updates throughout the shipping process. This means the chosen platform should allow the user (whether freight forwarders, shippers, or carriers) to interact with it seamlessly. The platform must provide updates through notifications and alerts.
This will ensure access to relevant information when necessary. Choosing the right platform will enhance total transparency and allow users to take necessary steps to ensure the continuity of the entire supply chain operation. In many cases, these platforms can also provide information for container tracking across several shipping lines.
Provide All Necessary Information
Choosing the right platform is great, but the platform will need all the necessary details to help with the shipment or ocean tracking. Some of these details or documentation include a bill of lading, booking number, container number, and any other relevant documentation required.
These platforms require this information to understand what the user intends to track and then leverage it to provide data for tracking the containers and shipments. Providing the necessary information allows the company to streamline the information it provides its users. Which, in turn, makes it easier for users or companies to understand and leverage it.
The shipment status and other relevant information are made available after the users enter or fill in the required information.
Track Container Status
After entering the details or information required, the tracking platform will showcase the information on your shipment, including prior location, current position, and estimated arrival at its destination. The platform can also be set up to provide notifications and alerts for future information, such as when the shipment gets to a new location or process in the shipment tracking operation.
Track the milestones throughout the shipping process -- from its origin, time spent at the intermediate ports, the next ports, shipping lines servicing the freight, and any major or minor delays expected. Tracking and understanding these milestones will give you an insight into the shipping operation, and it can help identify any pattern, wrong process, or potential delays in the entire shipping process.
Tracking the milestones is how the supply chain can mitigate risks. It allows for effective planning and inquiry. The platform may need to consider port congestion, but by monitoring the milestones and reviewing other information, the shipper or freight forwarder has a better insight into the logistics process.
Communicate With Stakeholders
It is essential to communicate the following information with stakeholders as soon as it is accessed. This keeps the stakeholders in the loop and enables them to plan the rest of their logistics process effectively.
Communication allows for the effective and seamless flow of information throughout the entire freight forwarding process. This is what makes the process effective. Because all stakeholders have access to and leverage it to ensure that other aspects of the logistics and supply chain processes carry on without a hiccup.
Resolve Issues Immediately
If there are any issues with the online container tracking, it is essential to report it through the available channels provided by the platform. Issues could include a lack of complete information, suspected wrong information, or discrepancies.
Prompt reporting will often lead to prompt resolution if you choose the right tracking platform and technology for the freight operation.
Why Terminal49 Is The Right Online Container Tracking Platform
Terminal49 is the premier provider of container tracking data for the North American import supply chain. The platform streamlines data across shipping lines, marine terminals, rail carriers, and vessels into one easy-to-use dashboard and data pipeline.
This way, your business can access all the relevant data, track all your shipments, and share them seamlessly with all stakeholders in the shipping operation by leveraging the platform's API integrations. Terminal49 covers every mile, ensuring end-to-end visibility of your container status.
Tracking and tracing the whole process is more straightforward with Terminal49. You can access instant shipment data, current status and terminal availability, real-time exception notifications, and all the essential tools to improve efficiency.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What information do I need to track my container online?
For a seamless container tracking experience, it's crucial to have the following documentation and information readily available: Bill of lading number or BL number, unique identifier number for the container, and in some cases, the booking number or container number. These are typically 11-digit alphanumeric codes.
2. Where can I track my container online?
There are typically two options if you want to track your shipment online. They are container line websites and third-party tracking websites like Terminal49.
3. What information does online tracking typically show?
Online container tracking will typically provide you with the current location of the containers (which could be at the port or sea), the previous locations, transit times, and the estimated time of arrival.
4. How can online container tracking benefit my business?
Online container tracking provides visibility and transparency into your shipments. This allows you to monitor shipment movement and effectively plan and manage the logistics operation. It also allows you to monitor progress, anticipate delays, and make informed decisions. All these can help improve operational efficiency.
