The paper was presented at the International Logistics Conference “Logistics 2002 – Flexible supply chains – concepts, experiences, challenges”. Poznań, May 14-15, 2002.
eLogicity International Pte Ltd (eLogicity) is an independent “fourth-party” (4PL) service provider, focusing its activities on global track and trace (T&T) solutions for cargo (containers and vehicles) during transit.
In 2000, strategic partners P&O Ports Ltd and PSA International Pte Ltd invested in eLogicity to develop tracking systems covering Asia, America, Europe, and the rest of the world.
In its central nerve center, eLogicity automatically collects current and reliable information that allows owners to locate their cargo at any point in the supply chain. Data comes from two sources: strategic readers placed along the supply chain that receive signals sent by our RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags attached to the cargo, and EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) transmissions distributed by terminal operators worldwide.
Recognizing that cooperation is a necessary condition for survival in a changing business environment, and with the benefits for cargo owners in mind, eLogicity has created an extensive network of terminals (Global Terminal Network Alliance) covering over 200 seaports and inland ports around the world.
With the cooperation of all supply chain participants (from cargo owners, through freight forwarders and shipping companies, to terminal operators), eLogicity opens a common platform where all participants work together to use the synergy effect to generate savings and added value for customers.
The “VISA for the seas” concept
A brief historical outline; our industry has already experienced periods of growth and decline of many applications that attempted to satisfy all types of needs. In the 1960s and 1970s, a wave of standalone, in-house applications appeared, which evolved into ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems integrating all applications operating within an enterprise. In the 1990s, the growing process of globalization forced companies to extend the reach of their systems beyond the enterprise boundaries. We owe to this the birth of supply chain management applications, which, along with CRM (Customer Relationship Management) solutions, were intended not only to streamline internal company operations but also to serve as a communication bridge with external suppliers, business partners, and customers. However, a certain kind of vacuum could not be eliminated. Planning will not be effective without timely feedback. Cargo owners often ask the following three questions:
a) Where is my cargo?
b) How can I minimize inventory?
c) How can I effectively react to a change in the situation when goods are stopped or damaged?
The next wave will clearly bring the satisfaction of the demand for a feedback mechanism that will provide current information about cargo moving along the supply chain.
Challenges related to transport security
After the aerial terrorist attacks, many people began to ask themselves, “Are the seas equally susceptible to similar attacks?” US Customs Commissioner Robert C. Bonner called for the development of new technologies, such as electronic seals, which would inform the appropriate authorities about attempts to access cargo that has been cleared and deemed secure during transit.
eSeal™ is a patented eLogicity product that helps secure cargo and provides real-time visibility of cargo movements along the supply chain. At first glance, eSeal™ acts like a conventional lock on a container door. It is installed on the container at the beginning of the journey and removed only after reaching the final destination. To protect against potential copying or malfeasance, each eSeal™ has a unique serial number and is not reusable after being removed from the container. In addition to its cargo security function, eSeal™ also acts as a tracking device that allows for cargo location during transport. eSeal™ sends RFID signals to sensors installed at critical points along the supply chain (for example, the point of departure from the factory or entry to a terminal). Information is automatically captured and transmitted electronically to authorized entities (such as freight forwarders, terminal operators, shipping companies). As long as the eSeal™ remains intact, a “normal” signal is sent to the readers, which means that “everything is fine” with the cargo during transit. However, if someone has tampered with the eSeal (e.g., by breaking the seal), an alarm message (a “tampered” signal) equipped with information about the time of the event will be sent to authorized carrier personnel, as well as, for example, customs authorities.
Full article in PDF format.