Tracking and tracing

In logistics, tracking and tracing is the concept of locating property that is being forwarded from an origin to a destination through various hubs and passing along spokes, and determining the location and other status of such object.

Usually this concept is supported by means of reckoning and reporting of the position of the vehicles transporting containers with the object in real-time. This approach leaves the task to compose a coherent depiction of the status reports.

Another approach is to report the arrival or departure of the object and recording the identification of the object, the location where observed, the time, and the status, e.g. on damage or loading. This approach leaves the task to verify the reports regarding consistency and completeness. An example of this method might be the package tracking provided by shippers, such as United Parcel Service or FedEx.

See also