Track & Trace of Assets
Overview
Track and trace systems provide real-time or periodic updates for the current and historical locations of Containers, vehicles, or other property. Solutions can apply reckoning and reporting of the position of vehicles and Containers that store the tracked property of concern. For example, if it is known the one thousand objects are stored in a Container, it is more cost effective to track the Container than each individual object. However, high value individual objects can also be monitored directly. Wireless tags can be attached to objects with fixed reference points receiving wireless signals from tags to determine their location, as when a pallet is loaded onto a truck. Alternatively, GPS or another technology can track the object using satellite or cellular networks. Examples of real-time locating systems include Tracking products through an assembly line, locating pallets of merchandise in a warehouse, and tracking Containers as they move across warehouses. The physical layer is usually some form of Radio Frequency communication, but some systems use optical or acoustic technology.
Applicable Industries
- Automotive
- Construction & Buildings
Applicable Functions
- Discrete Manufacturing
- Maintenance
Market Size
The track and trace solutions market is projected to reach USD 3.93 billion by 2023 from USD 1.65 billion in 2018, at a CAGR of 18.9%.
Source: Markets & Markets
Case Studies.
Case Study
Expertech - Capital Tool Inventory
Costly tools used to splice fiber optic cables are an important part of Expertech’s operational and capitalized expenses, but the company did not have an automated system in place to track their tools and optimize their usage. The existing data in its tracking system was inaccurate and required manual updating, making it essential for the company to implement an efficient process to track and follow up on its capital tool inventory.
Case Study
CAT M1 custom antenna for asset trackers
In the summer of 2018, Viatrax started a new LTE design project for their new GPS Tracker for LTE Cat 1M. Radientum was chosen to design the multiband antenna for the device. Despite the challenges, the product came out as a success.The GPS tracker itself was designed by an engineering company Device Solutions based in Morrisville, North Carolina. Device Solutions and Radientum worked closely in liaison to deliver Viatrax with the best possible result.When starting the project, Viatrax engineers were pondering whether they should locate the antenna on the circuit board itself or create a trace antenna. The latter was a better, but at the same time more difficult task.– Everyone agreed it was going to be a challenge. We discussed with the folks at Radientum and they said they guarantee it will work. If not, they wouldn’t have charged us for the work, Viatrax Automation CEO Mike Webster says.– Radientum went back and forth with our design people to make adjustments. It turned out they did a really good job and the trace antenna solution will end up saving us a lot of money and parts.
