A Review on Indoor and Outdoor Tracking for Returnable Assets in the Supply Chain

This paper presents a comprehensive review of asset tracking technologies, focusing on both indoor and outdoor tracking solutions for assets. The study explores various technologies used in supply chain industries with a particular emphasis on returnable transport items (RTIs) like pallets and containers. The review begins by examining indoor tracking technologies, followed by an exploration of outdoor tracking solutions. Each technology is evaluated based on its features, advantages, and limitations. The review compares traditional Global Positioning System (GPS) technology with emerging Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) solutions, considering key factors such as accuracy, power consumption, range, scalability, and cost-effectiveness. Given the significance of power consumption for RTIs, the paper emphasizes LPWAN technologies. Additionally, it investigates the use of blockchain for securing supply chain operations and discusses the benefits of integrating blockchain into supply chain management. Lastly, the paper addresses the challenges of implementing these technologies within the supply chain industry.