The Best Container Tracking Software for Complete Supply Chain Transparency

Report

Real-time and automated container tracking software solutions are transforming the maritime industry by delivering unparalleled visibility and transparency throughout a container’s journey, helping entities remain compliant, avoid penalties, and preserve their reputation via efficient container monitoring.

Körber‘s 2023 State of Shipping and Returns Survey underscores the importance of such visibility. This study found that 70% of consumers experienced shipping delays, with 35% stating no one had explained the delays to them. These findings highlight the critical role of enhanced container tracking in improving communication, managing expectations, and ultimately strengthening customer trust.

Why Automated Container Tracking Software Is Essential for Modern Maritime Operations

Container tracking presents an innovative and groundbreaking opportunity for industry stakeholders to fulfil customer requirements, preempt unforeseen delays, enhance transparency, and establish accountability.

For instance, by using Pole Star Global’s PurpleTRAC container tracking solution, you can access real-time information regarding container movements and compliance assessments for transpaency, and establish a comprehensive audit trail for improved accountability. And to access all of this, you simply need a container number.

This guide explains the importance of automated real-time container tracking systems, with a detailed account of how such systems work, and outlines the distinct advantages of integrating these systems within maritime operations. You’ll also learn how to use container tracking software to identify port congestion and assess port efficiency.

What is Container Tracking?

Container tracking employs technology to monitor the whereabouts and condition of shipping containers throughout their journey, from their point of origin until they reach their final destination. The primary objective is to help organisations anticipate supply chain challenges and prevent potential delays, while also ensuring compliance and accountability.

The concept of container tracking encompasses both basic manual tracking methods and advanced automated solutions that furnish real-time insights regarding a container’s progression through the supply chain.

Leading the field is Pole Star Global’s container tracking solution, PurpleTRAC, which furnishes dynamic, up-to-the-minute container information across 165+ carriers (which is the maximum in the industry) and 1800+ watchlists. This encompasses comprehensive reports detailing a container’s port visits, precise arrival times, involved vessels, ownership particulars, and alerts for potential breaches of sanctions tied to shipments linked with the container. This methodology delivers a holistic overview of the container’s journey, encompassing loading, unloading, and any transhipment events to streamline inspections. Additionally, access to PDF reports that outline the container’s port visits and exact arrival times ensures a thorough and traceable audit trail.

Plus, if you’re not sure which container to choose, our PurpleTRAC software comes with an auto-detect carrier feature. Track containers by selecting the auto-detect carrier option, or simply skip this step and submit the container number on its own. PurpleTRAC will still screen the carrier.

PurpleTRAC: Getting Started with Container Tracking Software Solution

Complete the form below to learn more about PurpleTRAC’s container tracking software solution.


How do Container-Tracking Software Solutions Work?

Container tracking software works by collecting and analysing real-time data from multiple sources, such as shipping carriers, port terminals, and ship tracking technology to monitor the location, status, and movement of shipping containers throughout their journey. The software integrates track-and-trace data with vessel information, port calls, and compliance screening to provide a comprehensive view of each container’s progress. Users can view estimated and actual timestamps for key events such as loading, unloading, and transhipment, while also receiving alerts related to route changes, delays, or potential sanctions risks. By automating this process, container tracking software helps logistics teams improve visibility, reduce manual tracking errors, enhance regulatory compliance, and respond quickly to disruptions across global supply chains.

From Concept to Practice: PurpleTRAC as a Leading Container Tracking Tool

Pole Star Global‘s PurpleTRAC container tracking software solution screens containers by combining track-and-trace data from carriers with vessel, company, and location screening. This process creates a real-time snapshot of the container’s risk profile.

Carriers provide Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) values based on their schedules and confirm the actual timestamps as the journey progresses. As the container moves through its route, PurpleTRAC updates estimated events with actual timestamps. The system may also detect new vessel alerts that did not appear during the initial screening.

PurpleTRAC’s container tracking software provides:

  • Full screening of all vessels in the container journey
  • Severity statuses of ports, plus the origin and destination (if any), based on the customer’s blacklist settings
  • Compliance status of the carrier + watchlists (if any)
  • A detailed journey schedule
  • Downloadable container reports (PDF)

Pole Star Global’s PurpleTRAC container tracking solution gives a portrait of container movements between loading and unloading points, yielding more precise Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) predictions for the global array of container vessels. All you need to access this information is a container number.

What are the Benefits of Container Tracking Software Solutions?

Container tracking software solutions benefit stakeholders in different ways, as discussed:

  • Shippers: By using container tracking solutions, shippers can monitor inventory movement, pinpoint bottlenecks, and access accurate ETAs to share with customers. This visibility enables them to address delays promptly, ensuring more reliable delivery of goods.
  • Banks and financial institutions: By tracking the ETAs for containers, financial departments can mitigate the risk of financial setbacks by knowing when to issue or claim payment for import and export transactions. Container tracking solutions produce instant verification of container shipping documentation and automated sanctions screening of all vessels, ports, and shipping companies that will handle the cargo from end to end. Such solutions allow banks and financial institutions to save money spent on 3rd party services, while also saving them time. Financial institutions can also automate and scale up their trade finance processes and identify fraudulent shipments.
  • Customers: Accurate information is given on the ETA of goods, and reasons for delays are stated, improving customer satisfaction. With this information, customers can better plan by knowing when to expect the arrival of goods.
  • Governments and port authorities: Containers are commonly used for smuggling illicit goods. For instance, according to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, most of the cocaine seized in the EU has been transported by sea via maritime shipping containers. Hence, governments and port authorities must maintain complete transparency regarding the entities, ships, and cargo under their jurisdiction. This transparency enables the detection of suspicious activities prior to the arrival of illicit goods at their ports. Ultimately, this information can provide real-time backing for border control, customs, and law enforcement endeavours.

While individual stakeholders benefit directly, container tracking software also drives systemic improvements across global trade. With an estimated 226 million containers shipped annually, the scale of impact is significant. According to the World Shipping Council, the average number of containers lost at sea between 2020–2022 was 2,301 per year, but this dropped dramatically to 661 in 2022. Such progress reflects innovations in tracking technology that have improved visibility and reduced losses.

Key operational benefits include:

  1. Real-Time Insights: Easily keep an eye on your shipments by following your containers in space and their status in real-time. Full transparency is given, meaning you’ll know when your containers are loaded and unloaded onto different vessels at different ports.
  2. Efficient Supply Chains: Container tracking software details where inventory is located, and will warn you about possible delays or early arrivals. In doing so, bottlenecks and inefficiencies are identified to drive operational efficiency, reduce costs, and create smoother shipping processes.
  3. Full Transparency for Optimised Management: Automated container tracking will notify you instantaneously of containers facing critical delays and of those being transported ahead of schedule. Such transparency enables you to focus your efforts on containers that require immediate attention.
  4. Reduced Shipping Costs: Use the transparency given by container tracking software to optimise routes, avoid congested ports, and enhance the accuracy of Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) measures. Accurate ETAs will mitigate unnecessary detention and demurrage charges given to the owner of a chartered ship on failure to load or discharge the ship within the time agreed. In doing so, shipping costs are reduced.

Which is Better Manual Container Tracking or Automated Container Tracking

1. Manual Container Tracking

  • What it is: Relies on human input and paper-based or spreadsheet systems to log container movements. Updates are made manually at each checkpoint (loading, unloading, customs, storage).
  • Pros:
    • Low upfront cost (no expensive software or hardware required).
    • Simple to implement for small operations or low-volume logistics.
    • Flexible for unusual or one-off scenarios.
  • Cons:
    • High error risk, for instance, tracking technology is prone to human mistakes in logging dates, locations, or IDs.
    • Slow updates meaning tracking information can lag behind real-time movements.
    • Limited visibility as it’s difficult to get a consolidated, accurate overview.
    • Inefficient for scale due to labour demands as container volumes grow.
  • Best for: Small businesses or local shipping where few containers are involved, and operations with low complexity and less stringent tracking requirements.

2. Automated Container Tracking

  • What it is: Uses technology like GPS, RFID, IoT sensors, or cloud software to track containers in real-time. Data is automatically updated and often integrated into supply chain management systems.
  • Pros:
    • Real-time visibility meaning you know exactly where containers are at any time.
    • High accuracy with minimal human error.
    • Efficiency due to reduced manual labour and administrative overhead.
    • Data analytics enables route optimisation, predictive maintenance, and better supply chain decisions.
    • Scalable meaning software works well with hundreds or thousands of containers.
  • Cons:
    • Higher initial investment (hardware, software, training).
    • Dependence on technology, where there could be failures in sensors, connectivity, or the software, causing disruptions.
    • May require ongoing subscription or maintenance costs.
  • Best for: Large shipping companies or global supply chains. Operations needing precise, real-time tracking for regulatory compliance or customer transparency. Businesses are seeking to optimise logistics costs and efficiency.

Conclusion:

  • Manual Tracking: Is cost-effective, simple, but slow and error-prone. Good for small-scale operations.
  • Automated Tracking: Faster, more accurate, and scalable, but more expensive upfront. Ideal for medium to large operations or companies prioritising efficiency and real-time visibility.

Rule of thumb: If your container volume is growing or you need real-time insights, automation pays off in accuracy and efficiency. For small-scale, low-risk operations, manual tracking might still suffice, but comes with accuracy risks.

To understand the true value of automated container tracking technology, consider the following journey a typical shipping container goes through:

  • The container departs from the Port of Loading (POL) aboard vessel A;
  • The container is transferred to a transhipment hub;
  • The container is unloaded at the transhipment hub;
  • The container is then reloaded onto another vessel, let’s call this vessel B.
  • Vessel B will transport the container to its final destination, otherwise known as the Port of Departure (POD).

Sometimes a container will stop at multiple transhipment hubs. Transhipments are necessary when there’s no direct link, or links aren’t cost-effective, between the POL and POD. Other reasons for a transhipment are that the POD is unavailable due to external factors or the POD can’t handle vessels of a certain size.

When a transhipment takes place, there’s the risk that containers will get lost or delayed during unloading and loading periods. These delays might stem from scenarios such:

  • Port Congestion: When a seaport experiences an excessive and often unexpected accumulation of vessels, then ships must wait longer than expected to load and unload cargo. This leads to delays in the arrival, departure, loading, and/or unloading times of goods. Port congestion typically occurs when the port’s infrastructure, facilities, equipment, or labour resources are insufficient to handle the volume of incoming or outgoing vessels efficiently. Factors contributing to port congestion can include high import/export volumes, inadequate infrastructure, labour disputes, inefficient logistics, adverse weather conditions, and other logistical challenges. Port congestion can disrupt supply chains, increase shipping costs, and lead to delays in the movement of goods, impacting both trade and economies.
  • Rollover Errors: A container isn’t loaded onto the designated vessel
  • Transhipment Delay: The scheduled transhipment will take place later than initially planned.
  • Late Departure: The vessel departed from the POL later than the scheduled time.
  • Short Transhipment Buffer: There’s a high risk that the transhipment won’t be completed as scheduled due to a narrow transhipment window.
  • No Vessel Allocation: At the POL or TSP, no vessel has been assigned to load the container(s).
  • Unfeasible Journey: Carrier-provided estimated transit times are too brief, meaning ETAs are unlikely to be achieved.

When delays such as the above occur, freight forwarders, beneficial cargo owners (BCOs), importers, and exporters are forced to act as investigators to understand exactly what has caused the delay.

To support this process, real-time container tracking empowers organisations to take immediate action through real-time transparency. Whether this involves addressing rollovers or managing tight transhipment schedules more effectively, by providing real-time visibility and automated alerts at every stage of the process, stakeholders are given time to take the necessary corrective action, adopting proactive management. Consider Pole Star Global as an example here. Through Pole Star Global’s PurpleTRAC container tracking feature, full transparency is given over the reasons for a container’s delay, removing the need for time-consuming, manual detective work.

Manual Container Tracking Processes Are Prone to Error and Slow

Before the introduction of automated container-tracking software, shipping companies relied on manual methods to monitor container locations. They depended on periodic updates from ports, often waiting for information to appear on port websites.

Carriers then had to check these sites to see which vessels had arrived and manually update the data for freight forwarders or shippers. Any issues had to be communicated directly by carriers, creating a slow, error-prone process. This reliance on manual updates frequently led to delays, inaccuracies, and communication breakdowns, leaving customers with incomplete or unreliable information.

Container Tracking Software Offers an Innovative and Accurate Solution

In light of these shortcomings, to remain competitive, entities today are utilising automated processes for tracking shipping containers. By improving transparency and through automation, container tracking software solutions give clarity on delays, preventing delays from happening in the first place with more proactive management, which in turn, reduces fees and penalties – most notably detention and demurrage charges.

  • Detention charges: Charges applied to the merchant for the use of the container outside of the terminal or depot beyond the agreed time period.
  • Demurrage charges: Charges applied to the merchant for the use of the container within the terminal beyond the agreed time period.


It’s important to note that any given delay in one area of a container’s journey will have a domino effect and could cause further delays in the rest of the journey. For instance, a short transhipment buffer could cause a rollover delay. The container is then slow to leave the TSP, and this late departure results in a later time of arrival at the POL.

Tracking Container Milestones Using Container Tracking Software

Advanced container tracking solutions provide complete visibility into the key milestones a container reaches throughout its journey, including:

  1. When a container has been loaded at the POL, and if there is a FOB agreement. At this juncture, the formal exchange of the cargo occurs, and the shipper obtains payment. Container tracking solutions keep track of this handover of responsibilities, meaning timely payment for the shipper.
  2. When a container arrives at the TSP for better management of land transportation and improved warehouse staffing. Staff are then free to complete more critical tasks and know when and how to scale.
  3. The monitoring of critical dates such as the ATA and the ATD, to validate late fee invoices. This way, detention and demurrage charges are avoided, and any inaccurate charges can be investigated.

With these real-time updates, shippers and freight forwarders don’t have to rely on other inaccurate sources.

Using Container Tracking Software to Assess Port Congestion and Port Efficiency

Two important factors that can determine whether a container will be delayed are the overall port efficiency (or turnover time) and port congestion. In this final section of this guide, we explain how you can use container tracking software, such as Pole Star Global’s PurpleTRAC solution, to manage these risks.

Using Real-Time Container Tracking Solutions to Measure Port Efficiency

The quicker the turnaround time at TSPs, the more efficient the port is, and the lower the likelihood that delays will occur.

Container tracking solutions detail the time a container arrived at a port and the time the container left the port. Analysing port call durations reveals the average time a ship spends in a particular port. Longer turnover times indicate decreased efficiency.

Port efficiency can then be used to predict how long a container will take to leave the POL before arriving at the final POD. Note that when predicting this, you need visibility over the entire fleet of container vessels in line before you – and their container shipping status – as this will determine the level of port congestion.

Using Real-Time Container Tracking Solutions to Identify Congested Ports

Assessing port congestion is often simplified by counting the number of ships waiting outside the port. However, this approach can be misleading. For instance, it overlooks ships that intentionally slow down on their route to save fuel or due to congestion concerns. A more accurate measure would be to assess transit times, as we do here at Pole Star, which involves tracking when a ship exits the geofenced zone of its departure port, and when the ship enters the geofenced zone of its destination port.

For instance, transit times from China to the US West Coast ports peaked at 50 days in December 2021 and decreased to 32 days in August 2022. This change reflects the increased wait times for ships to dock in December 2021. Whether ships waited outside the port or sailed more slowly to manage congestion, considering transit times gives a more comprehensive view.

Using Pole Star’s PurpleTRAC container tracking software solution, you can analyse data from the waiting area, transit times, and port call durations. Using this information, it becomes possible to accurately gauge whether port congestion is worsening or improving.

Use Pole Star’s PurpleTRAC Container Tracking Software for Enhanced Maritime Visibility and Accountability

The emergence of real-time container tracking software solutions represents a transformative shift in the maritime industry, ushering in a new era of visibility, transparency, and accountability throughout the container journey. The increasing complexities of global trade demand innovative approaches to address delays, inefficiencies, and compliance issues. Container tracking software, exemplified by solutions like Pole Star Global’s PurpleTRAC, not only addresses these challenges but also empowers industry stakeholders to take proactive measures that optimise operations, reduce costs, and enhance customer satisfaction.

Such solutions cater to a range of stakeholders – from shippers and financial institutions to governments and customers – offering them a means of streamlining operations, identifying inefficiencies, and maintaining compliance with increased confidence.

In this ever-evolving landscape, automated container tracking stands as a pivotal advancement that not only mitigates the risks and challenges associated with transhipments and delays but also ushers in an era of data-driven decision-making. By embracing these cutting-edge solutions, stakeholders across the maritime industry can optimise their operations, enhance supply chain management, and navigate the seas of global trade with heightened visibility and unprecedented accountability.

Understanding Container Shipping Tracking: Glossary

  • Port of landing (POL): The Port of Loading (POL) refers to the specific harbour or terminal where cargo, including containers, is loaded onto a vessel for transportation. It’s the initial point within a logistics chain where goods are packed onto a ship for export. The POL is crucial in the shipping process as it marks the origin of the cargo’s voyage, and it’s where the documentation and handling of goods typically begins.
  • Port of departure (POD): The Port of Departure (POD) is the designated harbour or terminal where cargo, including containers, is unloaded from a vessel upon reaching its destination. It signifies the endpoint within a logistics chain where goods are discharged from the ship after their journey. The POD is a pivotal component of the shipping process, representing the final stage of transportation, and it’s associated with customs clearance, cargo handling, and delivery to the intended recipient or onward transportation.
  • Actual time of arrival (ATA): The Actual Time of Arrival (ATA) refers to the precise moment when a vessel reaches its designated destination or port. It’s the exact time a container physically arrives at the predetermined location – as opposed to any estimated or projected arrival times. ATA is a crucial parameter in logistics and transportation management, helping organisations schedule tracking, coordinate operations, and assess the efficiency of transport services.
  • Actual time of departure (ATD): The Actual Time of Departure (ATD) refers to the precise moment when a vessel begins its journey from a specific location, such as a port, terminal, or point of origin. It’s the exact time a container departs – as opposed to any estimated or projected departure times. ATD is a significant parameter in logistics and transportation management, helping to track schedules, synchronise operations, and evaluate the efficiency of transportation services.
  • Free on Board (FOB): A freight on board agreement, otherwise known as a Free on Board (FOB), is an international commercial law term published by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). Two main types of FOB agreements exist:
    • FOB Origin – indicates that the buyer assumes responsibility for the goods and shipping costs from the moment these goods leave the seller’s location;
    • FOB Destination – is a shipping arrangement where the seller remains responsible for the goods and shipping costs until they reach the buyer’s designated location.

Hence, these agreements define ownership, responsibility, and risk during transportation.

  • Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA): Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) refers to the projected time when a ship, container, or shipment is expected to reach its designated destination. It’s calculated by considering factors like distance, vessel speed, weather conditions, and potential delays.
  • Estimated Time of Departure (ETD): Estimated Time of Departure (ETD) refers to the anticipated time when a vessel, container, or shipment is scheduled to depart from its current location or port of origin. ETD is a critical piece of information for coordinating loading, customs clearance, and logistical operations to ensure timely departure.
  • Geofencing port areas: Geofencing port areas involves creating virtual geographic boundaries around specific port locations using GPS or RFID technology. This digital perimeter enables authorities to monitor and control the movement of vessels, vehicles, and cargo within designated areas. Geofencing can help enhance security, streamline operations, and enforce regulations by triggering alerts or actions when objects enter or exit these predefined zones – such as container carrier ships – allowing for efficient management of port activities and resources.
  • Port calls: A port call refers to the scheduled arrival, stay, and departure of a ship or vessel at a seaport (as defined by the geofenced port areas). During a port call, various activities take place, including loading and unloading cargo, refuelling, crew changes, maintenance, and regulatory inspections. Efficient management of port calls is crucial for optimising maritime operations, minimising turnaround times, and ensuring the timely movement of goods and vessels in and out of ports.
  • Port waiting areas: A port waiting area is a designated space within a port where ships and vessels wait before they can access the docking facilities or proceed to load or unload cargo. This area allows port authorities to manage the flow of incoming vessels, ensuring they are efficiently processed and allocated a berth or dock space. Port waiting areas play a crucial role in regulating maritime traffic, optimising port operations, and preventing congestion at the dockside.
  • Transhipment port (TSP): A transhipment port (TSP) is a location within a logistics network where cargo is transferred from one transportation vessel, such as a ship, to another. The aim is to get the cargo to its final destination. These intermediate ports facilitate the movement of goods between different modes of transport, optimising shipping routes and increasing efficiency. TSPs play a crucial role in global trade by enabling the consolidation and distribution of goods across various shipping routes.