What Are Returnable Assets?

Returnable assets, also known as reusable assets or returnable transport items, are packaging materials that can be used multiple times throughout the supply chain process. These include containers, bins, crates, pallets, custom transportation frames, and more. Globally, billions of these assets are in circulation, moving across countries and continents or within single regions. Their primary role is to package, protect, and transport physical products efficiently.

Why Businesses Use Returnable Assets

Many businesses integrate returnable or reusable assets into their supply chains for several reasons:

• Cost Reduction: By reusing materials, companies can significantly cut down on packaging costs.
• Enhanced Efficiency: Reusable assets streamline the supply chain, making operations more efficient.
• Environmental Benefits: Reusing packaging reduces waste, contributing to a greener supply chain.
• Product Protection: Returnable assets offer better protection for goods, minimizing product damage during transit.

Challenges in Tracking Returnable Assets

Manually tracking returnable assets presents several challenges:

• Risk of Loss or Theft: Returnable assets are frequently misplaced or stolen during transit. Each year, numerous assets disappear without a trace, often due to being lost, stolen, or forgotten.
• High Replacement Costs: Returnable assets can be expensive, costing anywhere from $200 to $5,000 per unit, depending on the industry and customization. Replacing these assets repeatedly can strain a company’s finances, counteracting the cost-saving benefits of using returnable assets.
• Labor-Intensive Tracking: Manual tracking requires significant labor, time, and money. Relying solely on human efforts can lead to inefficiencies and errors, making it difficult to optimize asset utilization.

IoT Solutions for Returnable Asset Tracking

With the advancement of IoT technology, tracking returnable assets has become more accessible and affordable. JimiIoT offers various IoT tracking solutions that combine digital tools with battery-powered GPS devices, enabling businesses to accurately manage, monitor, and optimize the use of their returnable assets.

Common IoT Tracking Technologies:

• RFID (Radio Frequency Identification): RFID uses radio waves to scan tags attached to assets, retrieving essential details. While RFID can store significant information and is useful for tracking assets at specific locations, it has limitations. RFID tags cannot monitor conditions like impacts or temperature during transit, and the infrastructure required for scanning can be costly.
• Bluetooth® Low Energy (BLE): BLE technology involves installing Bluetooth beacons or tags on assets, which communicate positioning details to mobile or fixed gateways. BLE is cost-effective, scalable, and suitable for indoor asset tracking, including monitoring conditions such as temperature and impacts. However, BLE tracking is limited to areas within the range of a Bluetooth gateway, potentially leaving gaps in monitoring when assets move between indoor and outdoor locations.
• Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS): GNSS, which includes systems like GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou, allows for global tracking of returnable assets. While GNSS provides accurate location data outdoors, its effectiveness diminishes when assets are moved indoors, where satellite signals can be lost or weakened.

JimiIoT’s Solutions for Returnable Asset Tracking

JimiIoT offers a wide range of battery-powered IoT asset tracking devices specifically designed for returnable asset tracking. Our devices integrate multiple location-tracking technologies, enabling near real-time monitoring throughout the supply chain process.

• GNSS for Outdoor Tracking: Ideal for tracking assets outdoors, GNSS provides precise location data, ensuring you always know where your assets are, even when they cross borders.
• Wi-Fi Positioning for Indoor Tracking: When assets move indoors, GNSS signals may be lost. JimiIoT’s devices switch to Wi-Fi positioning, using existing Wi-Fi infrastructure to provide approximate locations.
• Bluetooth® Low Energy for Condition Monitoring: Our BLE-enabled devices combine gateways with beacons, tags, and sensors, allowing for indoor tracking and condition monitoring, such as temperature and impacts.
• Cell Tower Fallback: If GNSS or Wi-Fi is unavailable, our devices can utilize cell tower data to locate assets, ensuring continuous monitoring.

Benefits of Battery-Powered Devices for Returnable Asset Tracking

JimiIoT’s battery-powered tracking devices offer several advantages, making them an excellent choice for businesses looking to optimize returnable asset management:

• Long Battery Life: Our devices feature a ‘deploy once’ battery life, ensuring continuous data transmission without the need for frequent battery replacements.
• Easy Installation: The wire-free, plug-and-play design of our GPS tracking devices allows for simple implementation at scale, suitable for both large and small assets.
• Enhanced Asset Utilization: By collecting accurate data on returnable assets, businesses can optimize their utilization, reducing idle time and improving overall efficiency.
• Streamlined Availability: Tracking asset locations and maintenance schedules provides immediate knowledge of asset stock, enabling businesses to make quick, informed decisions on availability.
• Theft Prevention: If returnable assets are moved without authorization, our devices send alerts with the asset’s details and location, helping to prevent theft.
• Impact Detection: Monitor returnable assets with user-defined thresholds to detect when g-forces are exceeded, ensuring product safety during transit.

JimiIoT’s innovative IoT solutions for returnable asset tracking and monitoring offer businesses the tools they need to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and protect their assets throughout the supply chain. By integrating advanced technologies, JimiIoT helps companies overcome the challenges of returnable asset management, leading to more sustainable and profitable operations.