GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 22, 2026
Tracking and Tracing
Freight forwarders and logistics operators rely on both functions daily: tracking monitors a shipment prospectively, showing where cargo is right now, while tracing enables retrospective reconstruction of the route already taken – every waypoint, hub, and border crossing.
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Source: https://www.gs1.org/standards/gs1-system/track-trace
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Freight forwarders and logistics operators rely on both functions daily: tracking monitors a shipment prospectively, showing where cargo is right now, while tracing enables retrospective reconstruction of the route already taken – every waypoint, hub, and border crossing. Together, tracking and tracing form a continuous visibility layer across the supply chain. In customs operations the combination is especially valuable: proving origin, verifying container seal integrity, and producing auditable documentation all depend on having both real-time status and the full transport history readily accessible.
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