Introduction

In the body of the paper, we reported that better visibility is the single most recommended solution to improve both supply chain security and productivity. The text described two means or methods to achieve better visibility:

• Information systems that manage, manipulate, or display visibility data.
• Event-driven tools that convert physical activities and conditions into data entries for the software systems.

This appendix concentrates on the latter category. Those tools are especially critical for collecting the accurate, timely, and complete data needed to better manage both security and efficiency. Of five types of technologies mentioned in the report, four are in the latter category and the other is a hybrid.

This appendix puts the event-driven technology improvements in a broader context, and then discusses each of the five areas and the crosscutting issue of standards. Two areas that are most relevant to transportation tracking—electronic seals and wide area monitoring—receive the most attention. The appendix is an overview, not a comprehensive or complete review of the technologies and vendors.

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