Significant technological advances have been realized in the intermodal industry over the years. Particularly, the use of Electronic data interchange (EDI), radio-frequency identification (RFID), and the internet provide new ways through which supply companies can link with customers as the latter track their goods while in transit. Various intermodal modes of transportation such as rail, pipeline, roads, and air use EDI and RFID technology to keep track of goods during shipping. The adoption of EDI, RFID, and the internet in the intermodal industry ensures cost reduction, efficiency, and accuracy is improved, which enhances consumers’ trust in the supply companies.
RFID makes use of electromagnetic fields to identify and track identifier tags attached to goods on transit. EDI, on the other hand, permits one company to send information to another one electronically ( Rawashdeh, & Al-namlah, 2017). In all cases, the internet is essential. RFID and EDI are efficient, accurate, and offer low cost in that goods can be identified easily when there is a large volume of freight ( Bauk, Schmeink, & Colomer, 2018) . Another merit is that errors are significantly reduced and customers can pinpoint their goods correctly without any issue. However, there are security threats including the fact that unauthorized devices may intersect the freight and alter the data on the tags without the owner’s consent ( Bendavid, 2015). Thus, the technologies have both advantages and disadvantages.
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On the whole, RFID, EDI, and the internet offer crucial assistance in the intermodal industry. The company, as well as the consumer, can track goods under transit and use remote radio waves to ascertain delivery. Merits of this technology in commerce include efficiency, reduced errors, and accuracy in the handling of goods. Also, the customer incurs low cost especially in tracking to determine whether his or her merchandise will be properly delivered.
References
Bauk, S., Schmeink, A., & Colomer, J. (2018). An RFID model for improving workers’ safety at the seaport in a transitional environment. Transport , 33 (2), 353-363.
Bendavid, Y. (2015). Assessing the Potential of RFID Technologies on the Productivity of a Freight Forwarder. In International Conference on E-Technologies (pp. 255-268). Springer, Cham.
Rawashdeh, A., & Al-namlah, L. (2017). Factors influencing electronic data interchange adoption among small and medium enterprises in Saudi Arabia. Asian Journal of Business and Accounting , 10 (2), 253-280.
