Sometimes cargo goes missing due to unpredictable issues, such as incorrectly or incompletely filled out worksheets. Cloud services with long-distance RFID for pallet inventory are proposed to solve these problems. Some functions were suggested by researchers based on Table 2 for us to develop with cloud services:Functions for reading barcode IDs.Functions for storing barcode IDs.Functions for connecting barcode IDs.Figure 1.Traditional cargo tagged with dispatch list. Some of them are barcode-enabled, but others are not (as-is).3.2. RFID/Zigbee-Based Pallet MonitoringIn T Company, pallets are moved using a conveyer inside the factory. The current position of the pallets and what goods are on the pallets is important information. Traditional systems for monitoring pallets rely on barcode tags on the goods.

This study adopted RFID technology for monitoring the goods and pallets more precisely and quickly. Monitoring services for monitoring pallet position is another key cloud service that needs to be considered for the logistic cloud. They include:Functions for using RFID to monitor pallets and goods on moving conveyers.Functions for using IP cameras to monitor pallets and goods inside factories.Functions for notifying staff about the condition and information related to pallets and cargo.3.3. Location-Based Logistic TransportationPallet inventory and pallet monitoring are regarded as indoor shipping. Outdoor shipping by T Company is also considered here. Pallets and goods in T Company are inventoried by staff, and the data is stored in the database of T Company.

All the goods are sealed and put into containers, as shown in Figures 223,3, ,44 andand55 and and6.6. All containers are shipped to a third party at a certain time. Therefore, the tracking of goods is important for both T Company and its third parties. Traditionally, containers are sealed AV-951 using disposable container locks. Once the container is sealed, all the information is written on a shipping list. The list contains a series of numbers, which mapped to the disposable container seal shown in Figure 6. When the container arrives at the destination port, the staff unseals the lock by breaking the lock. Some issues related to this process are:Broken seals are not reusable. This may cause environmental and recycling issues.Disposable seals are designed only for sealing and can’t be located during transportation.

Container security is an important issue.Container shipping enterprises waste human resources on container inventory.Figure 2.IoT-technology-enabled logistic scenario. RFID and barcode tags on cargo at the same time (to-be).Figure 3.Pallets and goods on the conveyer. Operators are required to dispatch cargo into categories (as-is).Figure 4.IoT-technology-enabled real-time cargo monitoring and dispatching through computers and work stations (to-be).Figure 5.Photograph of disposable container lock.Figure 6.