Today’s accelerated growth in the global demand for pharmaceutical, medical and food products makes the cold chain more vital than ever before. Transportation of temperature-sensitive, high-value cargo substantially increases the complexity of cold-chain shipping because the goods must be controlled and monitored at all times, from source to destination. This involves tracking not only a shipment's location, but also its temperature, security, and condition.

What Does Technology Offer Today?

There are various shipment monitoring technologies currently in use, ranging from temperature recorders to radio-frequency identification (RFID). However, advances in cellular and satellite communications (and lower costs) are now enabling modern shippers to monitor their shipments in real time, no matter where they are in the world.

Modern Global Positioning System (GPS) technology collects data about coordinates, direction, speed and more from any vessel transporting goods. This crucial data is then transmitted to service personnel or cold-chain managers so that they can have a 360° perspective of their shipments, 24/7.

Reefers equipped with these GPS devices can provide metrics including the time of departure and arrival at the destination, current location, temperature, humidity, and security in high-risk areas. All this information is received in real time, and reports can be generated to obtain a minute-by-minute view of a journey whenever the need arises.

The result is that cold-chain managers gain the crucial information they need. But it’s not enough to provide real peace of mind.

ZIMonitor – Smart Technology that Saves Millions

ZIMonitor, the innovative system that draws on ZIM's decades of shipping experience, is putting GPS technology to work for the pharmaceutical industry, as well as other companies shipping sensitive goods. Featuring advanced technology, this service has been designed to comply with GDP regulations, and most importantly – tackle and fix problems through 24/7 on-call expert teams, preventing extensive damage before it occurs.

ZIMonitor provides end-to-end reefer tracking from source to destination, including:

• Route deviations (changes in set point temperature)
• Power on/off – alert notification if the reefer is disconnected from the electrical supply for more than two hours
• Supply and return temperatures, including thresholds and humidity
• Immediate alert in case of unauthorized door opening (door sensor)
• Real-time data collection and monitoring, with comprehensive end-of-voyage reports

Offering flexible SLAs based on response times and alert types, ZIMonitor reduces risks and insurance claims, and ensures optimum security for containerized cargo as well as improved utilization.

You can now obtain a 360° view of your cargo during every leg of its voyage. Equipped with a very user-friendly online application, any technical issue or human error can be remedied in almost no time at all. Workers on-site and at a staffed 24/7 call center are alerted of any malfunction via text message or email, with fast resolution times.

In today’s cost-conscious market, where billions of people rely on refrigerated cargo for pharmaceuticals, food and other vital supplies, ZIMonitor is bringing a new level of security to cold-chain management.