TRADLINX

Why Real-Time Cargo Tracking Is Now a Must-Have for Global Supply Chains

Global supply chains have never been more complex — or unpredictable. From pandemic disruptions and port congestion to vessel shortages and extreme weather, delays are becoming the norm, not the exception.

That’s why real-time cargo tracking has gone from helpful to essential.

When you can see exactly where your cargo is — and get notified the moment something changes — you can act faster, manage costs better, and keep customers informed.

Today’s tracking tools do much more than just show a location on a map. They help logistics teams:

• Improve ETA accuracy
• Identify the causes of delays
• Stay on top of multimodal shipments
• Meet customer expectations and SLAs

In this guide, we compare three major cargo tracking solutions — Gocomet, Visiwise, and TRADLINX Ocean Visibility (OV) — to help you choose the right tool for your supply chain.

How Tracking Methods Differ — and Why It Matters

Cargo tracking systems differ by their data collection criteria and methods, significantly influencing accuracy and visibility.

Gocomet

Container-Based Simplicity with Limitations

Gocomet tracks cargo based on container numbers. Users can easily check statuses using container numbers for primary ocean transportation. However, during transshipments or multimodal transport, data continuity may suffer or become incomplete. Certain shipping lines require additional data such as Factory Dispatch Dates.

Although convenient for single-vessel transport, the container-based system has structural limitations that may cause data gaps or delays when transportation methods change.

Visiwise

Minimalist Container Tracking Optimized for Single Routes

Visiwise also utilizes container-number-based tracking, optimized mainly for single ocean shipping routes from Port of Loading (POL) to Port of Discharge (POD). Its interface is very streamlined, allowing immediate status checks upon entering container numbers. However, information on multimodal or inland transportation is limited, requiring separate system integrations for terminal information or post-transshipment details.

TRADLINX Ocean Visibility

Comprehensive B/L-Based Multimodal Tracking

TRADLINX tracks cargo using Bill of Lading (B/L) data, which comprehensively tracks the shipment itself, not just vessel information. Thus, even when transportation methods shift between vessels, trucks, or railways, consistent cargo-level tracking is maintained.

Users can choose from multiple tracking identifiers such as B/L numbers, House B/L, Booking numbers, and Container numbers. Multimodal transport events are integrated into a single B/L dataset, eliminating manual updates or separate systems for tracking.

In a 2024 validation test, TRADLINX achieved up to 99.5% tracking accuracy in complex, multimodal shipping scenarios — outperforming container-based platforms in every transshipment scenario.

Global logistics studies confirm this trend: B/L-based tracking ensures continuous visibility across different transport modes, while container-based systems often lose data when shipments transfer between vessels, trucks, or rail.

This is because B/L tracking follows the cargo itself — not just the physical container — making it the more reliable solution for complex global supply chains.

How Often Do You Get Updates — and Can You Trust Them?

The frequency and accuracy of real-time tracking data significantly impact company decision-making and response speed.

Gocomet

Daily Updates with Limited Real-Time Detail

Gocomet offers daily updates and provides predictive ETA features based on AI, primarily covering ocean segments.

However, real-time reflection at intermediate transshipment ports or inland transportation is limited. Additionally, some shipping lines do not provide Actual Time of Departure (ATD) or Actual Time of Arrival (ATA) data, potentially causing information gaps or delays.

Visiwise

Historical Data Focus with Limited Real-Time Responsiveness

Visiwise provides daily ETA history-based updates, allowing analysis of delay patterns from past data.

However, real-time responsiveness to actual delays or status changes during transit is limited. Given its daily update cycle, status monitoring could lag in complex multimodal or transshipment routes.

TRADLINX Ocean Visibility

High-Frequency, Accurate Multimodal Updates

TRADLINX is optimized for multimodal transport environments, updating data every two hours (12 times per day). This ensures timely visibility into cargo status changes.

TRADLINX integrates AIS-based Portcall data and Geofence event information, covering real-time ETDs, ETAs, ATAs, gate in/out events, truck arrivals/departures, and rail transshipment.

In case of delays, specific delay information is provided clearly, with immediate recalculation and update of ETA when deviations occur. In a 2024 multimodal test from Busan to LA inland warehouses, TRADLINX achieved an accuracy of 99.5%, attributed to frequent updates and consistent data continuity.

Is the Interface Easy to Use at Scale?

The intuitive and efficient presentation of tracking information is crucial, especially when managing numerous shipments simultaneously.

Gocomet

Simple, Filtered View with Limited Depth

Gocomet provides a simple list view with status filters (Processing, Active, Delayed) and predictive ETA details.

However, additional multimodal or detailed data is limited, and customization or scalability for large-scale tracking can be restricted.

Visiwise

Minimalist UI Focused on Basic Status

Visiwise emphasizes a minimalistic UI, focusing on the latest container status. It lacks multimodal event logs or detailed status change history, making comprehensive tracking challenging.

TRADLINX Ocean Visibility

Comprehensive and Customizable Multimodal Interface

TRADLINX OV simultaneously provides list and detailed views, consolidating multimodal status data into a unified interface. It offers Portcall events, ETA histories, delay times, and detailed status updates across all transport modes (ship, truck, rail).

Customizable filters by client, route, or shipment status, along with SLA-based delay filtering, significantly enhance operational efficiency. Workspace Viewer also allows easy status checks for inactive users.

Can It Handle Complex Global Shipping?

Gocomet

Ocean-Focused with Limited Multimodal Support

Gocomet primarily supports ocean transportation. Multimodal support is limited, requiring manual management or integration with external systems (ERP/TMS) for inland segments or post-transshipment steps. Although custom functions are available for certain carriers and clients, comprehensive end-to-end multimodal tracking is not provided.

Visiwise

Limited Multimodal and Inland Coverage

Visiwise also focuses on ocean transportation from POL to POD. Inland or post-transshipment information is limited, with minimal terminal details. Multimodal scenarios necessitate external system integrations, restricting usability for extensive global supply chains.

TRADLINX Ocean Visibility

Seamless End-to-End Multimodal Tracking

TRADLINX OV fully supports multimodal transport (ship-truck-rail) from origin to destination, ensuring seamless tracking continuity via B/L data. It provides real-time checkpoints based on DCSA standards, such as gate in/out, Empty Return, and Rail/Truck events.

Upcoming DEM/DET Visibility updates will further enhance comprehensive end-to-end tracking capabilities.

Each solution has its strengths. Gocomet and Visiwise may be suitable for companies needing straightforward ocean-centric tracking due to their ease of use, intuitive UI/UX, and relatively low initial costs.

However, companies dealing with complex global supply chains that include multimodal transportation and transshipments should prioritize real-time visibility, data accuracy, and end-to-end tracking capabilities.

TRADLINX Ocean Visibility meets these demands with B/L-based multimodal tracking, frequent updates (every two hours), comprehensive end-to-end visibility from ship to truck to rail, and customizable features supporting customer SLAs, delivering superior business value and reliability.

Why overpay for visibility? Tradlinx saves you 40% with transparent per–Master B/L pricing. Get 99% accuracy, 12 updates daily, and 80% ETA accuracy improvements, trusted by 83,000+ logistics teams and global leaders like Samsung and LG Chem.

Prefer email? Contact us directly at min.so@tradlinx.com (Americas), sondre.lyndon@tradlinx.com (Europe) or henry.jo@tradlinx.com (EMEA/Asia)