The electronic alternative to the barcode is the Radio Frequency Identification tag (RFID).

RFID tags can be easily updated and have a high capacity to store variable information.

They can be tailored to suit individual customer needs - distinct customer segments, for example, may require customised data sets - and they have the capacity to improve the tracking of products and assist with environmental consignment monitoring.

Barcodes are an identification system used in the logistical process to store information within a predetermined format for reading by a barcode reader, such as a fixed or portable laser scanner.

The information in a barcode can include the name of the company that produced the product, serial numbers, expiry dates and order numbers.

When a product with a barcode is received by an organisation, the information can be quickly scanned into a database without the need for manually entering data, reducing errors and saving time.

Supply chains can be viewed from three perspectives:

1. Downstream - From a company to their client, which is the traditional definition of a distribution channel;

2. Upstream - From a client to their supplier, the traditional definition of a supply chain; and

3. Value Chain (Integrated Logistics) - In which the distribution channel and supply chain are viewed as an integrated system.

Regardless of where your business sits in a value chain, you are part of the process if you sell or receive goods, and eLogistics can help you move goods more efficiently.

eLogistics streamlines traditional processes while ensuring that the right products are shipped to the right place at the right time, and in the right quantity.

eLogistics has been widely adopted by industry enterprises and organisations because it reduces error rates and increases customer satisfaction.

Through the efficient use of eLogistics, business owners and managers can reduce the risks associated with handling and shipping products to ensure that goods are delivered in the most efficient and profitable way possible.

The use of eLogistics provides many benefits, including lower costs and improved profit margins through a reduction in error rates, better asset management, improved customer service and an overall increase in efficiency of the logistical process.