Deutsche Post offers RFID tracking for international e-commerce

The new service, which utilizes radio tags built into labels for flat parcels, is designed to help smaller shippers keep tabs on letter-size parcels with less expensive items that don’t require updates at every step in the shipping process.    Deutsche Post has introduced and RFID label to help online retailers and customers track deliveries across borders. The postal and logistics giant said the new service is designed to help smaller shippers keep tabs on letter-size parcels with less expensive items that don’t require updates at every step in the shipping process.
   The label contains a small radio tag that can be placed on or inside a flat package. Both sender and receiver can view the shipping status on Deutsche Post’s track and trace portal.
   The letters are scanned at the international mail center – the transshipment hub for all letters leaving Germany – and then at the international parcel center of the destination country. Depending on the destination, the letter will be scanned once again at customs, as is the case in Switzerland and the United States.
   The border notification is available for 16 countries, 14 of which are in the European Union. It will soon be available in other countries, the company said.
   The RFID tags come in sets of 20 and 50 and can be purchased online from DP’s electronic retail outlet.
   For customers with higher shipping volumes, DP offers writable labels with integrated RFID tags.