A smart label tracking devices launched last week at CES in Las Vegas was developed in a partnership between Pod Group, Lufthansa Industry and Dutch IoT firm Sodaq.

The paper-thin tracking device is in the form of a smart label and allows tracking of small and lightweight items.

It uses low-power LTE Cat-M cellular connectivity to send data regarding device location and temperature back to a central dashboard, enabling logistics companies to track valuable goods that could be as small and light as an envelope containing important documents or as large as a full-sized oil painting.

The Leap platform provided by Lufthansa Industry enables the use of geofences with notifications that can be set to alert the user when the package enters or leaves key points along the supply chain.

The printed battery keeps the label as light as possible, while the use of low-power connectivity ensures that battery life can last up to six months. The label could be used multiple times, depending on the frequency of the transmission. The alkaline battery is also more environmentally friendly than traditional lithium batteries, and the materials used are recyclable.

“The smart label is the result of the combined expertise of the various partners involved in its production to deliver a unique industry leading solution, from Sodaq’s innovative hardware with its unique form factor and recyclable materials, to Lufthansa Industry’s powerful centralised dashboard and Pod Group’s secure, reliable global connectivity,” said Sam Colley from Pod Group.

Ingo Pietruska, vice president of business development at Lufthansa Industry, added: “Smart mobile devices will play an increasing role in the digital transformation across all industries. Because of its form factor and its unique technology, the smart label enables a series of new use cases. Lufthansa Industry is proud to be part of the adventure of creating the first smart label with LTE-M connectivity for a fast-growing number of countries.” 

And Ollie Smeenk from Sodaq said: “With the smart label, companies with complex supply chains can track their goods efficiently, reducing spoilage and theft. The state-of-the-art low-power cellular communication technology can now reliably send near-real-time positions, temperature and shock alerts from a recyclable ultra-thin device. As Sodaq we are excited to be the first in the world to make this commercially viable, together with our partners Pod Group and Lufthansa Industry.”

Pod Group is a specialist in IoT SIM cards and connectivity for enterprise IoT applications, bringing over 20 years’ experience and innovation to the telecommunications market. An enterprise network operator, Pod goes beyond traditional connectivity service providers to offer customisations designed to give enterprises of all sizes ownership and control of their IoT connectivity, from the SIM card right up to a complete private network. With offices worldwide and access to more than 600 networks in 185 countries, Pod supports enterprises across a broad range of sectors.

Sodaq is an innovator in low-power tracking and sensing. Based in the Netherlands, it provides durable IoT hardware and data for large-scale, enterprise-sized deployments.