By Stefan Reidy Cargo theft has been around for centuries; unfortunately, though the crime has evolved together with transportation methods. Bandits on horseback have been replaced by gangsters that are organized in international crime syndicates. Cargo theft is a global problem affecting manufacturers, logistics providers as well as customers. It is a complex problem influenced by factors ranging from local laws to the global economy. Jim Yarbrough, Global Intelligence Program Manager at the supply chain specialist BSI commented: "Companies have always faced a wide range of challenges to their supply chain, but [the] latest figures indicate how severe the impact of violent theft can be. "These events are creating extreme levels of risk for organizations, both directly affecting the bottom line and disrupting the supply chain in ways which, if not tackled, could do serious harm to a company's hard-earned reputation." BS
In a world faced with the prospect of tightening supplies, higher energy costs heightened geopolitical risk, and strained transportation networks, advanced supply chain technologies will become mission-critical for many more companies. The supply chain task is not an enterprise problem; it is an end-to-end network problem involving multiple enterprises. Therefore, the solution does not lie in fixing one link in the chain but in devising a community.