Returnable Container Tracking.
Made Easy.

Track containers across your own facilities, partner facilities, and in transit—no manual scanning, logging, or new infrastructure required

Luna for automated Returnable Container location and condition monitoring

Why Returnable Container Tracking Matters

Returnable containers are essential across industries—from IBCs used in food and chemical manufacturing, to automotive racks, pallets, and totes. But with containers moving between suppliers, 3PLs, retailers, and through inspection and sanitizing facilities–tracking can be complex.

Fulfillment disruption

Missing containers delay orders and force costly last-minute workarounds like re-picking, re-palletizing, or rerouting shipments

Spoilage

returnable containers without temperature monitoring resulting in food spoilage

Without accurate temperature monitoring, perishables and sensitive items can be unknowingly compromised

Expedited freight costs

lost returnable containers lead to expedited freight costs

When containers aren’t available, companies pay to rush replacements in–or pay for faster final product shipping to meet delivery schedules

Product damage and expendable container costs

an image of expendable containers not providing the protection that purpose built ones do

Expendable containers add extra costs and often provide less protection than purpose-built ones

Stalled production

missing container delaying production

Without containers, there may be nowhere to safely store finished product–forcing line shutdowns, machine downtime, lost output, and costly overtime to recover

High replacement costs

expensive missing ICB

Replacing purpose-built returnable containers can range from hundreds to tens of thousands of dollars

Use Case Spotlight: Tracking IBCs Across Partner Sites

man and lady without returnable container tracking system

An industrial food processor uses intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) to move ingredients between plants, co-manufacturers, and storage facilities. Some are temperature-sensitive. Others carry allergen risk. None can be replaced quickly or cheaply.

Without automated tracking, staff rely on manual check-ins or phone calls to figure out where containers are. Visibility gaps lead to costly delays, spoilage, or non-compliance with food safety protocols.

How Traditional Tracking Methods Fall Short

Limited cross-party visibility

RFID limitations for returnable container tracking

Most tracking systems rely on RFID infrastructure at chokepoints or manual scanning. Partners are often neither equipped, nor have time, for either

GPS with cellular too costly to scale

Traditional GPS and cellular trackers are expensive

Traditional GPS with cellular trackers are too expensive. To be viable at scale, per-trip tracking costs must stay below $0.10

No shared system of record

Issues arising where there is no shared returnable container tracking system of record

When containers change hands, data is often lost. Suppliers, shippers, and customers all need visibility, but rarely share a platform

The Luna Returnable Container Tracking Solution

Luna is a Bluetooth-based tracking platform that makes container visibility automatic, affordable, and scalable. It works with the devices you and your partners already use—no manual scanning, no new infrastructure to install, and minimal disruption to operations.

Automated tracking

Luna automating Returnable Container tracking

Luna tags report real-time location and condition data automatically—no manual scans, check-ins, or input required

Low cost, high impact

Luna turns your existing mobile devices into communications gateways

Use existing tablets, scanners, and mobile devices as trackers–no new infrastructure, no complex setup, no manual pairing. Deploys in days, not months

Tag flexibility

Luna returnable container tracking tags

Select tags based on size, price, lifetime, sensor and even GPS capabilities

Condition monitoring

Luna for Returnable Container Condition Monitoring

Monitor temperature and humidity to prevent spoilage, support compliance, and protect product integrity

Secure and reliable

Luna providing secure bi-directional communication

End-to-end, bi-directional encryption ensures data reaches its destination and stays protected

Built for Container Tracking

Track containers at your facilities, in transit, or at partner locations—without complex infrastructure or IT set-up

  • End-to-end visibility: Track industrial containers within facilities, across partner locations, and in transit
  • Rapid recovery tools: Locate missing containers fast with radar views, proximity alerts, and map-based tracking
  • Cost-effective scale: Keep tracking costs under 0.1% of container value
  • Seamless data flow: Syncs directly with your ERP, WMS, or asset tracking systems via API

Luna for automated Returnable Container location and condition monitoring

Simple Set Up for Returnable Container Tracking

Man attaching Luna tracking tags to returnable containers

Attach Luna tags to IBCs, racks, totes, or other returnable containers

Luna Locate app being downloaded to turn mobile devices into gateways and trackers

Activate Luna Locate on tracking devices via MDM or app store download

Returnable Container tracking data syncing automatically with Luna apps and/or ERP/WMS platforms

Container data syncs automatically with Luna apps or your existing ERP/WMS platforms

Returnable Container Tracking FAQs

Tracking returnable containers is crucial to avoid fulfillment disruptions, spoilage, expedited freight costs, product damage, stalled production, and high replacement costs.

With Luna, you can monitor and manage the movement of reusable containers across various facilities, partners, and logistics networks without the need for manual scanning or logging, or any major infrastructure.

Luna uses Bluetooth-based tracking tags that report real-time location and condition data automatically. It works with your existing devices like tablets, scanners, and mobile phones, and requires no manual scans or new infrastructure.

Luna can track the location, as well as monitor environmental conditions, of various types of containers, including IBCs, automotive racks, pallets, totes, and temperature-sensitive cargo.

Benefits include automated returnable container tracking, the ability to use existing rather than new infrastructure, tag flexibility, condition monitoring, secure and reliable data, end-to-end visibility, rapid recovery tools, cost-effective scaling, and seamless data flow into existing ERP or WMS platforms.

Implementation is quite simple. You attach Luna tags to your containers, install the Luna Locate app on tracking devices (tablets, scanners, etc.) via MDM or app store download, and the container data will sync automatically with your Luna Locate desktop and mobile apps, or your existing ERP/WMS platforms.

Yes, Luna’s solution syncs directly with your ERP, WMS, or asset tracking systems via API.

Industries such as food and chemical manufacturing, automotive, retail, oil and gas, and logistics can benefit from Luna’s tracking solution.

Stop chasing missing containers

Request a demo and discover how Luna makes returnable container tracking automatic, affordable, and audit-ready.