With 802.11-based asset tracking, inventory visibility throughout the supply chain can be achieved without additional infrastructure or software installation at the intermediary steps between the shipper and receiver.  Because Wi-Fi has become ubiquitous, 802.11 access points are virtually everywhere, enabling this type of low-cost tracking.  Although proprietary systems claim they can track assets through the supply chain, proprietary readers are required at each stage making this proposition expensive and unachievable.  Additionally, since the asset tags can be programmed with the URL of the owner, information about location and environmental conditions can be transmitted transparently through the Internet

New Wi-Fi Asset Tracking Solution Demonstrated
with Cisco Systems^® and SAP^® at SAPPHIRE^® '07