Container Tracking API Overview

Get the industry’s most complete container visibility into your existing software systems or any spreadsheet.

shipping container at sea
01

Complete Visibility Made Effortless

Subscribe to a container and receive complete updates from various sources including ocean carriers, terminals, and customs. All it takes is a Vizion API key and the specific container ID and carrier code. If the carrier is unknown, Automatic Carrier Identification can help.

02

Technology Supporting Agility and Responsiveness

A REST API, Vizion API delivers JSON-encoded responses, with standard HTTP response codes and verbs for easy use. Webhooks enable your systems to respond fast to events in real-time, transforming your data management and increasing your agility.

JSON formatted data displaying key information about the vessel SEASPAN BEACON, including its IMO number (9713337), timestamp (2023-07-13T00:00:34.000+00:00), latitude (202.7382833333), longitude (69.6858), MMSI number (477066700), heading (270 degrees), and speed (0).
Aerial view of a large cargo ship laden with colorful shipping containers cruising through calm, open waters with distant mountains on the horizon.
03

Drive Value Internally and Better Serve Your Customers

Our data gives you the flexibility to fulfill a wide range of needs—from reducing demurrage fees to better managing inventory. Use with leading software systems or develop a new application to integrate with.

Enhance

internal processes and efficiency

Reduce

data latency for downstream needs

Leverage

visibility to improve customer service

An aerial view of a cargo ship loaded with shipping containers navigating through a bustling port. The scene includes multiple cranes, additional ships docked, and a tugboat assisting the cargo ship under a hazy, sunlit sky.
04

Track by Master Bill of Lading or Container and Carrier Code

Remove the time-consuming processes of collecting data from each carrier. Monitor your shipments seamlessly using the master bill of lading, container and carrier code, or auto carrier identification if the carrier is unknown. Get a simplified tracking process to support your operations’ productivity.

Know

Container updates in real-time

Streamline

Workflows and enhance efficiency

Eliminate

Guesswork with auto carrier identification

A wide-angle view of container ships docked at a major port, with cranes actively loading and unloading shipping containers. The port extends along a waterway under a clear blue sky, with industrial buildings and infrastructure in the background.

Hear What Our Customers Say

Enhancing your visibility saves time and money while streamlining your overall supply chain. But don’t just take our word for it. Hear from our valued customers about what Vizion has helped them accomplish.

We are very pleased to have found in Vizion a partner with the same passion for pushing the digitalization of supply chains and providing high quality solutions

Martin Schulze
CEO, BlueBox Systems

Visibility is a huge part of the future of the global supply chain. Vizion is an important addition to our suite of visibility solutions so that freight forwarders can take important steps toward embracing that future

Brian Glick
Founder and CEO, Chain.io

Vizion standardizes these messages across all carriers making this job more straightforward for us. It is why our partnership is such a great achievement as we move forward."

David Blinick
CEO, 3rdwave

The Vizion team is always looking for ways to change how people approach visibility, and raising the bar on what customers can and should expect from their visibility platforms

Lucas Schorer
Co-Founder of Kestrel Insights

Partnering with Vizion, we bring an ‘X-ray’ into containers for forwarders as they seek to provide their shipping customers detailed insights into cargo visibility and status.

James Coombes
Co-Founder and CEO, Raft.ai

Our customer recommended Vizion to us and data and ease of API sealed the deal.

Danny Albers
Freight Product Owner and Senior Project Manager at Candata Global

Integrate Vizion’s Data with Leading ERPs and TMSs

Connect Vizion’s port and terminal events to these leading platforms, plus any ERP, TMS or other software system. Adding Vizion data to your existing systems empowers advanced visibility into a container’s journey.

A circular diagram illustrating Vizion's integrations with various platforms, including SAP, Epicor, Oracle NetSuite, Oracle, E2Open, MLG, and one other platform, connected to the central Vizion hub

Stay Updated on Your Containers in Real-Time

Vizion sends tracking data to your ERP, TMS or other software system, allowing you to understand a container’s movements in real-time and plan ahead for arrival at its destination. With this level of visibility, you can frictionlessly manage the movement from sea to land and beyond.

Many sources of container tracking data are not updated frequently enough to be useful. Vizion's container trace data lets you track in real-time and at a granular level, so you can monitor your shipments and prepare logistically for their arrival.

Making calls, sending emails, or visiting websites for container status updates are labor-intensive, error-prone processes that lack scalability. With Vizion API, you get access to more complete data, updated automatically.

Armed with the knowledge of when your containers are approaching their last free date and when they are ready for pickup allows for better coordination with drayage providers for better inventory management and a more efficient supply chain.

The container tracking data of Vizion API enables you to manage or even completely avoid costly fees. This visibility also supports auditing of detention and demurrage fees to ensure their accuracy.

Get Supply Chain Industry Insights

Our library of resources includes Vizion data, white papers, case studies, blog posts, podcasts, webinars, plus more. Browse through our library, and subscribe to get new resources delivered to your inbox.

Get the Most Advanced Visibility into the Journey of Your Ocean and Rail Containers

Talk to one of our supply chain experts to get started now.

Book a Demo

Are you ready to experience the many benefits of container visibility? Schedule a VIZION API demo today.

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API Overview

Get the industry’s most complete container visibility into your existing software systems or any spreadsheet.

birdseyeview ship at sea with data overlayed the top showing tracking code for vizion api
birds eye view of a ship at sea from the front end

Real-Time Tracking and Transparency

Gain complete visibility—tracking containers in real-time with updates provided in seconds when a new event has been added or a change to the shipment has occurred.

Automated Data Processing and Efficiency

Rely on automated data collection and standardization and use webhook to get updates based on triggered events. This eliminates manual data retrieval to increase your efficiency.

Integration and Scalability

Integrate with existing systems and track every shipment frictionlessly. Whether it’s hundreds or tens of thousands of shipments annually, Vizion API scales to your needs.
darkened image taken on a shipping container ship at sea showing rows of shipping containersgraphic image showing selecting carrier information for container ID tracking

Complete Visibility Made Effortless

Subscribe to a container and receive complete updates from various sources including ocean carriers, terminals, and customs. All it takes is a Vizion API key and the specific container ID and carrier code. If the carrier is unknown, Automatic Carrier Identification can help.

Technology Supporting Agility and Responsiveness

A REST API, Vizion API delivers JSON-encoded responses, with standard HTTP response codes and verbs for easy use. Webhooks enable your systems to respond fast to events in real-time, transforming your data management and increasing your agility.

shipping container ship on a cloudy day cruising on near still ocean waterVizion API overlay tracking code data
Shipping container leaving a shipping port at sunset

Drive Value Internally and Better Serve Your Customers

Our data gives you the flexibility to fulfill a wide range of needs—from reducing demurrage fees to better managing inventory. Use with leading software systems or develop a new application to integrate with.

Enhance 

internal processes and efficiency

Reduce

data latency for downstream needs

Leverage

visibility to improve customer service

Track by Master Bill of Lading or Container and Carrier Code

Remove the time-consuming processes of collecting data from each carrier. Monitor your shipments seamlessly using the master bill of lading, container and carrier code, or auto carrier identification if the carrier is unknown. Get a simplified tracking process to support your operations’ productivity.

Know

Container updates in real-time

Eliminate

Guesswork with auto carrier identification

Streamline

Workflows and enhance efficiency

darkened image taken on a shipping container ship at sea showing rows of shipping containersgraphic image showing selecting carrier information for container ID tracking

Hear What Our Customers Say

Enhancing your visibility saves time and money while streamlining your overall supply chain. But don’t just take our word for it. Hear from our valued customers about what Vizion has helped them accomplish.

Start now
mock headshot
The Vizion team is always looking for ways to change how people approach visibility, and raising the bar on what customers can and should expect from their visibility platforms
Lucas Schoreoer
Co founder
temp logo
mock headshot
The Vizion team is always looking for ways to change how people approach visibility, and raising the bar on what customers can and should expect from their visibility platforms
Lucas Schoreoer
Co founder
temp logo
Martin Schulze

We are very pleased to have found in Vizion a partner with the same passion for pushing the digitalization of supply chains and providing high quality solutions

Martin Schulze
CEO, BlueBox Systems
David Blinick

"Vizion standardizes these messages across all carriers making this job more straightforward for us. It is why our partnership is such a great achievement as we move forward."

David Blinick
CEO, 3rdwave
James Coombes

Partnering with Vizion, we bring an ‘X-ray’ into containers for forwarders as they seek to provide their shipping customers detailed insights into cargo visibility and status.

James Coombes
Co-Founder and CEO, Raft.ai
Brian Glick

Visibility is a huge part of the future of the global supply chain. Vizion is an important addition to our suite of visibility solutions so that freight forwarders can take important steps toward embracing that future

Brian Glick
Founder and CEO, Chain.io
Lucas Schorer

The Vizion team is always looking for ways to change how people approach visibility, and raising the bar on what customers can and should expect from their visibility platforms

Lucas Schorer
Co-Founder of Kestrel Insights
blue shipping container with some Vizion information inside a bubble

Configure Available for Pickup Notifications

All ports and terminals give shippers a certain number of days to pickup containers before demurrage charges start. Vizion’s Last Free Date event automatically alerts you to when those charges will begin so that you can coordinate pickups with your drayage providers.

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Nulla odio turpis ac eget. Consectetur odio mauris purus arcu aliquam lacus ultricies augue at. Sapien ultrices magnis enim metus vitae. Ipsum nam a nec ut quam mattis. Enim.

Integrate Vizion to Leading ERPs and TMSs

Connect Vizion’s port and terminal events to these leading platforms, plus any ERP, TMS or other software system. Adding Vizion data to your existing systems empowers advanced visibility into a container’s journey.
E2OPEN

MercuryGate

Manhattan Associates

Epicor

SAP

NetSuite

Microsoft Dynamics 365

Oracle

E2OPEN

MercuryGate

Manhattan Associates

Epicor

SAP

NetSuite

Microsoft Dynamics 365

Oracle

SAP

NetSuite

Oracle

Microsoft Dynamics 365

E2OPEN

MercuryGate

Manhattan Associates

Epicor

SAP

NetSuite

Oracle

Microsoft Dynamics 365

E2OPEN

MercuryGate

Manhattan Associates

Epicor

Stay Updated on Your Containers in Real-Time

Vizion automatically feeds updates and event information to your ERP, TMS, or other software system, giving you the transparency to decrease costs and increase efficiency. Make more proactive and strategic decisions for your operations, for both containers in transit and future shipments.

Growing aquarium plants

Use Vessel Data to Track Your Containers in as Close to Real-Time as Possible

Vizion automatically pushes container trace data to your ERP, TMS or other software system, which allows you to track a container’s vessel in as close to real-time as possible while planning in advance for arrival. With container trace data in place, you can optimize the transition from sea to land while reducing demurrage charges.

Growing aquarium plants

Know What’s Happening With Your Ocean Freight in as Close to Real-Time as Possible

Vizion automatically pushes Port & Terminal Events to your ERP, TMS or other software system, empowering you to reduce demurrage fees while increasing visibility into port activity. The result is that you can more proactively and strategically plan the movement of containers once they discharge at U.S. ports.

Growing aquarium plants

Know What’s Happening With Your Ocean Freight in as Close to Real-Time as Possible

Vizion automatically pushes Port & Terminal Events to your ERP, TMS or other software system, empowering you to reduce demurrage fees while increasing visibility into port activity. The result is that you can more proactively and strategically plan the movement of containers once they discharge at U.S. ports.

Growing aquarium plants

Know What’s Happening With Your Ocean Freight in as Close to Real-Time as Possible

Vizion automatically pushes Port & Terminal Events to your ERP, TMS or other software system, empowering you to reduce demurrage fees while increasing visibility into port activity. The result is that you can more proactively and strategically plan the movement of containers once they discharge at U.S. ports.

Growing aquarium plants

Enjoy the Clearest, Most Detailed View Into Your Containers’ Journeys

All container ships are tracked via an automatic identification system (AIS) that captures location updates via terrestrial-based AIS (T-AIS) and satellite-based AIS (S-AIS). Vizion’s AIS data includes departure and arrival events not provided by ocean carriers.

Growing aquarium plants
01
Increase Your Scope of Visibility
Many cargo owners and freight forwarders operate without a precise level of container visibility. Vizion's container tracking offers reliable status updates that facilitate better supply chain planning and management.

Know What’s Happening With Your Ocean Freight in as Close to Real-Time as Possible

Vizion automatically pushes Port & Terminal Events to your ERP, TMS or other software system, empowering you to reduce demurrage fees while increasing visibility into port activity. The result is that you can more proactively and strategically plan the movement of containers once they discharge at U.S. ports.

Growing aquarium plants
02
Eliminate Labor-Intensive Processes
Making calls, sending emails, or visiting websites for container status updates are labor-intensive, error-prone processes that lack scalability. With Vizion API, you get access to more complete data, updated automatically.

Know What’s Happening With Your Ocean Freight in as Close to Real-Time as Possible

Vizion automatically pushes Port & Terminal Events to your ERP, TMS or other software system, empowering you to reduce demurrage fees while increasing visibility into port activity. The result is that you can more proactively and strategically plan the movement of containers once they discharge at U.S. ports.

Growing aquarium plants
03
Improve Your Supply Chain Efficiency
Armed with the knowledge of when your containers are approaching their last free date and when they are ready for pickup allows for better coordination with drayage providers for better inventory management and a more efficient supply chain.

Know What’s Happening With Your Ocean Freight in as Close to Real-Time as Possible

Vizion automatically pushes Port & Terminal Events to your ERP, TMS or other software system, empowering you to reduce demurrage fees while increasing visibility into port activity. The result is that you can more proactively and strategically plan the movement of containers once they discharge at U.S. ports.

Growing aquarium plants
04
Stay Proactive to Drive Costs Down
The container tracking data of Vizion API enables you to manage or even completely avoid costly fees. This visibility also supports auditing of detention and demurrage fees to ensure their accuracy.
A cargo owner saves 15 hours each week by replacing manual track-and-trace processes with automated updates from Vizion.
3rdwave leverages Vizion to give customers better data.
Century surfaces port performance data in its VIZIV platform.

Get supply chain industry insights

Our library of resources includes Vizion data, white papers, case studies, blog posts, podcasts, webinars, plus more.

Get the Most Advanced Visibility Into the Journey of Your Ocean and Rail Containers

Talk to one of our supply chain experts to get started now.
Talk to an Expert
Shipping container at seaShipping container at sea