The term “ETA predictions” (Estimated Time of Arrival) refers to algorithmic forecasts of when shipments, vehicles, people, or jobs will arrive. Calculations combine real-time and historical data (e.g., GPS, traffic and weather feeds, scan events, calendars) to produce an exact timestamp or a time window - often with probabilities. The goals are transparency across delivery and service chains, better planning, SLA adherence, and an improved customer experience.
Real-time data capture: Aggregating GPS/telematics, IoT signals, scan events (hub, depot, gate), and status updates from TMS/WMS/MES.
Data enrichment: Integrating traffic, weather, road works, tolls, restrictions, as well as opening hours and cut-off times.
Forecasting & machine learning: Leveraging historical patterns, feature engineering, continuous re-training, and rolling re-calculation of ETAs.
Dynamic routing and tour planning: Re-routing under disruptions, congestion, or priority changes; optimizing stop sequences.
Service, loading, and waiting times: Accounting for dock times, handling times, driver hours-of-service, and yard processes.
Time windows & uncertainty: Presenting ETAs as windows with confidence (e.g., ± minutes) rather than a single timestamp.
SLA monitoring & alerts: Early warnings for potential delays, automatic escalations, and mitigation recommendations.
Exception management: Detecting deviations (e.g., missing signals, outliers), auto re-routing, and event-based triggers.
Customer communication: Proactive notifications, track-and-trace links, live countdowns, and self-service delivery slots.
Geofencing & events: Triggers on gate-in/out, “X minutes to arrival,” and service start.
Integrations & APIs: Connecting TMS, WMS, ERP, CRM, driver apps, and carrier networks; webhooks for ETA updates.
Dashboards & reporting: On-time performance, OTIF analytics, root-cause analysis, quality metrics (e.g., MAE/MAPE), historical benchmarks.
Data quality & anomaly detection: Plausibility checks, gap filling for GPS dropouts, detection of faulty scans.
Time zone, calendar, and holiday logic: Correct calculations across regions, daylight saving changes, and local business hours.
An online retailer shows a delivery window at checkout based on ZIP code, cut-off time, and carrier performance.
A freight forwarder automatically notifies customers when hub delays change the ETA and adjusts delivery slots.
A last-mile app continuously recalculates the driver’s ETA and sends 15-minute notifications to recipients.
A plant uses truck ETAs for gate time-slot management and dynamic dock assignment.
A public transport operator displays real-time arrivals at stops (“Bus in 4 minutes”) based on vehicle telematics.
A field-service provider offers customers a 2-hour technician window with live updates under traffic disruptions.
A port logistics team predicts container ETAs for gate pickup using vessel AIS and weather data.
A manufacturer forecasts work-in-process ETAs between stations to optimize sequencing and material flow.