In logistics, tracing is the process of uniformly generating a sample of traces of objects that are forwarded to, processed for, applied in or disposed of usage. The obtained trace hence is a map depicted or the coordinates listed retrospectively from the reckoned events of occurrence of the respective object.

Tracing originally is subject of criminology, concerning setting up traces of occurrence of objects generated from sporadic traces left in momentary locations. A related concept is that of tracking, which uniformly describes the process of contemporarily setting a track.

Tracing should not be used synonymously to tracking in logistics. Both terms are used in conjunction as Tracking and Tracing for imposing control on performing services of logistics.