Okoban manages its tracking system on behalf of the companies and agencies who use it, including luggage manufacturers, airlines and the TSA.

Okoban first emerged as a spin-off of Travel Sentry, a company that sets standards for luggage locks.

The first products based on the Okoban standard were produced in 2009 by Sunco Luggage [ja] of Japan.

In the Japanese language the letter "O" preceding a word is a sign of respect; synonymous with "honourable".

[3] If an item is misplaced or lost, and then found, the finder can enter its UID into the Okoban system.