Article
Emerging Solutions to Enhance Product Traceability
Food and Nutrition
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Globally, consumers demand transparency and collated data regarding sources/products. The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to a network of connected devices, objects, and sensors when applied to the global supply chain. IoT technology helps industries to serve their customers in a cost-efficient manner better. IoT-based solutions include GPS monitors that track a shipment’s location to its current temperature, providing real-time facts allowing logistics professionals and consumers to understand their supply chain operations.
This article explores the emerging IoT and digital solutions to track and trace solutions across the food chain.
IoT-based supply chain tracking services
Escavox, a start-up from Australia, offers IoT-based tracking services that ease traceability and offer transparency throughout the supply chain.
- The technology offered by the entity helps in monitoring the cold chain activities keeping track of the temperature and time-related issues. The monitoring further facilitates in reducing the rejections and product loss. Any loophole observed at any stage of the supply chain could be corrected and strengthened. Improved quality and waste reductions are the two significant outcomes supported by the technology.
- Escavox tracking services are based on the blue box trackers, placed in a carton of the product during harvest or post-processing packaging. The blue box tracker becomes part of the supply chain and travels with the produce. It helps monitor data related to temperature, time, and location across the supply chain at hourly intervals and displays data on a secure online data platform.
- The customers have easy access to their data. The data can be studied using simple dashboards wherein intelligent analytics are employed to give transparency to various aspects of the supply chain.
- One of the benefits of the tracker includes sharing data to the customers with other supply chain partners in a secured environment. The retailers can remove the tracker and return the same to the Escavox hub.
SaaS platform for product tracking and traceability
EVRYTHNG, a start-up from the UK, develops an Internet of Things SaaS platform for the supply chain and helps its customers in real-time data tracking.
- The technology offered by Evrything helps the businesses to use the information to operate with agility & integrity and allows them to gather and apply the data intelligence in real-time. EVRYTHNG Product Cloud links every product item to its Active Digital Identity on the web.
- The technology helps collect the product data at every point in the value chain, providing visibility, validation, real-time intelligence, and also connects with people.
- Every product has its Active Digital Identity in the cloud, which links and manages all unique data of the supply chain. Active Digital Identity provides a unique and secure digital identity to the product on the web. Active digital identity acts as a digital twin and makes every item the manufacturer produces and sells traceable, intelligent and interactive.
- EVRYTHNG also supports GS1 identifiers and dynamic data models. One of the significant advantages of using the technology is that it integrates packaging providers for fast deployment. It also supports various tags, sensors, and codes such as QR code, NFC, RFID, and Bluetooth.
Industry 4.0 machine data platform
Arch systems, a start-up from California, USA, offers modular connected systems which allow companies to measure, understand, and optimize their resources.
- The entity engages in connecting manufacturing equipment to the cloud. The technology leads to a more connected and sustainable solution adopted in the production systems. The technology makes it easy to retrofit new machines across vendor types and models, extract data and convert them into insights. The solution is particularly ideal for a manufacturing system with a mix of machines and people handling manual and semi-manual operations.
- The solutions offered include machine utilization, performance monitoring, anomaly detection, and predictive maintenance. The technology can be integrated with the in-house systems to accelerate existing Industry 4.0 or automation initiatives.
- ArchFX deploys a four-step approach that facilitates the transformation of machine data into real business value. The four steps include extract, transform, load, and analyze. The technology helps extract relevant analytics, which helps in increasing production efficiencies, process automation, and predictive analytics.
Innova traceability across the food chain
Marel, one of the global providers of advanced processing systems and services, caters to the poultry, meat, and fish industries.
- The food processing software offered by Marel caters to applying different solutions – simple device control modules to total processing solutions adapted based on individual needs of food processors.
- The solutions offered include traceability throughout the system, reports and real-time dashboards, reliable paperless data collection in a centralized system, real-time monitoring of KPIs like yield, throughput, and quality, and experienced food processing consultants.
- For instance, for monitoring raw material inventory, items can be assigned to a stock location when they enter the inventory. Information such as quantity, age, expiration date, location, and supplier is essential for production planning and scheduling each item. It shares accurate information regarding different production lines, raw material usage, and cost and origin of raw materials per production line. All the information obtained could be analyzed in reports and external systems, allowing comprehensive cost analysis and further production planning.
Blockchain + Data Intelligence for Traceability & Transparency
Tilkal, a French start-up, offers an end-to-end and real-time traceability platform for supply chains.
- The entity uses a blockchain network to facilitate secure data collection and auditing. Additionally, aggregated view of supply chain data could be assessed based on data intelligence analysis and alerts.
- The solution offered employs ready-to-use components to collect traceability data from multiple sources. The components include the Internet of Things (IoT), audit reports, enterprise resource planning (ERP) software, and other digital sources. The solutions are easily deployable and support large-scale traceability initiatives.
- Some of the technology features include performance scalability, security and confidentiality, quick and easy to deploy, and ready-to-use components such as digitalization and mobile applications.
References
- FutureBridge Internal Database
- Company Websites
- Press Releases
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