Logistics has faced a number of challenges over the past several years. Rapid fluctuations in temperature due to climate change, as well as drastic adjustments to the supply chain as an effect of the pandemic and political unrest, make perishable goods logistics a difficult challenge to meet. Companies that fail to integrate technology into their processes are at an increased risk of failing performance, which can affect public health as well as the organization’s financial security. These recent innovations can help businesses to improve their overall efficiency and accuracy when transporting perishable goods.
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Optimized Logistics
The entire transportation industry is undergoing a transformation due to technology. The addition of AI and data analytics allows companies to optimize logistics to minimize wait times and increase the overall efficiency of transport. Integrated systems can process orders within minutes, maintain an updated inventory and provide the most accurate path to delivery based on past data and forecasts. These benefits are crucial for perishable goods, which are more likely to spoil under inefficient systems.
Updated Supply Chain Management
Supply chain challenges due to political instability, climate change and other effects call for updated supply chain management systems. Weaknesses in the supply chain lead to certain regions lacking access to perishable goods, while others have such a surplus that much of it goes to waste. An updated supply chain management system can use predictive analytics to anticipate changes in demand to shape supply goals. It can also highlight unstable sources of supplies from vulnerable regions, creating time to find suitable alternatives.
Comprehensive Cold Chain Solutions
Ultimately, suppliers, processors, retailers and consumers call for a comprehensive system of cold chain transportation. If perishable goods fall into the hands of a faulty system at any point in the process, they may be spoiled. Technological innovations lead to the creation of cold chain solutions, including real-time monitoring systems that provide up-to-the-minute data and transparency for the public.
Sensors
Smart sensors can transform an outdated cold storage system. These sensors use Wi-Fi to connect to smart hubs that collect data on temperature, humidity and other factors. This information can give important details to the receiving facility about the general condition of the perishable goods. For example, food at a high risk of contamination due to temperature fluctuations during transport could be preventively wasted, so that consumers face lower risk of the spread of foodborne illness. This data can also be used to highlight equipment testing and repair needs to minimize the risk of future problems.
Internet of Things
The Internet of Things may be a cliché in consumer goods, but its use in perishable goods logistics is paramount. A series of connected devices can send useful information to a hub, which creates data visualization based on various factors that affect the safety of perishable goods. The use of these tools in preparation, storage, and transportation can help to establish an unbroken chain of proper handling, from the initial harvest or manufacturing to the destination.
Blockchain
The use of blockchain completes the package that provides ideal control over perishable goods systems in transit. The main worries that people face in perishable goods logistics are spoiling and contamination. Sensors and other testing equipment can verify the safety of the item in question, reporting this data immediately to an online repository. Blockchain involves a decentralized storage of this information, so that it remains accessible and accurate worldwide. This component is key for maintaining a high level of transparency and building public trust in the safety of perishable goods transported across international lines.
Persistent challenges to the global supply chain have forced logistics companies to innovate. Solutions involve integrating technology into every aspect of the process, from processing orders quickly and optimizing the supply chain to verifying the safety of perishable goods during transport. By implementing these innovations, businesses can create a sustainable route to providing this crucial service in the future.
Author bio
Patrick Hannon is a Business Development Manager at Green Rabbit. He specializes in driving growth and strategic partnerships. Hannon is a seasoned professional in the cold chain logistics industry, with three years of experience.
