Misconceptions About Real-Time Visibility in the Cold Chain

Blockchain will solve the traceability and trust problem. There is a lot of hype about blockchain and the future of traceability, collaboration, and trust across the food chain. While blockchain technology certainly poses many potential benefits for the food supply chain, the integrity of a blockchain is only as good as the data going into it. Cloud and IoT already provide the ability to automatically and securely collect, transmit, and share data centrally to track, monitor, and manage shipments moving throughout the supply chain. That data can be stored securely and shared with stakeholders, including partners and insurance providers, or made available via API integrations.

To improve and optimize food traceability, it is highly recommended that businesses start implementing a real-time tracking and remote monitoring program today and not wait and see whether blockchain adoption takes off.

Building the Next Generation Food Cold Chain

With FSMA bringing more regulation into the industry as a result of recent foodborne illnesses, IoT in food safety will only continue to grow in demand. It will no longer be merely a novel technological advance in the supply chain, but it will be a mission-critical part of it.

A mandatory electronic trail that tracks temperature-controlled shipments ensures safe practices throughout the food supply chain, proactively prevents damage or safety issues, and allows easy traceability to the source in the event that an outbreak does happen. It shouldn’t take weeks or months to get back to the source. And IoT will be blazing this electronic trail ensuring a food safe future.

All of these concepts apply to the food supply cold chain, where most of the goods transported or stored are characterized by a limited shelf life, and the intensive control can lead to cost savings and protected brand integrity. Real-time tracking and remote monitoring can reveal, in many cases, unseen issues, reduce undesired situations, reduce handling of goods, unveil areas for food safety improvement as well as opportunities for further food waste reduction.

Herjolfsson is co-founder and CEO of Controlant, a technology company developing cold chain monitoring solutions for the global food safety supply chain. Reach him at gisli@controlant.com.