Cold chain logistics is a key part of the supply chain dedicated to providing temperature-controlled surface transportation and storage of perishable items before, during, and after delivery. This entails a highly orchestrated effort to ensure proper packaging, the best mode of transportation, the optimal routes, and precise timing. To accomplish this, cold chain management heavily relies on visibility.
The 2020 pandemic highlighted many struggles silently hiding in modern cold supply chains. For many companies, inventory visibility and traceability systems were quickly put to the test, especially for food producers and pharmaceutical manufacturers. Studies estimated that 9 in 10 manufacturers reported not trusting the data captured throughout the supply chain. As a result, many have turned to automation solutions to expand visibility within cold storage facilities. However, extreme temperatures and water exposure pose a challenge to technology solutions, ultimately contributing to:
To prevent these consequences, strategic solution designers recommend implementing freezer-ready technology systems. Built to withstand the complexities and rigorous workflows associated with cold chain management, freezer-ready solutions can help distributors accurately track inventory without high operational and replacement costs. Nevertheless, businesses must be careful to correctly distinguish a freezer-ready solution from traditional automation.
The global cold chain market is growing every day as consumer preferences shift to wanting more high-quality products while reducing spoilage. Therefore, cold chains require intelligent visibility systems to monitor specific and constant environmental conditions for their products. Whether it’s food or pharmaceuticals, cold chain storage needs precise equipment, workers, security, and rules that must be followed. As a result, a viable freezer-ready automation solution should be...
Having the right tools and equipment is half the battle, but not every device can be used for cold storage. The first hurdle is ensuring you have enterprise-grade equipment, not consumer-grade. While consumer-grade products can often be more appealing, they are not built to last in work environments. Rugged devices are capable of enduring low temperatures, falls, and exposure to water. Without tough, cold-resistant devices, workers will be spending unnecessary time trying to get equipment to work properly, warming them up, or reporting them as broken. As a rule of thumb, your devices should have:
Related: Technology plays a huge role in enhancing the cold chain. Find out why
Now that your devices can withstand the brutal conditions of typical cold storage, the second hurdle is having the right ecosystem for them to thrive. Consider digitizing workloads with intuitive systems and technologies such as:
These systems listed here are essential but are only the beginning of what is required for cold storage. Innovative visibility systems such as IoT and robotics may also be key to ensuring operations run smoothly.
Durable automation helps teams perform better while easing the workload. Therefore, when selecting a new system for cold chain management, it is imperative to make sure it...
Furthermore, systems should be easy to use since human error can account for many issues in cold chain storage. For example, while technology can relay information such as delivery times, temperature, and expiration dates, inaccurate barcode scanning may attribute that information to the wrong product. While moving inventory from locations and loading or unloading, some perishables may sit out too long, ruining their shelf life or quality. This can also happen if a worker turns on or off a piece of equipment without knowing the consequences. Easy-to-use systems such as voice-directed solutions have earned their way in the cold chain since they use audible cues to guide workers through several crucial workflows such as picking, inspection, and asset usage. Workers need only to follow spoken cues, keeping their eyes focused on what’s before them and limiting injuries.
Related: Check out three cold chain trends your teams should be aware of this year.
Working with trained experts in cold storage can help educate you and your team on maintaining an optimal environment for your inventory. By partnering with a qualified support team, cold chain decision-makers can ensure their systems are strong enough to fit their environments while optimizing networking systems and unifying the workforce with one adaptable solution. Contact a Heartland specialist today to learn more about cold storage and how to modernize your warehouse with industry-leading software and technology.