Cold Chain Technology Solutions

ThrillingTechTrends #13 - Carbon Intelligence ♻️ is redefining what’s possible. Measuring freshness is great. But measuring freshness with impact is even greater: Using a combination of real-time IoT sensor data, AI-based route prediction, and lifecycle-based emission models, it’s becoming possible to measure and manage CO₂ output across every leg of the fresh supply chain — from pre-cooling and storage to multimodal transport and last-mile delivery. Here’s what’s happening behind the scenes: ✅ Telematics & Sensor Fusion: Temperature, humidity, energy consumption, and fuel data are aggregated via connected devices on trucks, containers, and warehouses. ✅ Edge Analytics: Emission data is processed on the move to detect anomalies, idle times, and inefficient cooling cycles — enabling instant optimization. ✅ AI-Driven Carbon Forecasting: Predictive models simulate carbon impact under different routing, timing, and packaging scenarios to support low-emission decisions in real time. ✅ Dynamic CO₂ Attribution: Each product unit can be assigned a precise carbon footprint based on actual transport conditions, not static averages — enabling true product-level transparency. The result? A smarter cold chain that keeps food fresh and carbon footprints low. Decarbonizing fresh logistics is no longer an ambition — it’s getting reality & will make our world better. 🌎 #CarbonIntelligence #FreshLogistics #ColdChainTech #SupplyChainInnovation #IoT #SustainableLogistics #AIinLogistics #GreenTech

Fruits & vegetables fetch quick commerce platforms 2x margins than packaged foods (only if they solve 1 critical problem) Zepto is investing heavily in cold chain logistics like refrigerated trucks while partnering with the Transport Corporation of India to expand its storage and distribution capabilities in the south. Cold chain logistics isn't new. The USA and Japan have had it since the 1950s, with over 70% coverage of perishable goods like dairy, meat, fruits, and vegetables. But India’s coverage remains just 4%. This is why we lose 15% of our total produce between harvest and consumption, amounting to an estimated economic value of ₹926 billion (USD 11.1 billion). For example, mangoes from Malihabad often lose 30% of their value before reaching Delhi markets just 500km away. The cold chain approach involves maintaining consistent temperatures across the entire journey, from farm sorting to dark store to doorstep delivery. While packaged goods offer 14-15% margins, fresh produce can deliver up to 30%. India's challenge remains substantial. For logistics companies, this creates 3 major opportunities: 📍 Temperature-controlled last-mile delivery networks that can maintain freshness for 10-minute deliveries 📍 Tech-enabled quality monitoring systems that reduce rejections and returns 📍 Specialized warehousing solutions near consumption centers to minimize handling Zepto is already processing 20 lakh+ units of fresh produce daily, but they're not alone in this race: 👉 Blinkit is leveraging Zomato's logistics network for perishables  👉 Instamart is integrating AI-powered cold storage into its micro-warehouses  👉 bigbasket's BB Now is using Tata's supply chain expertise to strengthen their fresh produce operations. The cold chain market in India is projected to grow from $14.5B to $53B by 2032. Early movers will capture the most value. Cold chain masters win on both margins and sustainability, making speed to market the only real question. Are you noticing a difference in produce quality between quick commerce apps? #QuickCommerce #ColdChainLogistics #FreshProduce

How Unilever is using AI to make sure your ice cream doesn't melt this summer The summer of 2024 was a wake-up call for the ice cream industry. In France, Nestlé Extreme ice cream had to be recalled due to a cold chain break during transport, raising serious concerns about product safety and quality. The incident highlighted the critical challenge of maintaining the perfect temperature for perishable goods throughout their journey. Now, AI is stepping in to ensure your favorite ice cream stays frozen from factory to freezer. The cold chain is the backbone of ice cream logistics, requiring seamless temperature monitoring from production to storage and delivery. Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL), a key player in the ice cream market, has embraced AI to optimise this process. In an exclusive conversation with AIM, Satyashali Kawde, assistant CQA (certified quality auditor), HUL, Mumbai, highlighted the company’s adoption of the real-time monitoring system (RTMS). This AI-powered tool ensures optimal temperatures during transportation and storage in India. “Ice cream is a perishable and highly sensitive product. Maintaining its quality requires meticulous temperature control throughout the supply chain. Last year, HUL introduced RTMS, which uses sensors in dedicated ice cream trucks and storage depots to monitor and adjust temperatures in real time,” he said. “The tool enables centralised monitoring, live tracking of trucks, and instant alerts on temperature fluctuations,” Kawde added. This AI-driven system has significantly reduced product loss due to temperature variations, improving efficiency beyond traditional physical monitoring methods. Full story link in the comment.

$500k in spoiled vaccines vs. $50k in preventive tech. The difference? Not just technology—it’s proactive ownership. Some companies: - Depend on manual checks - React after the damage is done - Accept losses as "the cost of business" But the smarter ones? They’re preventing loss before it happens—by embedding real-time monitoring into their cold chain logistics. Here’s how leading providers are doing it with Azure: 1️⃣ IoT sensors are installed in transport containers to monitor temperature and humidity, feeding data directly into Azure IoT Hub. This integration allows logistics companies to access real-time data in their systems without disrupting operations. 2️⃣ Data flows seamlessly into Azure IoT Hub, where pre-configured modules handle the heavy lifting. The configuration syncs easily with ERP and tracking software, so companies avoid a complete tech rebuild while gaining real-time visibility. 3️⃣ Instead of piecing together data from multiple sources, Azure Data Lake acts as a secure, scalable repository. It integrates effortlessly with existing storage, reducing workflow complexity and giving logistics teams a single source of truth. 4️⃣ Then, Azure Databricks processes this data live, with built-in anomaly detection directly aligned with the current machine learning framework. This avoids the need for new workflows, keeping the system efficient and user-friendly. 5️⃣ If a temperature anomaly occurs, Azure Managed Endpoints immediately trigger alerts. Dashboards and mobile apps send notifications through the company’s existing alert systems, ensuring immediate action is taken. The bottom line? If healthcare companies want to reduce risk truly, proactive monitoring with real-time Azure insights is the answer. In a field where every minute matters, this setup safeguards patient health and reputations. Now, how would real-time monitoring fit into your logistics strategy? Share your thoughts below! 👇 #Healthcare #IoT #Azure #Simform #Logistics ==== PS.  Visit my profile, @Hiren, & subscribe to my weekly newsletter: - Get product engineering insights. - Discover proven development strategies. - Catch up on the latest Azure & Gen AI trends.

🚀 Exciting News: New Paper Published! 🚀 I am happy to share that our paper, "Revolutionize Cold Chain: An AI/ML Driven Approach to Overcome Capacity Shortages," has been published in the International Journal of Production Research. Feel free to read and download. Open Access https://lnkd.in/eGMUWhWm In this research, we explored how integrating AI and machine learning methodologies can significantly enhance cold chain management by improving efficiency, planning, and capacity utilization. By leveraging the Customer Segmentation Matrix, we were able to provide more accurate forecasts tailored to different customer segments, addressing the complexity of managing a diverse customer base. 🔍 Key Insights & Managerial Implications: 1) AI/ML Integration: Our study highlights the benefits of using AI/ML models for accurate forecasting and as part of a comprehensive approach to capacity planning, allowing companies to be more agile and responsive to market fluctuations and disruptions. 2) Customer Segmentation: By segmenting customers, companies can tailor their strategies to meet individual needs, reducing forecast inaccuracies and optimizing capacity allocation. 3) Dynamic Planning: The proposed framework goes beyond traditional forecasting, offering a dynamic and flexible planning process that can adapt to changing market conditions, ensuring businesses can maintain operations even during unexpected disruptions. This research was made possible with the invaluable support of Americold, who provided the data and collaboration necessary to translate these findings into real-world applications that can enhance industry practices. A huge thank you to my co-authors Jafar Namdar, Maria Jesus Saenz, Richard Elmquist, and Luis Rodrigo Dávila for the dedication and hard work on this project. Of course, as always, my sincere thanks to the MIT Center for Transportation & Logistics and MIT Digital Supply Chain Transformation Lab for providing me with a fruitful environment and endless inspiration. #AI #MachineLearning #ColdChain #SupplyChain #CapacityPlanning #Research #IJPR #Americold #MITCTL

Cold chain logistics aren't about making the reefer as cool as possible - they're about ensuring consistency throughout the load. For your brokers and dispatchers who are new to working with cold chain loads, we've pulled together some best practices to help them get up to speed. 🥶 𝐏𝐫𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐩 1. Pre-cool the trailer to the required temperature before loading to ensure it is at the correct temperature from the start. 2. Ensure proper packaging with insulating materials and coolants like gel packs or dry ice. Be mindful of how you load - watch out for air ducts and vents. 3. Train staff on proper handling procedures and conducting a pre-trip equipment check. 🚛 𝐃𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭 4. Ensure that the trailer doors are properly sealed to maintain the desired temperature and prevent outside air from entering. 5. Use data loggers to record temperature fluctuations throughout the journey. 6. Set up alerts for any temperature excursions outside the acceptable range. 7. Maintain open lines of communication with drivers, shippers, and receivers to quickly address any temperature control issues that arise. 🍦 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐩 8. Ensure that the goods are unloaded promptly upon arrival to minimize exposure to outside temperatures. 9. Analyze collected data to identify patterns and optimize your cold chain processes. 10. Keep detailed records of temperature settings, monitoring data, and any incidents or deviations during transit. This helps with compliance and can be useful in resolving disputes. What best practices are you using for your reefer loads this summer?