FEATURE
INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
the payload by changing of routes to reach destination quicker – everyone wins .
Other than the obvious benefits , the incorporation of this technology can also build onto a company ’ s training and maintenance schedules by identifying trends or actions that lead to incidents . This could be applied to a number of divisions within a business and applications throughout . This information could also be linked to performance practices in the business risk strategy to remedy any risk with the correct and timeous solution .
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The cold chain is essential in providing quality and safe food products to consumers and must be maintained to achieve optimal shelf life or avoid premature spoiling and waste .
this information to understand more about sector risks and where mitigation means could be implemented .
That being said , South African business is unfortunately notorious for being ‘ scared of technology adoption ’ and this in turn creates quite disparate sectors because the natural deployment of technology to create new ‘ industry norms ’ continues to be slow to change , for the most part . This inaction really comes down to the fact that there is still a widespread lack of understand around technology options , and thus business owners not being able to perceive a value . Adopting technology like a telematics or monitoring device is therefore only done ‘ because the insurance company says they must ’.
There are of course many businesses reaping the maximum benefits that technology continues to offer and keep up to date with global trends . Here a further example of technology development over the years is advancement to machine learning ( ML ) and artificial intelligent ( AI ). As both AI and ML have grown , there are a number of things that can now happen ‘ on the fly ’. Here , snapshots of business operations , safety incident reporting , tracking , alerts , and even full communications platforms have been developed into real-time . This includes control room operations , in-cab two-way communications , smart devices , and handheld device apps amongst others . control solutions and optimal efficiencies in various business divisions – even as far as enabling inter-business connection .
Logistics , as a major portion of the cold chain are the essential keys in ensuring the required temperatures are maintained , but further as road transport has surged over the last year , insurance companies have also increased their scope of interest in driver behaviour and road incidents – which also include delays , theft , and possible damages from looting ( that was seen in mid-2021 in South Africa ). Given that a refrigerated truck as we know , fully laden , holds a significant investment - both the asset and payload need to be handled as best possible .
Risk management in this sense can therefore include or be in the form of real time monitoring , visual elements , warnings or alerts around human-linked activities , equipment performance or plant status . In human-linked activity monitoring can be directly associated with any necessary corrective measures should a driver , for example , be speeding , braking harshly or even excessively using clutch control . Further , through the integration of visual element such as video feeds or dash cameras , risks can be advised , or solutions suggested and controlled from a remote location as and when required . Equipment performance monitoring during transit or at a stationary plant at a storage facility can quickly identify if any element is not functioning optimally and if a failure has or may occur affecting any perishable goods . Further to this , adding real time location to goods in transit enables a far more information-rich scenario for the other service providers in the supply chain . For example , timing of deliveries , notice of delays and changing of routes to accommodate traffic build up , and so on all make it onto the list of why this technology assists in risk mitigation . It naturally makes sense that should a delivery in a truck with a critical refrigeration error , be able to salvage
USING TECHNOLOGY TO LOWER RISK The more data that is available through a supply chain , the bigger the picture view will be of a sector and the more reporting can be generated right down to an individual business level . The more incident data that exists in turn changes business dynamics from the typical reactive scenario ( also a common business trait in South Africa ) to a pro-active and predictive model . This fact then has a direct impact onto insurance risks . Other than that , new risks can be identified , possibly before they even come about in a system .
Effective cold chain monitoring , that leverages advanced IoT and 4IR technology , offers multiple benefits by helping companies and their partners to access and monitor real-time data to quickly detect product temperature variations and minimize damage by executing pro-active troubleshooting measures and improving business analysis , quality aspects and predictive solutions .
The nature of doing business nowadays does not happen in isolation and has in fact become quite complex . Companies become part of an interdependent system that involves both internal and external stakeholders . As the business environment therefore becomes increasingly interconnected ( and volatile ), business managers and owners must upkeep a comprehensive understanding of everyday risks and be prepared and equipped to manage these .
One of the major terms as an example that is widely used today is ‘ business interruption ’ that can occur due to several factors , ranging from property damage , erratic weather conditions , machinery breakdowns , labour disputes , and even so far as the latest
TECHNOLOGY CREATES NEW POSSIBILITIES Now all this talk of technology may be very interesting , but what and how does it play a part in minimising risks in the cold chain ? Well , technology has greatly widened the possibilities around creating not only safer operational conditions , but immediate
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Possibilities of efficiency , control and predictive outcomes will become endless internally and intra-business as technology and integration advances .
28 www . coldlinkafrica . co . za COLD LINK AFRICA • March / April 2022