Introduction
Cold Chain Management is beneficial in many ways, and it is no surprise that it has become even more vital than before as we roll into the new decade. Organic eating is now one of the most popular trends of the modern era, and thus there has been an increase in the demand for higher-quality fresh produce. As a result, there has been a higher demand for refrigerated system capacities in the food and beverage industry. Similarly, the growth of the pharmaceutical industry has also led to an increase in dependence on cold-storage facilities. There has been a massive increase in cold-chain drugs, and the numbers seem to keep rising.
With this massive reliance on cold storage facilities, it becomes evident that cold chain solutions need to be innovated, making them more efficient and readily available such as the case with AlphaBOLD’s Cold Chain Management Solution. If you would like to know more about what AlphaBOLD offers in this area, please visit the link below:
https://www.alphabold.com/coldchain-management-solution-iot/
Trade Barriers and Cold Chain Management
There has been a stress on cold-chain logistics worldwide due to the trade tensions that have seeped into 2020 from the past year. Even though the trade in perishable cargoes grows, trade tensions between shippers and carriers have slowed the output in key economies. Furthermore, with the outbreak of coronavirus, another unexpected strain has been put on the global supply chain of many Chinese trade products. There are expected delays, threats about sanitation, etc. that need to be considered.
The situation is becoming more stressful due to the stringent regulations controlling the storage and shipping of perishable items. Cold chain logistics is a complicated process that involves multiple participants at every stage. There are people involved in the stocking process, the packaging process, and the hauling process. Even a minor mistake, such as a disruption in temperature, light, or humidity, can lead to wastage of the products in questions. Light/temperature-sensitive drugs can lose their effectiveness and thus become dangerous for the patients. This is a huge problem for pharma companies as their reputations are on stake.
Challenges for Cold Chain Operators
Since cold storage operators are dealing with temperature/light-sensitive products, they have a lot to maintain around the clock. Warehouse refrigeration and frozen distribution centers have a set of strict rules based on their construction and maintenance requirements. They need round the clock power supply with a stable temperature and light balance.
Furthermore, cold chain operators must be physically present at the cold storage center to examine the deliverables. This would also be problematic due to the wide geographical distribution of the warehouses. The supply chain was further constrained due to a lack of visibility and chances of miscommunication among the stakeholders.
The Role of IoT – Challenges Averted!
It is ideal for cold storage operators to deploy IoT enabled monitoring solutions like embedded sensors in their cold chain facilities, and materials in transit such as in specialty trucks, delivery vehicles, etc. These sensors send timely alerts through environmental triggers for failures, and they also provide a coherent tracking network to ensure that operators get real-time insights on the entire supply chain. Incorporating IoT based solutions into the supply chain means that operators must update their cooling conditioners to other distribution packages that guarantee improved temperature control, real-time data insights, automated reporting, and predictive maintenance. As overwhelming as these may seem, IoT based solutions not only offer a better supply chain process for the operator, they also help reduce the overall wastage of products, energy, and resources!
Furthermore, IoT powered sensors allow stakeholders to make data-driven decisions that improve operational output and distribution schedules. This allows cold chain logistics to become more streamlined and visible, which translates into customer retention, less wastage of resources, and lower costs. With IoT based solutions, the process of environmental analysis and temperature check becomes automated. This results in fewer manual errors and end to end visibility of the process. Real-time insights help stakeholders stay in the know through controlled pilferage, timed status checks, stage tracking, etc. Cold chain partners can also communicate effectively and get updates on the supply chain remotely without having to be present in the facility.
Learn more about AlphaBOLD’s Cold Chain Management here!
Conclusion:
Cold chain management is indeed one of the key trends of 2020. Not only is it environment-friendly, but cold chain solutions provide business with an edge by saving their resources and time. Cold chain management is particularly beneficial for the pharmaceutical and food and beverage industry. I hope that this blog helped you understand the benefits of cold chain management. If you have any questions on cold chain management, or AlphaBOLD’s cold chain management solution, leave a comment below!
