Global supply chains have a waste management problem. Annually, global supply chain inefficiency contributes to the 1.3 billion tons of food waste worldwide. The World Economic Forum, meanwhile, estimates that over half of the world’s carbon emissions can be attributed to the supply chains of just eight industries.
Meanwhile, the global supply chain crisis that started with the Covid-19 pandemic in early 2020 continues to undermine dependability. A January 2022 executive survey from PwC found that ongoing supply chain disruption is the second most pressing risk factor in business leaders’ minds, while 60% say digital transformation is their most critical growth driver this year.
With this in mind, it’s encouraging to see that as a new wave of technology sweeps through businesses, supply chain stakeholders have begun implementing novel solutions to increase efficiency.
Visibility and transparency are more than buzzwords in the modern supply chain. They are keys to increasing efficiency and reducing waste. In the past, technological solutions such as radio frequency identification (RFID) tags played a significant role in tracking shipments and monitoring storage conditions.
These days, the internet of things (IoT) is leaving a mark. The rise of Finnish startup Logmore is a perfect example of the sweeping digital changes occurring in the global supply chain.
Guardian Data Loggers
Logmore’s journey began by identifying issues in existing supply chain technology. Specifically, RFID logger technology and its shortcomings seemed a fertile area in which the startup could develop novel solutions.
Data transmission when using RFID solutions requires significant investment in proprietary systems which are often unreliable. Signals either get lost or vanish into thin air when faced with turbulent conditions. For instance, radio waves frequently get knocked around in container stacks, leading to lapses in information transfers. In turn, this creates waste that can easily be avoided.
IoT devices such as Logmore’s Guardian tags solve all these issues elegantly. The device is connected to a sensor within shipments and displays a QR code on an electronic screen attached to the pallet or package. An employee can scan this code using their smartphone (or any QR code scanner) and transmit shipment-related data to a central database.
Thus, data visibility increases, and shipments are monitored at all times. Automating data gathering is one of Logmore’s CEO, Niko Polvinen’s, key priorities. “I often say, let the packages tell their story, When data gathering and sharing is automated, nothing gets overlooked,” he notes.
Logmore’s commitment to putting data in stakeholders’ hands goes further than designing innovative devices.
Sophisticated Cloud Solutions
These days, every innovative company hosts its data on the cloud. There are significant advantages to cloud infrastructure compared to on-site, static servers. Maintenance, scaling storage, and upgrades are outsourced for a single monthly fee.
Companies can therefore concentrate on what they’re best at, instead of setting up costly IT departments. Logmore’s cloud solution boosts data transparency by transmitting data to stakeholders throughout the supply chain. This approach was defined by the way its customers handle data.
“We’re seeing a real change in the way that retailers and logistics teams relate to data,” says Polvinen. “There’s been a significant uptake in the number of queries we’ve had from retail suppliers who see the need to offer their clients complete data and insights about their shipments.”
Consumers demand transparency these days. They like knowing where the food they consume has arrived from or where their medicines were manufactured. Logmore’s Guardian data loggers make data collection easy, and the cloud simplifies distribution. The company offers its own dashboard web app, as well as an integration-friendly API.
Aside from providing consumers insights into the products they buy, the cloud also reduces waste significantly. Thanks to all stakeholders monitoring shipment progress, the odds of goods suffering damage reduces. The Guardian loggers transmit much more than geolocation data. They also record condition-related data such as temperature, humidity, shock, and light.
Tied to these datasets are user-defined alerts. For instance, a manufacturer can set a temperature threshold breach alert that notifies all stakeholders when such an incident occurs. Teams can react in real-time and notify the transporter to take mitigative action.
Instant audit trails also make life simpler when determining the origin of the damage. Thanks to data being readily available on the cloud, firms do not have to worry about being stuck with incorrect liability claims.
Seamless Connectivity and Transparency
Data collection and transmission is one thing, but making sure stakeholders receive in-depth views is another. Logmore has addressed this challenge by providing APIs that promote seamless integration between data gathering systems.
As Polvinen explains, “Logmore is about building a more effective, efficient supply chain. The more data we can put in the hands of decision-makers and the more tools we give them to make sense of that data, the better off we all will be.”
The company’s APIs help stakeholders connect their systems to Logmore’s cloud-hosted platform, thus simplifying internal data analytics using whatever analytics software they’re used to. It’s also possible to build custom apps using the API, providing external stakeholders with full access to the latest information on the conditions of their shipments.
Manufacturers can run analytics on shipment data to evaluate shipping partners, shippers can plan routes efficiently, and retailers can tailor storage conditions to account for the condition in which they’ll receive goods. Seamless connectivity via Logmore’s APIs lies at the heart of this degree of data transparency and analysis.
Digitalizing the Global Supply Chain
Digitally transforming global supply chains has been a long-standing priority for stakeholders. Thanks to IoT-driven innovations and data solutions like those offered by Logmore, global supply chain processes are becoming leaner and more efficient.
