How is data driving sustainability in food retail?

Food retailers take their sustainability responsibilities seriously, core to their business models. They have significant challenges, including food spoilage, energy wastage, inefficient operations, and much more!

According to the UN environment program, one-third of the world’s food supply nearly amounting to one trillion dollars goes to waste. From supply chain disruption to food shortages, the need to eliminate waste has become more important than ever for food retailers! 

Moreover, a growing mismatch between supply and demand is wiping out the profits of the food industry. If corrective steps are not taken, the consequences can become worse in the future. Addressing these issues through advanced technology is crucial! 

The Internet of Things (IoT) can work intelligently for retail food chains in today’s data-driven world. It monitors temperature and humidity data from refrigerators, chillers, and food display racks and transforms food retailers’ sustainability through reductions in food losses and energy savings. 

Internet of Things (IoT) Automation – The smart technology to maintain a sustainable practice in food retail 

IoT technology is the most innovative invention ever made in the journey of sustainability. It has powerful sensors and systems that gather relevant data like indoor temperature and humidity. It signals retailers to track the energy performance and health of their stores. Before any problem arises, IoT warns food retailers to take responsive action and solve the issue on time. 

The deployment of the Internet of Things (IoT) automation technology in retail food stores helps in the following: 

• Maintaining the quality and safety of food 
• Transforming food retail sustainability via proven reductions in food loss through temperature monitoring and energy savings 
• Cutting down food waste to a great extent
• Optimizing peak load and reducing overall energy consumption 
• Connecting devices that collect data and communicate to the cloud without any human intervention
• Centralized view of retail stores across the portfolio

Considering these benefits, the Internet of Things proves to be a breakthrough for food retail. It does play a key role in tracking energy use and identifying synergies for building intelligent, integrated energy systems. 

By setting up an IoT sensor system in food retail stores, facility managers can take data-driven action and make a significant positive difference at scale. At the same time, it makes sure that the equipment is working smoothly and consuming as little energy as possible. 

Meeting the sustainability goals with IoT 

Currently, there is enormous pressure on food retailers to maintain the efficiency of critical equipment without making any compromise on energy efficiency goals. Connected devices are emerging as the best way for the food retail industry to reduce losses due to food spoilage and energy waste. According to the world economic forum, IoT technology is leveraged to improve food safety and reduce excessive energy consumption. 

The Internet of Things (IoT) provides food retail stores with: 

• 40% reduction in food wastage through temperature monitoring
• 30% of total net energy savings via peak load optimization 
• Enhanced flexibility in operations
• Ensures the right temperatures are maintained in food retail to keep food safe and reduce losses
• Maximizing energy efficiencies for heating, ventilation, air conditioning, lighting (HVAC systems), and much more 
• Ensure fault detection and diagnosis (FDD) of critical equipment

With these benefits, the Internet of Things (IoT) will create a profitable supermarket business and a sustainable planet. It gives customers the retail experience they want! 

The positive part is many food retail stores have already started leveraging the benefits of the Internet of Things (IoT). In the past years, IoT solutions have saved $37 million for food retailers by cutting food waste and energy savings. At the same time, it helps to avoid more than 2 million tons of CO2. 

IoT is the key to driving sustainability in food retail stores 

IoT is not just a matter of choice, but a must-use technology for food retail stores. This smart technology has the potential to improve food safety and equipment monitoring that can make sustainability successful in the food retail business. 

To accelerate the transformation of IoT solutions, food retailers and decision-makers must work together to create a framework that will scale IoT implementation and maximize sustainability opportunities. Start with approaching the right IoT service provider! 

Get Zenatix’s smart IoT solutions! 

Zenatix is one of the prominent IoT based building automation companies in India that transform a normal facility into a smart building with its advanced solutions. With our intelligent IoT solutions, food retailers can improve their operating results, cut down on food waste, save energy, and optimize operations smartly! Get in touch with us today.