Digital marketplace, launched at GPFS in Atlanta, aims to provide a unique transaction ecosystem
DeltaTrak has launched a new all-in-one platform for the produce and grocery markets.
Launching first in North America but with plans for eventual rollout globally, UBQ Network is inspired by successful platforms like Expedia.
The digital marketplace initially connects 25 leading service providers with 5,000 North American and 25,000 global customers to offer a unique supply chain transaction ecosystem to enhance cold chain transparency and sustainability, and ensure traceability compliance.
The company said the platform was created in response to supply chain executives often being forced to juggle multiple platforms and siloed data, each handling different aspects of the cold chain, from monitoring temperature fluctuations to tracking delivery schedules.
This fragmentation increases complexity and response time, it said, which translates to additional costs for all participants.
The UBQ Network streamlines these processes into a single platform offering digital cold chain logistics, seamless collaboration, and data-driven business intelligence from a simple-to-use interface.
Partnerships with global providers
The network’s ecosystem features partnerships with leading global service providers such as DeltaTrak for IoT devices, a global leader in insurance broking for digital cargo insurance, Blooms Trade for trade finance, global payments and FX solutions, RED for carbon emission reporting, StilFresh for inspections and claims, and Fructidor, a leading global produce buyer and seller network.
These strategic partnerships provide new services for all users, DeltaTrak explained. For example, produce suppliers can easily and effectively protect their valuable products with digital cargo insurance and access faster payments with factoring; large importers and grocers can receive difficult-to-measure carbon emission reports from producer growers; and everyone benefits from a shared, common data model and service workflow, whether for compliance, inspections, claims services, or measuring consumer engagement.
Industry drivers
The new platform, which was launched at the Global Produce & Flower Show (GPFS) in Atlanta last week, comes against the backdrop of a desire to adopt more collaborative produce business networks. Food waste, food safety and sustainabilty are the three key challenges driving the development, DeltaTrak noted.
“We created the UBQ Network to meet the changing demands of the produce industry, ensuring that even the most demanding produce categories arrive on time in optimal condition to maximise consumer satisfaction,” said Karl McDermott, chief SaaS officer of UBQ Network.
“By addressing these new challenges, our platform not only reduces waste but also supports sustainability goals and positively impacts costs and working capital – a key consideration for executives in the produce industry.”
UBQ Network plans to offer “try and buy” and “pay-as-you-go” pricing and service models to meet the produce industry’s diverse needs.
Several of DeltaTrak’s existing customers and partners are already using UBQ for their cold chain operations, streamlining their processes while enhancing their sustainability efforts. “We are excited to participate with UBQ Network. Its Freshness Index, to estimate hidden shelf life in the avocado ripening process, and the carbon emission reporting align perfectly with our commitment to ‘Do Good’,” said Andrew Mitchell, global head of innovation at Westfalia.
