Australian supply chain data provider unveils app to help track perishables through the supply chain in real time
Escavox has launched a new app expressly designed for operators who work with fresh food and other perishable consignments in the cold chain.
Features include instant phone alerts that warn of temperature breaches and notifications that announce the arrival of produce when reaching its destination.
“The unique and highly specialised needs of people who are in charge of moving food through the supply chain are at the heart of this app’s functionality,” said Escavox chief customer officer, Nici Sanderson.
Escavox’s technology allows food suppliers to see a live view of their produce as it moves through the global supply chain via smart trackers that capture time, temperature, location, light, humidity and movement.
The information is automatically analysed, and the key highlights conveyed in real-time to phone or desktop, explaining the impact the supply chain’s conditions are likely to have on the transiting produce, and who, or what, is at fault when operations perform poorly.
“We designed the new app so you can select which events you want to be notified of straight to your phone in the best possible way,” Sanderson said.
“Escavox already provides this timely information through email alerts, but we knew we needed to do more.
“Our customers told us they wanted our real-time data faster and with more flexibility to further improve on the efficiencies they were gaining with our technology.”
In addition to the notifications, app users can link any additional data to their track at any time, such as images, PO numbers, and links to other systems, building a data-enriched environment that tells the real story of food moving through the supply chain.
“It means you have even sharper visibility of your produce in the supply chain from the convenience of your mobile phone, whether you’re on the farm, in the pack shed or distribution centre, or working on the retail floor,” Sanderson said.
“Critical for the production end of the agricultural sector is being able to work on the app if you’re without internet connectivity. The app will immediately update when you come back online.”
Sanderson said the app’s development followed feedback from customers who wanted easier access to the Escavox system’s real-time data when they were ’on-the-go’.
Prior to launching the app, Escavox conducted pre-flight checks with several customers to gain assurance the app would meet expectations.
“We’ve consistently measured that when customers use our real-time data, they improve their supply chain’s performance by 20 per cent on average within the first 12 months of adoption,” Sanderson said.
