Project description and overview:

Food waste occurs at many points of the food service industry supply chain. The waste is mainly caused by lack of ability to send demand changes down the supply chain. It is estimated that food waste in the Restaurant and Cafe supply chain amounts to 10-15% of the food cost (varying at different points of the supply chain). At wholesale warehouses, the problem is amplified because older stock is not sent out first, resulting in waste during warehouse non-peak periods.

There is an opportunity to reduce the amount of wastage by deploying newer digital technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and an Industry 4.0 framework to the supply chain to improve responses to demands.

Youc are developing a Smart Box system using IoT and sensors for a Kanban inventory control system. The Smart Box will replace the current carton boxes used in the Food and Beverage food service supply chain. The box will be able to track the status of the food at every point of the supply chain. Users of the Smart Box system will have access to the data. The information will allow users to do Just in Time restocking, automatic reordering or on-demand ordering which will ensure stock freshness and reduction of food waste.

The solution is focused around the development of wireless smart containers and the necessary digital infrastructure primarily to monitor food content in the supply chain. The containers (Smart Boxes) will monitor parameters such as content weight, time in transition, and temperature from manufacturing to end user. The system will use weight sensors that are composed of load cells or beam weight sensors. Sensors will also measure distance, temperature, relative humidity, barometric pressure, movement and position. The technology will be provided as a service to clients who will consist of Food and Beverage businesses, distributors and manufacturers.

The Smart Boxes will be reusable, come in various sizes, sensorised and connected to the Youc wireless network. The boxes will be offered as part of a monitoring service, and the technology will be transparent to users.