Unlike other supply chains, the food and beverage (FB) supply chain represents the most vital need of human beings. As a need to everyone in our society, food, and beverage deserve an emphasized perspective when it comes to the application of new technological advancements such as artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR) that hold tremendous promise to boost efficiencies, prevent systems breakdown and disruptions, ensure lower risks and reduced wastages, and enhance streamlining the flow of food and beverage.
FB supply chain logistics businesses need to be aware of the ever-expanding role of these technologies and how these groundbreaking ideas are gradually reshaping this industry in 2020 and beyond.
When most of the CEOs of global logistics and supply chain companies narrate ” lack of visibility ” as the biggest challenge and most daunting task in today’s food and beverage supply chain, the augmented reality concept comes as a savior that can effectively address this issue.
Augmented reality technology superimposes a Computer Graphic image on the user’s view of the real world, unlike virtual reality when everything a user sees is generated by a computer. As per Gartner’s IT glossary: ” Augmented reality (AR) is the real-time use of information in the form of text, graphics, audio, and other virtual enhancements integrated with real-world objects.”
The use of AI and AR provides significant advantages in the entire global supply chain. As the technology advances and starts combining the software and hardware, it enables system operators to autonomously perform and document logistics processes using an optical AR device with voice control not requiring keyboard data inputs and manual scanners.
The smart glasses act as the AR device communicating with the ERP software through an app. In real-life solutions, what we need in AR are cameras and motion sensors to understand where the supply is flowing about the real world.
Every tech innovation comes with sets of issues and challenges and augmented reality is no exception. The food and beverage industries have a problem with the large-scale deployment of AI and AR. While these technologies can boost productivity, food and beverage companies generate lower profit margins and have limited financial resources to make big investments to implement these technologies.
AR-based systems enable Inventory optimization of the Food Supply Chain. Fresh foods are problematic for grocers as they don’t have a stamped expiry date, and seasonal availability can also influence consumers’ purchasing decisions.
Presently we throw away millions of tons of food annually across the globe, many of which result from spoilage before the sale. The economic loss is stupendous totaling billions of dollars annually. The solution lies in improving inventory management of fresh foods and reducing spoilage.
AR-guided inventory management systems can use point-of-sale (POS) data, information collected from consumers’ social media accounts, marketing data, and data from other social media platforms to refine fresh food replenishment and stocking decisions.
AR-based systems can also help C inventory optimization requiring the simplest control and minimum records. The use of these technologies also helps food supply chain leaders better forecast demand and automate traceability for food safety and hygiene and build customer confidence.
The food and beverage supply chain are under constant threats due to insects, bacteria, viruses and food-borne illnesses, weather changes, political instability, and many more. The leaders and flag bearers of the food supply chain need to constantly strive for mitigating these risks and ensure the world can still eat safely today and also into the future.
By using AR, food and beverage supply chains can feel peace of mind and avoid major disruptions inflow. AI and AR are destined to advance and provide new opportunities to improve food supply chain management and end-to-end visibility. Success Sensation is a Global Mobile app, Website Development, and Digital Marketing Company in UK. We have a team of young and enthusiastic professionals who are sincerely dedicated to delivering your dreams into an exhilarating reality.
