Intelligent returnables in food supply chains
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | Lunds universitet - Institutionen för designvetenskaper |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 770 000 |
| Project duration | January 2016 - February 2017 |
| Status | Completed |
| Venture | The strategic innovation programme for the Internet of Things |
Important results from the project
This project took its starting point in the transformation that Svenska Retursystem (SRS) has considered, from supplying the food industry with plastic pallets and crates to a company that integrates sensors in their solutions and provides the associated digital services based on the Internet of Things. The goal has been to study the potentials and challenges that both SRS and actors from the food industry (producers, wholesalers, logistics service providers and retailers) have identified with the implementation of intelligent return crates.
Expected long term effects
Intelligent return crates have great potential to contribute to reduced food waste, increasing logistics efficiency, help guarantee food quality and as the foundation for several new services. In addition to direct operational capabilities such as adaptive deviation handling (ex. alarm for incorrect temperature), the large amount of data generated is valuable for new knowledge creation. The most interesting areas found are traceability in real time, reliable and credible temperature monitoring and more effective processes, not least in the handover between the actors.
Approach and implementation
The study had an explorative approach in order to explore value creation opportunities the introduction of an intelligent return crate could mean for the industry. Two case studies has been carried out as well as two field tests with the involved actors in the project. Several workshops, interviews, seminars and a survey has been the basis of case studies as well as literature studies and discussions with international researchers. A movie has been produced as well as reposts in Swedish and English.