Technology has made significant strides in the past decade or so, as capabilities that were once seen as science fiction are now becoming reality. Things like artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT), and even supercomputers are not only existing, but they’re being adopted more and more in homes and businesses belonging to various industries including food packaging.

Wiliot is one such company that has introduced a Sensing as a Service platform during PACK Expo 2021. This system includes the Wiliot IoT Pixels, which are small computers attached to packaging. These can detect information such as humidity, temperature, and location to name a few, which are then sent to the Wiliot Cloud in real time.

This lets manufacturers and distributors monitor the supply chain and make quick, informed decisions before the product goes out to market. Those involved in processing can check if the production volume is correct and track if delivery is on schedule. Clients gain greater visibility into their inventory and get insights to improve operations.

Currently, this innovation is applied to reusable plastic ccntainers. The IoT Pixels, when scanned, provides information on the product, as well as the parcel crate and pallet number.

“In this way, Wiliot’s Sensing as a Service platform sheds light into corners of the supply chain that have been dark until now,” said Ohad Perry, Wiliot Director of Business Development, Supply Chain. “With the intelligence that the Wiliot platform brings to reusable packaging, companies can create a truly circular economy, where waste is drastically reduced, and businesses operate much more efficiently.”

“We’ve shown that Wiliot-enabled RPCs can have an enormous impact on sustainability in our food supply chain, but they can also have a huge effect when packaging and shipping other products,” Perry concluded. “Wiliot turns packages that had no ability to share information about themselves into self-aware communicators contributing to more sustainable, efficient supply chains.”

Williot is part of a group of companies recognized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to help its campaigns around food safety. This involves improved end-to-end traceability that lowers incidences of product recalls, reduces food waste and minimises health risks.