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Digital supply chain
The past decade has seen a growing dependence on imported fresh fruits and vegetables in many western countries , however the food industry is under pressure to reduce post-harvest food losses by up to 30 percent for dairy and fish and 40 percent for fruits and vegetables . It ’ s also working to cut its dependence on vapor compression-based cold storage , which is a major contributor of greenhouse gas . This means production needs to move closer to the consumer and the industry needs to invest in new-age cold-storage solutions that reduce energy consumption . In the long run , this translates into creating a more diversified food supply chain that ’ s better able to handle disruption . Further down the supply chain , food retailers must optimize their last-mile delivery mechanisms . In the age of heightened digital competition , delayed deliveries can cost companies future business . To provide on-time delivery while optimizing delivery costs , businesses need greater automation in their warehouses and delivery partners that can provide real-time visibility of shipment status for online buyers . Automation of brick-and-mortar stores can also provide a frictionless and safer buying experience for in-store customers .
Build transparency and trust
Satisfying the food safety concerns of today ’ s increasingly health-conscious and well-informed consumer requires constant monitoring of products from farm to table , as well as the ability to use gathered data to improve visibility across manufacturing and distribution . Internet of Things ( IoT ) technologies deployed throughout the value chain can collect and present data to improve visibility and create data-driven processes and decisions for businesses . This visibility also improves the ability of companies to respond to unforeseen disruptions .
Similarly , technology like blockchain has emerged as a reliable way to track not just food products but also their ingredients . For down-chain players such as grocery stores and restaurants , this data could make all the difference during an unforeseen event .
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