Future Technologies in the Fresh Produce Industry
It is reasonable to assume that the digitalization of companies has gained importance due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The Europe-wide DESI index, a determination of a country’s degree of digitization, shows that the UK and Ireland are both above average. The fresh produce industry, however, is an exception, as it is remains trailing in terms of the implementation of digital and innovative technologies.
Keelings Knowledge, a technology company, born out of the fruit and vegetable sector understands the daily demands on companies working in this low margin industry. For this reason, we invited industry experts Mr Tobias Fausch, CEO of BayWa IT, and Ms Julia Baumanns, Technical Delivery Manager from Microsoft, to an informative webinar “Future Technologies in the Fresh Produce Industry” in November. They, among other things, discussed the extent to which new technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI) or process automation, create new framework conditions in the fresh produce industry, and how companies can best adapt technologically in the future.
To begin with, Baumanns sees AI (Artificial Intelligence) as an excellent opportunity to acquire competitive advantages. AI also offers a chance to gain a lead in innovation. “Data is the new oil. You require a mindset and openness to want to use the new data for the benefit of your company.” According to her, correct data processing with the help of AI increases the motivation and efficiency of employees, which inevitably has an impact on customers. Furthermore, mobile apps can also make work easier and thus significantly increase employee satisfaction.
“AI is here to stay”, claims Fausch, “it will become one of the drivers to stay competitive in the industry.” As AI is to some extent already used in the fresh produce industry, for instance for determining the maturity levels of fruits, he believes that its relevance and significance will considerably increase. Moreover, he sees process optimizations as an effective tool to not only create significant time and cost savings, but also as a relevant opportunity to improve the customer experience. “A lot will be defined differently in three or four years, but people will still talk about automation.” RPA (Robotic Process Automation) is identified as a particularly valuable trend.
Our experts also discussed the realm of the Internet of Behaviour as a crucial field of future trends. Despite all the advantages and potentials that the implementations of new technologies bring, they need to be regarded in balance with sustainability, which Baumanns sees as a long-term determinant of future trends. Hence, the challenges of sustainability will require efficient technological strategies.
Keelings Knowledge believes in a sustainable future of our industry and in ensuring the future success of your company. Our RPA system “DAiSy” (Digital AI system), which was specially developed for the fresh produce industry, is already successfully supporting companies across Europe, automating their processes intelligently and thus improving results in a cost inflationary environment. Our mobile solutions also bring efficiency by cutting down on hours of admin work, and therefore promise improved results for your team.
Our history, knowledge, and passion since 1926 are deeply rooted in the fresh produce industry. Let’s tackle the technological future together. Learn more about how DAiSy, our RPA offering, and other technologies can help your company. For more information contact our team of experienced industry experts to see how Keelings Knowledge can help you on your digital transformation and process efficient journey.
