Shelf-Life Optimization

Longer, better, fresher perishables - End-to-end time and temperature signals for each case. Enable FIFO & “First Expiry, First Out” inventory models

Key Benefits

  • 30-50% Improved product shelf-life

  • 10% Waste reduction

  • 20% Labor reduction

Data

  • Case 1 is 30°C

  • Case 1 arrived at Store A

  • Case 1 shelf-life reduced by 15%

  • Case 1 dwell time 1hr at Dock A

Journey

  • From Producer → Transportation → Distribution Center → Into Store

Disclaimer: The figures provided are examples based on existing deployments and can be customized to meet your specific project requirements

The Problem

Freshness is one of the most important pledges, but it can be the most challenging to execute on with limited visibility into the complete journey your perishables. Temperature visibility of products is not common in the areas where excursions happen the most: the store. Existing temperature data capture, in places like trailers or cold storage, are like a few flashlights in an otherwise black box:


A single snapshot, one reading at one point in time, not accounting for any point before or after

Room or truck-level temperature readings, not accounting for the case-level temperature variances and microclimates


Food appearance, taste, texture, waste, and most importantly safety is at risk. For one of the most sensitive of perishables, strawberries, about half go to waste due to excursions and never make it to the table. We are all customers too, and we all notice when the raspberries are growing hair after 1 day at home. Unseen temperature excursions accumulate throughout the product’s journey, they prematurely expire, and longevity reduces rapidly in the customer’s home.

The Solution

Wiliot stops you from prematurely shortening shelf-life by identifying the “where” and “why”, stopping the damaging cycles from continuing. 


The Wiliot Ambient Data Platform draws insights from IoT Pixels, Bluetooth stickers that are embedded into every product case via shipping labels, secondary packaging, or reusable transport assets (totes, pallets, etc.).


Low-cost, Bluetooth-based network devices are installed at loading docks, staging zones, trailers - anywhere you want to see your products in the supply chain. They energize the IoT Pixels present or passing through these “zones” and passively relay their sensing and location data to the Wiliot Platform. 

The Wiliot Ambient Data Platform gives your stores a real-time view of what product cases are in the back storeroom, where within the backroom they are located, and a prediction for when they have been stocked.

These signals directly feed into ERP and IMS systems, rectifying inventory count accuracy with current statuses, and to issue real-time insights:

Low-stock warnings
Overstock visibility
Time-to-stock visibility
Alerts for products back stocked in incorrect locations
Temperature alerts of perishable items left in incorrect locations

The Difference

Real-time signals bring proactive management and immediate corrective action to life in your store to ensure store shelves are never left empty:


97% Improvement in Inventory Accuracy
Real-time, autonomous inventory of cases from the receiving dock to the shelf. Reduce out-of-stocks and over-stocks, thanks to an “always-on” view of case locations.


2% On-Shelf Availability Improvement
More accurate location visibility of inventory means ordering becomes more precise, stocking becomes more efficient, and shelfs stay full, directly correlating with a 1% increase in stores sales


20% Picking Rate Improvement
Real-time location of cases allows pickers to quickly identify where the needed items are located, reducing time spent searching for items or discovering out-of-stock situations that require substitutions or re-routing


30% Reduction in Exception Management
Recognizing and submitting exceptions due to missing cases, or having extra cases delivered, is now automated, based on automatically identifying what is currently in each location


20% Stocking Labor Reduction
Remove the need for manual inventory checks, and eliminate unnecessary stocking trips for items on shelf


10% Waste Reduction
Wanting to track perishable products? Each Wiliot IoT Pixel provides temperature data alongside every location event, meaning Wiliot also helps with Shelf-Life Optimization to reduce waste

Grocery Retail

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