Hoopo, a company specializing in geolocation technology, and Polymer Logistics, a global provider of retail returnable packaging, have announced a partnership to deliver internet of things (IoT) tracking to the supply chain across Europe. The partnership aims to increase product freshness, reduce food waste and cut costs along the supply chain. 

Through the partnership, which began in February 2018, Hoopo has designed a bespoke end-to-end IoT tracking device to digitize PL’s delivery assets. The device enables PL’s European customers to more effectively track and monitor the status of their assets along the supply chain by connecting their pallets and containers to the internet. 

Hoopo has developed an RF-based solution that uses LoRa transmissions to generate a position independent of GPS. Its unique technology measures the parameters of intercepted signals to calculate accurate geolocation both indoors & outdoors. This maintains the device’s low-power consumption and enables years of battery life, while providing useful intel and data on the assets in real-time. 

An initial trial of the technology by a PL customer, a UK leading foodstuff producer, has been ongoing since 2018. The company is using the device to track and monitor the status of its cold chain deliveries in the UK in order to maintain product quality and reduce loss rates. The trial is in its first phase but has already enabled the producer to better understand the delivery routes of its produce as well as any temperature deviations during delivery. 

“We aim to provide visibility for the hundreds of thousands of foodstuff assets in the supply chain, from fruit and vegetable boxes to pallets, cages and more by digitizing delivery,” said Ohad Perry, CTO of Polymer Logistics. “The combination of our offering with Hoopo’s will enable perishable goods producers and retail companies to make much smarter, data-driven decisions that can help reduce cycle-times as well as loss-rates of both assets and goods.”