Logistical challenges in cold storage

Cold storage logistics is the transportation of temperature-controlled goods such as pharmaceuticals, food and chemicals. Because of its temperature sensitivity, the cold supply chain has an extra layer of complexity which has to be worked around and businesses face many challenges to accommodate these. Here are some of the top logistical challenges businesses face within cold storage and how to overcome them.

Product traceability

Being able to trace a product in cold storage is key throughout the logistics process, including pallet tracing for information such as expiry date, supplier number and freezing temperature. As every country has its own rules, shipping abroad adds an extra layer to tracing goods, and this can be the same for businesses that also have unique requirements.

An EPOD system can provide traceability across the supply chain as goods change hands between businesses and between cold storage facilities. It’s able to provide real-time information to the back office of delivery drivers’ locations as well as an automatic alert once the client has signed for receipt of the goods. In addition, at PODStar, cold chain temperature compliance can be captured through the system by the driver manually inputting the temperature into our app. Plus, the driver can also upload photographic evidence of the in-cab temp hardware that they got the reading from. This saves time and effort by not needing paper evidence and the administrative tasks that go hand in hand with this.

Temperature zones and exposure

Many goods transported from business to business are temperature sensitive and if this temperature goes outside the recommended range, they can become unusable or unsafe.

As cold supply chain trucks cannot be driven into cold storage areas, the goods need to be manoeuvred between the two areas. The loading and unloading phase is key when the temperature can be impacted during the logistics journey. It requires careful management to maintain the temperature and ensure heat exposure does not damage the products.

Different goods must be stored at different temperatures within a warehouse environment, adding another level of operational complexity. There need to be processes and procedures in place for the handling of goods to reduce errors including for put-away in the correct temperature zone or capture of product information.

Damaged goods

Inadequate temperature storage or poor packaging can easily damage products and their value. If the products are physically damaged (e.g. broken boxes, cross-contamination or mishandled) or temperature damaged (e.g. stored at room temperature instead of 0 degrees), they are going to degrade and potentially become waste as they can’t be sold.

Some technologies such as RFID tracking technology can alert businesses to damaged products and temperature changes to ensure the situation can be rectified efficiently and prevented in the future. It’s essential to reduce damaged products and the wastage they cause to prevent loss of profit.

Vehicle breakdown

Any hardware breakdown can cause issues within the cold supply chain, but the hardware can often be fixed or the products moved into alternative storage. However, once on the road, if a cold transport vehicle breaks down, it can be some time before the goods can be recovered. This often leads to a destroyed load, lost revenue and wasted time as temperature-sensitive products can quickly degrade. Conducting regular vehicle checks and carrying out maintenance is key to ensuring breakdowns don’t happen. With PODStar, our app reminds drivers to complete vehicle checks and uploads the reports automatically to the back office system. The information includes a time, date and GPS stamp and allows the drivers to attach photographic evidence of any issues or damage.

Helping to eliminate paperwork and increase information accuracy, the software helps prevent vehicle breakdowns in the middle of a temperature-controlled delivery.

Staff productivity

Along with the cost of energy, staffing costs are often one of the largest expenses within cold storage logistics and therefore increasing staff productivity is key. There can be a significant amount of time wasted on finding misplaced pallets, scanning products in and out of the warehouse, and filling in paperwork. This manual work can lead to human error and bad practices such as not filling in documents correctly or mishandling products. In addition, improving working conditions to ensure your workforce feels safe and happy will also help increase staff productivity. Improving efficiency by reducing wasted time and streamlining operations for staff is key to ensuring peak productivity within cold storage.

Ensuring your team is fully trained and has the correct technology, such as rugged devices or EPOD systems, to fulfil their duties and reduce errors is important. For drivers, this includes reducing their administrative tasks by ensuring their EPOD system can handle all the data it needs so they can get on the road quicker. For PODStar, this includes vehicle checks, temperature controls, route plans and timesheets. Plus, all of this information can be customised depending on your business and its needs so you have a bespoke solution to help increase your staff’s productivity.

How we can help

Optimise operations your operations in the cold storage sector with Electronic Proof of Delivery (EPOD) software by TouchStar. Our product PODStar is highly configurable to match your requirements and can be easily integrated with your other information systems for real-time, end-to-end traceability. Get in touch today to find out more.