Körber Supply Chain Cold Trace

Cold Trace Introduction

The cold chain is one of the most complex divisions of supply chain logistics - and right now, it’s booming.

This presents a large opportunity for cold chain 3PLs seeking to grow their business and willing to adapt to a changing market.

The high stakes and fast turnaround required for temperature-controlled food, and the standard of technology needed to keep those temperatures consistent throughout the cold chain is what makes this segment a challenge.

But, more recently, increasing regulations and pressures from retail are demanding a higher level of accountability from logistics partners - in other words, traceability.

Cold Chain Traceability

Now, more than ever, consumers want to know exactly where their food has come from, and how far it has come.

“Farm to fork” is a common phrase, and it sounds simple enough.

But facilitating it in a genuine “retail friendly” way involves complex infrastructure - which often falls to the warehouses to facilitate.

And this needs to be done without avoiding the public-relations minefield of product recalls.

All of this puts an immense amount of pressure on cold chain logistics providers.

But there are ways of applying traceability on products so that businesses, and 3PLs in particular, can benefit.

Cold Chain Conclusion

Cold storage is a fast and reactive market by its very nature, and completely reliant on technology to survive - more so than any other logistics sector.

Whether it’s the ongoing challenges of food safety, or an increase in customer expectations, only the fastest and most reactive 3PLs will be able to service the ever-changing and ever-growing needs of the market.

Trust is key, and only through traceability can trust be found.