We’re living in an era where technology is being used to streamline just about every industry. From retail to insurance, many industries are seeing the benefits of an evolution in technology that helps ensure customers have a great experience while also helping businesses increase efficiency.
The food and beverage industry is no exception. With more customers demanding fresh produce with customized packaging, new technologies are being developed regularly to help improve processes, reduce waste, cut costs, and increase the speed of service.
Here are seven innovative technologies for the food and beverage industries:
1. Self-Serve Kiosks
Customers are no longer satisfied with interacting with a single point of contact to place their orders. Furthermore, customers have made it very clear that they want to customize meals.
These devices help increase efficiency by reducing both errors and wait times for customers. For businesses that rely on many hourly workers or busier times of day, this technology also helps reduce pressure on employees who may have too many tables to take care of at once.
2. Eddy Sensors
Food producers are always looking for ways to streamline production while maintaining the highest level of food safety. Eddy sensors are used to monitor conditions in processing plants, like checking the temperature of cheese or baked goods during the manufacturing process.
These devices use radio frequency technology that sends out high-frequency waves and can give off readings within millimeters of any surface under them. They’re also small enough that multiple devices can be placed around a room or entire building without taking up too much space or becoming an inconvenience for employees working there regularly.
3. Use of Robotics in Manufacturing
One of the most interesting technologies in the food and beverage industry is robotics. Although robots have been used for a while now to help with farm work, especially when it comes to picking fruit, new uses are being developed every year.
Some robots are specifically designed for use in processing plants or even bottled water facilities, where they can carry out complex tasks in a short amount of time. One example of this is a pneumatic actuator, which uses pressurized air to move things.
4. Modern ERP Software Solutions
ERP software solutions come in a variety of options and can be used for a number of purposes. These customized business management systems have been developed to help streamline processes for businesses that have multiple locations.
With modern ERP systems, employees all over the country or even the world can access data from their smartphones as opposed to poring through stacks of paperwork on-site. Not only does this increase efficiency by making it easier to track inventory, but it also improves accuracy as more people have full access to information that may previously have been stored in one location without being updated immediately when necessary.
5. Use of Nano-Technology in Packaging
A lot of food is shipped long distances before it reaches your table at home or in a restaurant, so maintaining quality throughout the process has become very important for producers these days.
With nano-technology, producers are able to seal packaging more effectively while also improving shelf life through the use of oxygen absorbers. These small packets take up minimal space while helping to prolong the lifespan of food without having any negative impact on its taste or nutritional value.
6. Electronic Sensors in Warehouses
Electronic sensors are also an increasingly popular technology in the food and beverage industry, specifically in warehouses that handle storage for perishable goods.
For companies that rely on accuracy when processing thousands of orders per day, having accurate inventory records is paramount. One way producers are able to accomplish this task with greater ease is by using electronic sensors throughout facilities to accurately track what’s being stored where at all times without needing someone physically counting every single item every time it changes locations.
7. Customized Food Packaging
An innovative technology that is growing in popularity, especially among producers who deal with fresh produce, is customized packaging. Not only does this keep products safe during transportation, but it also allows consumers to see exactly what they’re purchasing.
Customized food packaging is helpful in cases where the exterior of fruits or vegetables is different from what most people expect, which makes it easier for companies to market their product when consumers can see exactly how an item will look when they get home.
Innovation in food and beverage technology will continue to grow as new innovations are developed. The seven technologies that we’ve discussed here represent only a small fraction of what is available on the market today, but they offer an idea of how things are changing for producers who want to stay ahead of their competition with more efficient processes.
